Perhaps your gynecologist recommended that you seek a fertility doctor’s care, or maybe you suspect that you have a fertility issue and want a consultation. Regardless of how you came to consider fertility care, finding a fertility doctor doesn’t have to be a complicated or drawn-out process.
Of course, depending on where you live, you may have more options than others, but there are basic steps future fertility patients can take to make the process easier.
Finding the right fertility doctor does require some research, but if you know what to look for, the process becomes much faster and less stressful.
Location comes first
On your road to parenthood, you’re going to visit your fertility doctor’s office for a consultation, potential screenings, and treatments. Your diagnosis will determine your treatment plan, including the number of appointments you need to attend, so having a fertility doctor that requires a long commute may not be ideal.
Of course, it is entirely up to each patient whether a long commute to their physician’s office is acceptable, but long travel times can add stress and may require skipping routine responsibilities closer to home. Researching fertility specialists within a reasonable driving distance might limit your options in the long run, but if long distance treatment is asking too much, it may present a better situation overall. Many fertility doctors have offices in multiple locations, so be sure to ask if there’s an office closer to your house.
Ask about insurance up front
One of the most frustrating aspects of fertility treatment is working with your insurance provider to determine which treatments are covered. Once you’ve selected a clinic whose location meets your criteria, check with the practice as soon as possible to see if they accept your insurance. For patients living in New England, several states – Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island — have laws that mandate coverage for fertility testing and treatments. Others, such as Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, do not mandate such favorable coverage.
Find out what services are offered
Generally speaking, many fertility doctors will offer standard infertility treatments like IUI and IVF, but those aren’t always the recommended course of treatment. Some couples and individuals will require less popular, but still routinely used procedures that may not be offered at every facility. Additionally, not every fertility practice is equipped to assist with third-party reproductive needs like egg donation, sperm donation and gestational surrogacy.
How do I make an appointment with Fertility Solutions?
If you are interested in a consultation with Fertility Solutions, please fill out the appointment request form, found here.