 |
 |
What can we help you find today? |
| This site has over 200 educational pages on fertility issues and IVF Call our specialists today! (847) 662-1818 |
 |
 |
When to see a fertility specialist doctor for infertility tests and treatment
How to choose a good fertility specialist doctor
Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago
IVF and Infertility Specialist Clinic
Gurnee & Crystal Lake, Illinois
How to become a patient at our infertility specialist and IVF clinic
What is the definition of infertility?
In 2008, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine released a revised definition of infertility.
- Infertility is a disease, defined by the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected intercourse. Earlier evaluation and treatment may be justified based on medical history and physical findings and is warranted after 6 months for women over age 35.
How to choose a doctor for fertility testing and treatment
If you are being treated, or considering seeking treatment for infertility, it is appropriate to start with either a good general gynecologist or with an infertility specialist - also referred to as a reproductive endocrinologist.
Some general gynecologists are very good at the initial infertility evaluation and treatment. However, you should know about your doctor's training and experience. Make sure that you know whether your doctor is a fellowship trained fertility specialist. If you do not know, just ask whether he/she did a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. A fellowship involves 2 or 3 additional years of specialized infertility training after the doctor has completed his / her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training program.
If your physician is a general gynecologist, you should ask at what point he/she will refer you to an infertility specialist. In general, you should be referred to a fertility specialist either immediately or after up to 6-12 months of treatment with your gynecologist. This will also vary depending on the female partner's age and the cause of the infertility - some cases should be referred to a specialist immediately.
When to see a fertility specialist?
There are several criteria for immediate referral to a fertility specialist doctor, who are also referred to as Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialists:
- Female age of about 38 or older
- Blocked fallopian tubes at any age (1 or both tubes blocked)
- Other tubal problems at any age - such as more than one tubal ectopic pregnancy
- Moderate or severe endometriosis at any age
- Significant male factor - sperm concentration less than 10 million per ml, or motility less than 40%
- Ovulation problems such as PCOS treated with 6 months of clomiphene without conception at any age
- Abnormal ovarian reserve tests, such as day 3 FSH level at any age
- It does not have to be expensive to be treated by an infertility specialist. The cost depends on the fertility treatment you need.
If you are already seeing a fertility specialist doctor and are considering in vitro fertilization (IVF), ask him or her for:
Ask for pregnancy rates per retrieval and per transfer and know whether they are giving you initial pregnancy rates, ongoing pregnancy rates or live birth rates.
- The IVF pregnancy success rates in writing. You should ask for their most recent CDC IVF success statistics - links to the most recent report are on our IVF success rates page. Compare IVF clinic success rates with this US government report that is published annually.
- His or her individual pregnancy rate over the past year for all IVF procedures performed.
- His or her pregnancy rate for all cases done on couples with fertility problems similar to yours.
Fertility Treatment Cost Issues
Make sure you know how much the treatment will cost, and how much your insurance will cover. If they say that "IVF costs $12,000", make sure that you know exactly what this means:
- Does it include all physician fees?
- Does it include all costs for ultrasound and blood monitoring?
- Does it include all facility costs?
- Does it include all anesthesia fees?
- Are there any other costs (other than medication) that are not included in the price for an IVF cycle?
- Ask for a copy of their fee schedule for IVF services.
If you do not get satisfactory answers to all of these questions, go somewhere else for your fertility treatment.
Shopping for an IVF program should be very different from shopping for a car. A Jeep is a Jeep - no matter where you buy it. However, IVF at a center with poor pregnancy success rates is unlikely to result in success. Be an informed consumer - ask these questions and make sure to get straight answers.
You want to find a fertility clinic that has high pregnancy success rates and reasonable fees.
Our IVF pregnancy success rates
Our in vitro fertilization, IVF costs
