How to Choose an IVF Clinic: 7 Key Questions to Ask
Not all fertility clinics are created equal. Here's a systematic approach to evaluating clinics so you can find the one that gives you the best chance of success.
Why Clinic Selection Matters
Your choice of fertility clinic is one of the most important decisions you'll make on your fertility journey. Success rates, laboratory quality, embryologist expertise, and doctor experience can vary enormously — even between clinics in the same city.
Here are the seven questions that matter most.
1. What Are Your Success Rates for My Specific Profile?
National average success rates are published by the CDC each year. But aggregate numbers hide important differences. Ask for:
- Live birth rates per egg retrieval (not just "clinical pregnancy")
- Rates for your age group and diagnosis
- Fresh vs. frozen transfer outcomes
- Success rates with donor eggs if applicable
Red flag: A clinic that only reports positive metrics or refuses to share age-specific data.
2. Do You Culture Embryos to the Blastocyst Stage?
Day-5 blastocyst culture allows better embryo selection and higher implantation rates compared to day-3 transfer. Most competitive labs now default to blastocyst culture.
Ask: What percentage of fertilized eggs typically reach the blastocyst stage in your lab?
3. What Is Your Laboratory's Quality Control?
The embryology lab is where your embryos live for 5–6 days. Lab quality affects outcomes as much as (or more than) clinical decisions.
Ask about:
- Number of IVF cycles performed per year (volume = experience)
- Lab accreditation (CLIA certification; CAP accreditation is gold standard)
- Air quality and temperature control systems
- Your embryologist's years of experience
4. What Genetic Testing Options Do You Offer?
Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer. This can increase success rates — especially for women over 35 or those with recurrent loss.
Not every patient needs testing, but you want a clinic with in-house expertise and a trusted external lab partner.
5. What Is Your Single Embryo Transfer (SET) Policy?
Transferring one embryo at a time is now best practice. It minimizes twin risk (which significantly increases complications) while maintaining high cumulative success rates.
Clinics that routinely transfer 2+ embryos without medical indication may be gaming their per-transfer statistics.
6. How Accessible Is My Doctor?
Some clinics operate on a "rotating doctor" model — you see whoever is available on retrieval or transfer day. Others guarantee you'll work with your assigned RE throughout.
Ask: Will the same doctor perform my retrieval and transfer? How are questions handled between appointments?
7. What Support Services Are Available?
IVF is emotionally taxing. Top clinics offer:
- On-site counselors or therapist referrals
- Nutritional guidance
- Acupuncture coordination
- Multilingual staff (especially important for Chinese-speaking patients)
- Clear patient portal communication
Comparing Clinics: A Practical Framework
Visit 2–3 clinics before deciding. The first consultation is often free. Pay attention to:
- How thoroughly your questions are answered
- Wait times and responsiveness
- How the nursing and administrative staff treat you
- Whether you feel heard — not just processed
Your gut matters too. Fertility treatment is intimate. You want a team you trust.