Choosing the Best Fertility Clinic

Expertise of Medical Staff

Choosing the right fertility clinic starts with evaluating the expertise of the medical team. Important factors to consider include:

• Types of fertility services offered
• Years of experience in reproductive care
• Awards, honors, and professional recognitions
• Commitment to ongoing education and the latest advancements
• Patient testimonials offering insight into experiences with doctors and staff
• Personal connections the doctors may have to the fertility journey
• Languages spoken by doctors and staff
• Clinic-reported fertility success rates

No matter which clinic you choose, it’s essential to feel confident in your doctor and nursing staff, who will be key advocates throughout your fertility journey.

At the Center for Reproductive Medicine (CRM), our team of doctors brings decades of combined experience in fertility care, with specializations across areas including fertility preservation, IVF, male and female infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, advanced maternal age, and more.

Understanding Success Rates:
What to Look For

Success rates are an important factor when choosing a fertility clinic. The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) publishes trusted reports to help patients compare clinics nationwide.

However, statistics alone don't tell the full story. Factors such as patient selection, diagnosis, treatment types, and reporting practices can all influence success rates. Some clinics, for example, may only accept younger patients or those with higher ovarian reserve, skewing results higher than clinics that work with a broader patient population.

When reviewing success rates, it's important to:

• Consider live birth rates per patient rather than per cycle
• Ask about the clinic’s approach to patient inclusivity
• Look beyond numbers to evaluate a clinic’s commitment to continual improvement and use of the latest technologies

At CRM, we proudly work with patients of all ages and ovarian reserves, creating individualized plans tailored to each patient’s needs. We are committed to transparency and to using advanced technologies to continually optimize outcomes.

Comprehensive Fertility Testing

Fertility testing and screening services can help increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby, while also allowing aspiring patients to learn more about their genetics.

At CRM, genetic screening is provided to all patients undergoing any type of fertility treatment with us. We usually recommend that patients and partners who will have a genetic link to the child undergo a panel of tests to screen for a variety of inherited disorders, including:

• Blood disorders, including Tay-Sachs disease, Thalassemia, and sickle cell anemia
• Gastrointestinal disorders, including cystic fibrosis
• Neurological disorders, including Gaucher disease
• Muscle/bone/joint disorders, including muscular dystrophy
• Chromosomal abnormalities, including Fragile X syndrome

We also offer preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), which can be done for patients undergoing IVF. By testing the embryos before they’re transferred to the uterus, future parents can have better peace of mind that their child will not inherit certain genetic conditions.

Effective & Efficient Fertility Treatments

There is a wide range of fertility treatments available for different needs. At the Center for Reproductive Medicine, we create treatment plans for every patient, ensuring they receive fully customized care. With innovative, cutting-edge reproductive and fertility technologies and a deeply committed, compassionate team of experts, we take pride in offering top-of-the-line treatment.

Our standard fertility treatments include:

• Intrauterine insemination: A common fertility treatment, IUI involves inserting sperm directly into the uterus during ovulation. This can be done with the male partner’s sperm to help overcome male factor infertility, or with donor sperm for lesbian couples, single women, or heterosexual couples who cannot use the male partner’s sperm.
• Fertility medications (ovulation induction): An important step in treatments such as IVF, fertility medications are taken to help prepare a woman’s body for embryo transfer. We prescribe several different types of medication depending on a patient’s needs.

CRM also offers several assisted reproductive technologies (ART):

• In vitro fertilization: If other fertility treatments or medication regimens are not successful, many people decide to undergo IVF, which involves ovarian stimulation, egg fertilization, and embryo development. For some, the process may also involve preimplantation genetic testing to help ensure the baby does not inherit certain genetic conditions. The best IVF clinics will offer personalized care, a cutting-edge lab facility, and a highly experienced team of board-certified specialists.
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): ICSI may be done in cases of male factor infertility, which could result from various conditions, such as low sperm count or poor sperm motility. This process involves injecting sperm through a glass needle into a mature egg.
• Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD): PGD can be an ideal option for patients with certain genetic conditions they do not want to pass on to their baby. During this process, only embryos that do not have the genetic mutations that cause disorders will be transferred to the uterus.

Third-Party Reproduction Options

In addition to fertility services, it’s important to work with a clinic that’s well-versed in third-party reproductive options, such as egg donation, embryo donation, sperm donation, and surrogacy

• Egg donation: Egg donation can make dreams of parenthood a reality for women with poor egg counts or who cannot use their own eggs, as well as male individuals or gay couples pursuing parenthood. For women, egg donation is used in tandem with IVF, while for men, it would be used in tandem with surrogacy. As a top-rated fertility clinic, CRM has years of experience working with hopeful parents seeking egg donors as well as women who want to donate their own eggs. We’re proud to partner with MyEggBank, the leading egg donor bank in North America, where patients can find the right donor match or submit an application to become a donor themselves.
• Gestational surrogacy: For women who cannot carry a child on their own, or for male individuals or gay couples, gestational surrogacy may be a good option. This involves a surrogate, or carrier, becoming pregnant after an embryo created via IVF is transferred to her uterus. In most cases, this means transferring an embryo from an intended parent, while in other cases, such as for gay male couples, it means transferring an embryo from a donor.

