Choosing a fertility clinic is one of the most significant healthcare decisions you will make. It is also a decision made under conditions of vulnerability and often limited information. Clinics are not equally qualified. Success rates are quoted in ways that make comparison between clinics almost meaningless. The quality of patient care varies enormously. And the financial pressures on patients in the midst of infertility treatment make them vulnerable to making choices based on marketing rather than substance.
Here are the questions that actually matter when evaluating an IVF clinic:
Will I be seen by the same senior specialist throughout my treatment, or will I be rotated among different doctors? This matters because continuity of care — having one doctor who knows your case, your history, your response to previous treatment — significantly improves clinical decision-making. In large hospital chains, patients are often seen by different associates or fellows at different appointments. This leads to inconsistent management and loss of nuanced clinical detail.
What is the clinic’s accreditation status? NABH accreditation is the minimum acceptable standard for quality and safety in India. ICOG recognition as a Fellowship Centre in IVF and endoscopic surgery is an additional quality indicator. Ask specifically about these credentials, not just about marketing claims.
What is the surgeon’s specific qualification for any surgical procedure recommended? For laparoscopic and hysteroscopic procedures related to fertility, the ECRES certification is the gold standard. If a clinic recommends surgery for endometriosis, fibroids, or intrauterine pathology, the surgeon’s specific experience and credentials in that type of surgery are the most important factor in the outcome.
Does the clinic have an in-house embryology laboratory? The quality of the embryology laboratory is central to IVF success rates. A clinic that sends embryos to an external laboratory for culture or genetic testing introduces logistics and time delays that can impair embryo quality. An in-house laboratory with full embryological capability is the standard at any serious IVF centre.
What is the clinic’s approach to failed cycles? The debrief after a failed cycle is a measure of a clinic’s clinical rigour. A thoughtful, evidence-based review of what happened and what should change is what separates clinics that genuinely care about outcomes from those that are focused on volume.