ivffinance.com - Selecting A Physician
Selecting a Physician
Many OB/GYN'S and Urologists are specially trained to treat patients having difficulty getting pregnant.
Physician's that specialize in infertility are board certified in reproductive endocrinology.
If your situation warrants an infertility specialist, you can get a referral from your present physician or
from the RESOLVE National Office (617) 623-1156.
Be sure to prepare many questions for your initial visit and go as a couple. The initial meeting can be
very intimidating so please be prepared and not become overwhelmed. It is important to get a "good
feel" for your physician. Make sure he/she and his staff is patient and informative. You are there to get a
thorough understanding of your options in one hour or less. That alone is a daunting task to say the least,
so relax and don't put too much pressure on yourself.
Your IVF Physician should be:
- Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology
- A current member of SART (Society of Assisted Reproductive Technologies)
- A current member of RESOLVE
- Prepared with current statistics on success rates
Questions To Ask:
- Ask about fee structure and payment options
- Find out if the office and lab is open on weekends and holidays
- Ask how many physicians will be involved in your treatment
- Find out which hospitals the physician works with
- Ask how responsive the office is to calls from patients and who you will be talking to
when you call with a question or problem
- Request a written summary of your meeting and options
- Ask for patient referrals. Although these may not be readily available due to
confidentiality issues
- Find out what members of the staff have experience with IVF and deal only with them
Warning Signs:
- The physician is not informed and up to date about your case and the tests you have
had done
- You feel like your concerns are not being adequately addressed or your physician is not
taking your concerns seriously.
- The physician does not prepare a personal treatment plan
- The physician is too busy with the non-IVF side of the practice to spend the time
needed with you
- You do not feel that the staff is properly trained to treat you, or you are dealing with
different staff members all the time and you feel that they do not communicate well.
For example, how many different staff members are doing your ultrasounds? Who will
be there for the retrieval?