Guide To Choosing A Fertility Center

How are fertility success rates determined?

The Getting Pregant Fertility Experts Directory is based on information collected about each center from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology or SART. This is a division of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) the premiere umbrella medical organization for reproductive technology.

Success rates for each fertility center are based on SART reports which are derived directly from information reported to the US Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. Each year participating clinics must submit a variety of information about their fertility center, including the number of patients, the type of procedures performed and the pregnancy success rate.

Based on this information the CDC and SART create a statistical analysis that signifies the success rate for pregnancies at each of the centers.

How do you select the fertility centers featured on this website?

SART along with ASRM also set specific standards of excellence that each fertilty center must prove they meet in order to be considered a member in good standing. The fertility centers listed on this website are only those who have achieved membership in SART and abide by both the reporting regulations and the standards of excellence set forth by this group. You can read more about the requirments for a fertility center to receive SART accredidation here.

Are the fertility centers featured in your directory based on advertising?

No. While these pages do contain advertising, and clinics, centers and doctors are encouraged to participate with advertising, the actual list of fertility centers and the success rates is unbiased information and is not influenced by advertisingn in any way.

What are the most important factors to look for in a Fertility Center success report?

Ultimately the statistics on the page for each invidual fertility clinic represent the number of successful pregnancies that result from assisted reproductive technologies. So clearly, the higher the success rate, the better your chances may be for getting pregnant at that fertility center.

That said, there is some level of interpretation involved that can help you further zero in on the Fertility Center that is right for you. Among the things you should look for on each report include:

Age of Patients
This generally refers to the age of the mother and is divided into 4 categories: Under age 35; age 35 - 37, age 38-40 , over 40.

Why is age important? First, it can tell you the success rate of the procedure for that center in the age group in which you fall, which in turn may help you better select the right clinic for you. If, for example, you are over 40 and a fertility center is very successful with pregnancies in women aged 35 to 37, but have low statistical success in women over 40, then they might not be the center for you.

Number of Patients In Each Age Group: Paying attention to the number of patients in each age group is also important since some centers can skew their statistics towards a higher success rate by reducing the number of patients that fall in high-risk age groups, particulalry over 40. So, if the majority of a center's patients are under age 35, their overall success rate should be naturally higher than a center who caters to mostly women over 40. In this instance the rates have less to do with the skill of the doctors then the natural aging process. So this is also important to keep in mind when selecting a clinic.

Reasons For Fertility Treatments
Finally, the statistics also include data on the reasons for IVF. This includes the percentage of couples that required ICSI ( to solve a male fertility problem), and the percentage of women whose fertility problems were linked to specific reproductive health issues - such as endometrioisis, tubal factor infertility, ovulation dysfunction and others. Statistics also include the number of couples suffering with "unknown causes" - which usually means that sub-normal factors are present in both partners that are two small to measure, but that together, they keep a pregnancy from occuring.

How can this information help you? If you know what your particular problem is - for example, that you have endometriosis or that you do not ovulate regularly - then seeking out a center that treats a high number of patients with that same disorder may be to your benefit. To find the success rates for a particular fertility problem, click the drop-down menu listed under Select Diagnosis.

How Do I Interpret the Pregnancy Success Rates?

For each of the four age groups you will find the following data:

Total Number of Cycles: This represents the total number of cycles performed in a given year. It does not indicate the number of patients since many women undergo more than one cycle. If this number is high it does not neccessarily represent a more successful center since a center since it could mean a small number of patients underwent many cycles.

Number of Cycles Per Age Group:: This mean the number of IVF attempts in each age group over the course of one year.

Percentage of Cycles Resulting in Pregnancy: This is the percentage of pregnancies that occured within each age group . So, for example, if , in women under age 35 the pregnancy rate is 30%, that means that 30% of the cycles resulted in pregnancy.

Percentage of Cycles Resulting in Live Births: This number - usually a few percentage points lower than the pregnancy statistic - represents the percentage of patients who have gone to deliver one or more babies.

Percentage of Retrival Resulting in Live Births: This number represents the number of egg retrivals that resulted in a live birth. Not every cycle results in a successful egg retrival which is why this number is important.

Percentage of Transfers Resulting in Live Births: The goal of egg fertiliziation is to produce an embryo - the very first stage of a baby's life. Once the embryo develops it is transferred back into the woman's uterus where it attaches and hopefully begins to grow. This is the percentage of those transfers that "work" - or result in a live birth. Note: not every fertilization results in an embryo and not every embryo is considered "viable" or healthy enough to undergo transfer.

Percentage of Cycles With Elective Single Embryo Transfer : This is the percentage of cycles where a single embryo was transferred back into the uterus. This is the procedure that would reduce the chance for a multiple conception of twins, triplets or more.

Percentage of Cancellations: This is the number of cycles that were cancelled - either because no egg was produced, no fertilization occured, or no embryos were considered healthy enough to transfer.

Implantation Rate: This is the percentage of embryos that, once transferred, resulted in implantation. Implantation rate is different than pregnancy rates because not every implanation results in a pregnancy, and not every pregnancy results in a live birth.

Average Number of Embryos Transferred: This is the average number of embryos implanted per cycle. A low number of embryo transfers and high pregnancy rate is generally considered more successful than a high number of embryo transfers and a high pregnancy rate. The more embryos transferred - to a point - increases the chance of a multiple birth.

Percentage of Live Birth with Twins: This represents the number of women who delivered twins.

Percentage of Live Births with Triplets or more: This represents the number of women who delivered triplets, quadruplets, or, in very rare cases, more babies.

What if I need other services - such as donor eggs , or egg freezing?

To find out which services any given clinic offers, skim down to the bottom of every invidual clinic report where the specific services are listed. These oftne include: Donor eggs, donor embryos, egg freezing, surrogacy, donor sperm and other services. This is also the section where you will find the center's accrediation and an email address where you can write them directly for more information. Not all centers provide the same services so if you already know what you need, be sure to check specifically for that treatment. If you don't know what you need - and most couples do not - look for the centers that offer the most services so that in the event you do need a treatment, they will be able to provide it.

How do I know if a fertility center takes my insurance - or any insurance?

Because that information is generally different for each center, and because it can change from moment to moment according to insurance carrier rules, it is best to check with the center directly in terms of your particular insurance carrier. Moreover, if a center does not accept your insurance or any insurance, do ask them about any special payment plans they might offer, or if they are connected with any foundations or trusts that might offer assistance for those who fall below a certain income level.