Should I Switch Fertility Clinics?

For whatever reason, you’re not happy with where you are now. Should you switch fertility clinics?

Dealing with infertility and fertility treatments might be one of the most stressful things you’ve done in your life. The fertility clinic you attend makes a big difference in your experience.

If you’re not happy at your current fertility clinic, you may want to look into switching fertility clinics.

Here are some important questions to consider:

1. What other fertility clinics could you attend?

Think about the options in your area, and then zoom out and explore options within driving distance. Look at their websites, and see if you can schedule a visit.

Some people are willing to move cities, or even countries to be near a certain fertility clinic. It’s OK if that’s not you.

2. What are your priorities?

If you live in a big city, and you have many options, you can think about:

Do you want to see the same doctor every single visit? (At some clinics, you’ll see whichever doctor is available but at others, the doctors work 7 days a week.)
Do you want to be able to go in on weekends? (Clinics that are open for cycle monitoring on weekends allow you closer tracking of your cycle)
Do you need to make it to work by 9? (This is easier at smaller, less busy clinics)
How much time are you willing to commute in the morning?

3. Which doctors do people recommend?

Sometimes it’s more important who you doctor is than which clinic you’re at.

You may be able to stay at the same clinic, and switch to a different doctor who is a better fit for you.

Ask around. I got my recommendation from a colleague of my step-mom. If you’re not talking openly about your fertility journey, or if you don’t know anyone who has been through fertility treatments, ask on a local facebook group, or on an anonymous forum like reddit/infertility.

4. Will your wait time be affected?

Different fertility clinics have different guidelines on how long you wait between referral, initial assessment, and treatment, or when patients can receive funding for IVF (at least here in Ontario).

Switching fertility clinics could make your wait longer if you have to wait months to see a doctor after being referred. On the other hand, if you switch fertility clinics, you wait time could get shorter, for example if a certain clinic will let you do IVF sooner.

5. Are you receiving the care you deserve?

I switched clinics because I never saw the same doctor twice in a row, and each doctor would give me conflicting information – one said we could start IVF, but the next said absolutely not. This was not a supportive environment for me.

Above all, you deserve to be supported and heard. The staff at your fertility clinic should make you feel confident in their expertise and comfortable asking questions.

The Bottom Line:

To switch fertility clinics, or not?

There are many questions to consider. Take time to explore your options, because you deserve to have the least stressful, most supportive experience possible when you are going through fertility treatments. In the end, you have to make the choice that is best for you.

Should I Switch Fertility Clinics?