Starting IVF is a huge decision, and finding a fertility clinic that is the right match for you is just as crucial. Clinics vary widely in their protocols, success rates, communication styles, and the degree of control parents are allowed to have over their embryo data.
That’s why it’s essential to know what questions to ask an IVF clinic before committing. This guide compiles over 50 questions, organized by categories, so you can advocate for yourself effectively and make informed and confident choices before and during your IVF journey.
Questions to ask at your first fertility appointment
Your first fertility consultation is a chance for the clinic to assess you, but it’s also an opportunity for you to assess the clinic. It’s the moment when you start to build trust and set the tone for the rest of your IVF journey.
Source: Michelle Pitzel
It helps if you come prepared with a set of questions that cover every major aspect of IVF, including:
Clinic policies and eligibility
Clinic track record and prognosis
Testing and diagnosis
IVF protocols, medications, and monitoring
Timeline, logistics, support, and communication
Cost and financial transparency
Embryo development and transfer procedures
Embryo screening and access to embryo data
1. Questions on clinic policies and eligibility
Before you dive into protocols, testing, and costs, you should confirm whether the clinic will actually treat you and whether it is equipped to handle your particular case.
Not all clinics accept every patient, and some turn people away based on age, ovarian reserve, BMI, etc. Others don’t support certain paths to parenthood, such as gestational surrogacy, LGBTQ+ couples, donor conception, or single parenthood.
To understand how a particular clinic’s policies and your eligibility, ask the following questions:
Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
Will you treat me considering my age, AMH (ovarian reserve), BMI, and fertility history? | Some clinics have strict cutoffs, so make sure your profile is within their scope. |
What is your policy on treating patients with a low ovarian reserve or other complex conditions? | It clarifies whether the clinic takes a case-by-case approach or relies on fixed criteria. |
Do you support patients using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos? | This question is essential for gay male couples, two women planning a family, single parents, and people with severe fertility issues. |
Will you support LGBTQ+ individuals, single parents, or those using a surrogate? | Inclusive policies should be clearly stated, not implied. |
If I need surgery (e.g., polyp removal), is it done in-house or referred out? | You should be aware of how coordinated or fragmented your care will be. |
The answers you get should be transparent, supportive, and medically sound. If anything seems vague, dismissive, or overly rigid, it could be a red flag.
2. Questions to ask a fertility clinic about their track record and prognosis
Most clinics advertise their success rates, but these numbers can be cherry-picked, misrepresented, or generalized. For example, some report successful pregnancy rates (a positive test) rather than live birth rates (a baby in your arms). Others don’t break down outcomes by patient age, health status, or treatment type.
Source: RDNE stock project
You should know how often patients like you succeed, so the following questions can help you assess the clinic properly:
Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
How many IVF cycles do your doctors typically perform per year? | It demonstrates experience and shows whether the clinic handles complex or high-volume cases. |
What are your success rates for my age group and health status? | It gives you data specific to your situation, not clinic-wide averages. |
Do you publish live birth rates or only clinical pregnancy rates? | Live birth rate is the most meaningful outcome. Pregnancy stats can be less informative. |
How many patients don’t make it to embryo transfer? | It shows how effective a clinic is at embryo creation, not only implantation. |
What is your multiple birth rate? | A high rate may indicate potentially unsafe or suboptimal practices, such as transferring multiple embryos. |
What is the success rate of the fertility specialist you’re assigned to? | Individual performance can vary even within the same clinic. |
Based on my test results, what do you think our odds are with IVF? | If you’ve already done some tests, look for an answer grounded in evidence, not vague reassurance or exaggerated optimism. |
How many egg retrievals does it typically take to bank viable embryos for someone with my condition? | It sets expectations early and helps you plan for future cycles (if needed). |
3. Questions on testing and diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of personalized care. It directly influences the protocol, medication choices, and your likelihood of success. Some clinics rush patients into treatment based on surface-level data or incomplete workup, which can lead to wasted time, emotional distress, and repeated cycles.
A quality clinic should treat both you and your partner as whole individuals, not a set of numbers, and recommend additional testing when necessary, with clear explanations.