At CRM, we also specialize in sperm donation, typically utilized by individual women or lesbian couples to become pregnant, as well as embryo donation, in which an already fertilized egg is donated. Embryo donations are often made by couples who have already gone through IVF and have leftover embryos they do not need for their own family-building purposes.

Holistic Support Services for the Fertility Journey

The team at the Center for Reproductive Medicine understands the importance of full-body and mind wellness during the fertility journey. Reproductive and fertility care can be stressful and taxing, both physically and emotionally, so self-care should always be a top priority. At CRM, we focus on a caring, compassionate approach that takes into account each patient’s unique goals and needs.

As part of The Prelude Network, CRM is also proud to offer a six-week online fertility yoga program, designed in tandem with Pulling Down the Moon, at a discounted rate to all patients. This program is designed to reduce anxiety, alleviate physical discomfort, and allow patients to forge connections with a community of patients going through similar journeys.

Excellent Patient Communication

Clear, consistent communication is essential throughout fertility treatment. When evaluating clinics, ask about:

• Communication methods with doctors and nurses
• Patient portal options for test results and scheduling
• After-hours support availability

At CRM, we prioritize transparency and easy communication. Through our Prelude Connect app, patients can track appointments, view results, communicate with their care team, and even link their account with a partner’s for seamless information sharing.

Transparent Fertility Care Costs

While costs can vary depending on treatment plans, medications, and individual circumstances, the best clinics provide:

• Clear, itemized pricing
• Transparent discussions about potential additional costs
• Support in understanding financing options upfront

At CRM, we believe that fees should never stand in the way of growing your family. We work with a range of insurance providers and trusted financing partners to make treatment as accessible as possible.

Insurance Coverage

Insurance coverage for fertility care varies based on individual plans and employers. In Florida, some insurance plans may cover diagnostic testing, but not treatments like IVF or egg freezing.

At CRM, we accept nearly all insurance plans available to our patients. During your first consultation, our financial team conducts a thorough benefits investigation to help you understand what’s covered and what out-of-pocket costs to can expect.

Although we do not offer in-house financing, we work with trusted partners such as PatientFi, Future Family, LendingClub, CapexMD, and BUNDL to provide financing solutions tailored to different needs.

Multi-Cycle IVF Guarantee Plans

IVF is a widely used fertility treatment for many types of patients, including those facing:

• Female infertility factors (e.g., ovulation disorders, blocked fallopian tubes)
• Male infertility factors (e.g., low sperm count or motility issues)
• Genetic disorders
• Same-sex couples building families
• Individuals using donor eggs or sperm

On average, it can take three IVF cycles to achieve pregnancy. To help manage costs, CRM partners with BUNDL, a fertility program that bundles multiple IVF cycles into one upfront package price. If cycles are unsuccessful, eligible patients receive a 100% refund, offering both financial protection and peace of mind.

Is the Clinic LGBTQ+ Friendly and Inclusive?

For LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, partnering with a clinic that understands your unique needs is essential. Look for clinics that offer:

• LGBTQ+ family-building options, such as IUI, IVF, reciprocal IVF, egg donation, sperm donation, gestational surrogacy, and fertility preservation
• Inclusive intake forms, sensitivity training for staff, and affirming patient resources
• Respect for preferred names, pronouns, and identities

CRM has proudly supported LGBTQ+ patients for years, offering a full range of fertility services tailored to diverse family-building paths.

Note: While we sometimes use gendered terms for clarity in our resources, we respect and affirm the full spectrum of gender identities and will always honor your preferred pronouns.

Fertility Care for International Aspiring Parents

International patients have unique considerations when seeking fertility care in the United States. Key questions to ask include:

• Does the clinic regularly work with international patients?
• Are they knowledgeable about legal requirements for international family building?
• Do they offer assistance with travel logistics and accommodations?
• Are translation services available if needed?
• Can they coordinate with doctors in your home country?

At CRM, we are proud to welcome patients from around the world. Our team includes doctors who speak English, Spanish, and Arabic, and we are happy to assist with logistics to make the process as smooth as possible.

On-Site Laboratory vs. Third-Party

Having an on-site laboratory offers significant advantages, including:

• Same-day testing and faster results
• Direct oversight of egg retrieval, embryo development, and sperm storage
• Greater convenience and fewer external handoffs

At CRM, our in-house lab is accredited by the Commission on Office Laboratory Assessment (COLA), the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), and the College of American Pathologists (CAP), meeting the highest standards of safety, quality, and excellence.