First you need to feel comfortable. There are many clinics out there with amazing results and amazing labs and amazing scientists. And all of that is truly important. ButI’ve heard over and over again from so many patients when coming from other clinics that they just didn’t want to feel like they were just another number in a large factory. They hated that long waits in the waiting room made to feel like they were a cog in the wheel of a huge machine. So, I would emphasize that it’s important to find a place where you feel like your hand is truly being held. You want to have a coordinator who cares and who will walk you through the system. Most people don’t know the questions to ask when they are getting started on their fertility journeys. Many don’t know what is to be expected when first starting out. And it can really be quite overwhelming. We expect a lot from our patients when it comes to completing their work up and also during treatment. There is a lot at stake. A lot of money and of course the chance at having a child. So, it’s incredibly important to feel supported through every step along the way. You need to know that someone will be holding your hand and guiding you through getting everything that you need completed so that you could start your treatment and also you shouldn’t have the pressure of having to do your own research to know what needs to be done. Often times people have struggled for years on their own. When going to the fertility clinic it’s important to feel that your team’s finally got you. That you just need to follow clear instructions. Also you need to be confident that your physician who knows you and your story best is making the decisions and calling the shots so to speak and that there isn’t a lot of handoffs between clinicians. This way you get to feel taken care of as a unique human being and your needs are tailored to specifically. You get the best care this way with the best outcomes and also with the best experience. You need to have regular interactions with your doctor that are appropriate and you need to know when to expect those interactions will happen. You need to be confident that in the setting of unexpected or negative results that your doctor will be available to walk you through what happened and go over possible next steps. You need to feel cared for during what is truly a very vulnerable time.
