How to Select a Fertility Specialist
There are many questions that need to be answered
when determining who to select and/or where to
go for your fertility care. Due to the sophisticated
nature of care that may be needed regarding infertility
issues, it is crucial to obtain information about
your potential physician's certifications.
It is important to see an infertility specialist
who has completed three additional years of training
in a subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology
called reproductive endocrinology and infertility
(REI).
In addition, an REI is required to take and pass
a separate examination to be granted board certification.
This specialized training is called a fellowship.
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
has one of the oldest and most sought after infertility
specialist fellowship programs in the country.
Important points to consider when selecting an
infertility specialist are:
- What type of experience and qualifications
do the staff and the program have?
- Are the physicians board certified in reproductive
endocrinology and infertility, not only in obstetrics
and gynecology?
- Are the physicians members of the Society
of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
(SREI)?
- Does the program meet American Society of
Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines?
- Is the program a member of SART (Society for
Assisted Reproductive Technologies) and are
the IVF and andrology laboratories accredited
by a national organization such as the College
of American Pathologists?
- What are the success rates of the practice
or clinic?
- What are the conveniences of the program?
For example, where is the location, how much
work will my partner or I miss, does the staff
seem attentive?
- What is the cost? What are the methods of
acceptable payment?
- What are the range of services the facility
offers?
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