Recently, a friend of mine visited from the USA. She was coming back after about 5 years. One of the first things she to me was: “Chennai has changed so much! It seems there is an IVF centre for every kilometre!”
My friend is right. We are seeing a spurt in growth of fertility centres not only in major metros but also in smaller cities. However, the greater the choices, the more confused many couples are when it comes to choosing a centre.
Moreover, the topic of IVF is still a sensitive one in many families. It is not easy for couples to share with their parents and relatives that they are going in for assisted fertility, leave alone the choice of a centre. So, many people tend to go byadvertisements, or choose an IVF centre that is close to their home.
The choice of the doctor and hospital / centre is a very important decision in your journey towards starting a family.So, it is important that you look into some key factors about the centre and its doctors and medical staff before making a decision.
History and set-up of the IVF centre: Look into when the IVF centre was established. A longstanding centre is usually one that has sustained and grown to provide full-fledged services to patients. Also, find out if the centre has all the needed facilities that you will be using through the course of treatment (including lab and scans) in one place.
The doctors and staff: Read up on the doctors, technicians and embryologists who are part of the centre, and look into their qualifications and experience. If this information is not available on the centre’s website, ask the hospital or centre to share it with you.
Recommendations:Ask your family members and friends if they or anyone they know has been there and what their experience was like. Look into Google reviews and testimonials as well.
Comfort level with the centre and the doctor:When you go for your first appointment, spend time to look around the centre. Have an open, free conversation with the doctor and ask them all the questions you have. Keep the focus on getting complete answers that are honest and transparent. It is perfectly okay to ask “sensitive” questions – including about the success rate of IVF at their centre.
Link between the IVF centre and your obstetrician: To many people, conceiving through IVF and going through the pregnancy and delivery are seen as two different processes. Hence, they may choose an IVF centre that is completely unconnected to the hospital where they will have their delivery. However, at a later date, when the gynaecologist / obstetrician wishes to get some more details from the person’s case records, they may find it difficult to access it on time. So, keep in touch with your IVF specialist even after you conceive, and request them to share information with your doctor as needed.
The choice of an IVF centre is an important one, and it is essential that you factor in all the guidelines before selecting one. After all, when it comes to our children, we want to do the very best we can!
