Success rates may be the clearest indication you have of how well a clinic does at any particular treatment. These are published regularly and make it easy to compare how well a clinic is doing, but they should be taken with a degree of caution.
As the success rates usually involve the number of live births after particular types of treatment, they are inevitably rather out of date by the time they are collated, and the rates can vary hugely from one year to the next.
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| Chiropractic And Infertility |
Success rates are also very dependent on the patients who are being treated. If a clinic is seeing a lot of patients with complex medical conditions, a large percentage of older women, or those from lower socio-economic groups who have poorer general health, this will be reflected in the success rates. You should try, as far as you can, to find out what chances of success the clinic would have for a woman of your age with similar fertility problems.
'l did quite a lot of research into the clinics and l think that was the best thing I did. I didn't know how much they varied at the beginning. I've seen so many of our friends who've gone though IVF at really useless places. It's a combination of finding a fit for you, getting the best you can. No one is really there to help you. You have to help yourself.' Helena 34
Cost
The cost of both tests and treatment can vary widely. If you are going to be paying for your care, make sure you have a breakdown of exactly what each type of treatment or test will cost. Sometimes there are hidden extras, and patients can find they end up paying far more than they expected when they get their bill. You should check exactly what is and isn't included in any figures you are given.
Clinic staff
The clinic staff can make a huge difference. You may want to know whether it will be possible to see the same person every time you go to the clinic or whether you will end up seeing whoever happens to be on duty. Some patients like to know whether there is a choice of male or female doctors.
'There was no continuity of care. It was a different person every time I had a consultation, every time I had a scan. Every time you walked in you didn't know who you were going to see. You never felt you were able to say to them, "Since we last spoke I've been doing this or this," because you'd never seen them before. It was very frustrating" Nicol, 33
Recommendation
Personal recommendation is always helpful if someone you know can recommend a clinic, but remember their circumstances may be different from yours. Just because someone else has been successful at a particular clinic, it doesn't necessarily follow that you will too.
Waiting lists
You may want to check whether there is a long waiting list for an initial appointment and for any treatment you may need. Some clinics see patients as soon as they are referred, but others may take a while to see you, and may have long waiting lists for treatment.
'We feel we have been failed in our area. The waiting list for treatment is currently three years at our local clinic. They don't carry out lots of basic tests, they put everyone on clomifene and send you away for six months, and then they put you back on this long waiting list. It's not something you want to hang about with, so that seemed really pointless" Debbie, 29
Atmosphere
It may sound a ridiculous thing to worry about, but the atmosphere in one clinic may just feel right to you, whereas another doesn't. This is very much a personal thing. Large clinics often have the highest success rates, but some patients complain that they are daunting and impersonal. At a smaller clinic, people know who you are and you can get to know them. This can be more relaxed and relaxing, which is an important factor for some women. Sometimes when you are having treatment, it is the little things that can really make a difference to how you feel.
'We went to see one clinic, and as soon as we walked in I had a gut instinct that it was the right place to be. They just put me at ease. It was a very small unit, and it didn't feel like a factory. They were interested in my welfare and in our situation. They listened to you as an individual" Lulu. 39
One common complaint patients have about fertility clinics in larger hospitals is that they are often situated in the women's health departments and may be right next door to the maternity unit. This can be distressing, and it is something you may want to consider.
'The clinical care was very good, but the environment was not good. The waiting room was connected to the maternity unit, so my husband and I would be sitting there surrounded by pictures of babies and notices about breastfeeding. It was just so insensitive.' Jane, 45. To find out more, you can check out Chiropractic And Infertility.