Here are testing and diagnosis questions to ask at your first fertility appointment:
Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
What evaluations will you conduct before starting treatment? | Look for a comprehensive approach that includes:
|
Do you perform male factor testing (e.g., semen analysis, DNA fragmentation)? | If applicable, both partners should be assessed, not only the one undergoing ovarian stimulation. Male factor infertility should not be overlooked as it’s the cause in about 20% of cases and contributes to fertility challenges in an additional 30% to 40% of couples. |
Can I have some tests (e.g., bloodwork) done elsewhere? | This matters for cost and convenience. Some clinics are more flexible than others. |
How do you diagnose unexplained infertility? | Make sure the clinic doesn’t use this label prematurely or without ruling out other causes, such as endometriosis. |
Do we need to get any vaccines, boosters, or antibiotics before starting? | A responsible clinic will ask about your immunization status or infections that may interfere with treatment. |
What’s your approach to determining the reasons for a failed cycle? | If you’ve had past IVF attempts, the clinic should be ready to review them in depth and suggest the next steps. The same goes for potential future failures. |
Do you recommend or offer genetic carrier screening before treatment begins? | One of the benefits of carrier screening is that it can identify whether you or your partner unknowingly carry genes for serious inherited conditions. Even if you’re healthy, you could pass on a condition if you both carry the same gene. |
Pro tip!
Knowing your carrier status before treatment helps identify hidden risks. It can also shape your approach to IVF. If both parents carry the same conditions, it may influence what kind of embryo genetic testing you pursue later, how you interpret those results, and how you plan for a healthy family.
4. Questions on IVF protocols, medications, and monitoring
Your IVF plan should reflect your diagnosis and goals, not the clinic’s schedule or habits. These questions will help you understand how patient-centric your care will be:
Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
What stimulation protocol do you recommend for me and why? | You should understand the difference between the long and short protocols, natural ovarian stimulation, and minimal stimulation cycles, so ask for a plan based on your ovarian reserve and cycle history. |
What medications will I be prescribed, and what are the side effects? | It’s important to know the “why” behind each medication to prepare physically and emotionally. |
Can protocols be modified mid-cycle? | A clinic should adjust the process based on your body’s response to the treatment. |
Are supportive treatments available if necessary? | You may need treatments like: |
Will I be monitored in-house, or can I use a satellite clinic? | The chosen approach can affect the convenience and consistency of care. |
5. Questions on timeline, logistics, support, and communication
Some clinics operate like assembly lines, with rigid hours and rotating staff, while others provide more personalized and accessible care. These questions will help you prepare your calendar, manage expectations, and feel supported:
What is the expected timeline for my IVF cycle?
Is there a waiting list? When can I start?
Are there seasonal or holiday breaks that may impact my cycle?
How often will I need to come in for appointments?
Can I book early morning or weekend appointments?
What is the process for setting up monitoring appointments?
Who will be my main point of contact?
What if I need support after hours?
Will nurses help with injections, or is it DIY?
What emotional or psychological support do you offer?
Who will be on my care team, and will they remain present throughout the cycle?
How do you communicate results (emails, calls, patient portals)?
What happens if a cycle is cancelled? Do I pay again?
6. Questions on cost and financial transparency
IVF is expensive, and financial stress can add more pressure to this process. To avoid hidden costs and understand how and when you’ll be billed, ask the following questions:
What’s the total cost of IVF, with and without medications?
What’s included in the IVF package?
Are follow-up frozen transfers included?
When are payments due, and are there installment plans?
Are there refund policies or money-back guarantees?
Do you offer payment plans or financing options?
Does insurance cover any services? Which providers do you work with?
Do you participate in clinical trials or discount programs?
Will I get a receipt or payment confirmation?
Can specific procedures (like endometriosis treatment) be billed under another medical diagnosis?
Source: Mikhail Nilov
7. Questions to ask your IVF clinic on embryo development and the transfer process
Many patients never speak to an embryologist or understand how embryos are handled, graded, or selected. These questions will help you determine whether the lab and medical team use the best practices:
Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
Is your lab in-house or external? | In-house labs offer better coordination and oversight. |
Do you use time-lapse microscopy or another technology? | Advanced technology may improve culture monitoring and, consequently, embryo selection. |
How long do you culture embryos (cut off at day 5, day 6, or day 7)? | A longer culture can give embryos more time to develop and be properly assessed. |
What do you do with atypical embryos? | Some clinics discard them, while others observe or freeze with consent. |
How do you grade embryos, and what grades do you freeze or discard? | Make sure grading policies are transparent and in line with your wishes. |
Will I get a consultation with the embryologist? | It can help you understand embryo development and your options. |
What criteria are used to select embryos for transfer? | Ask how decisions are made: embryo grading, timing, genetic status, etc. |
What is your policy for unused embryos (storage, disposal, donation)? | You may want more children, or you may decide to donate, so ask about consent rules and long-term storage options. |
Do you recommend fresh or frozen embryo transfer? Why? | The approach should depend on your:
|
Do you prefer day 3 or day 5 transfers? Why? | Day 5 (blastocyst) transfers are often preferred, but not always. |
Will we know which embryo is being transferred? | You should have full visibility into what’s happening and why. |
What’s your post-transfer protocol? | You should get clear guidelines, so you know what to expect and what to do to maximize your chances. |
8. Questions for a fertility specialist on embryo screening and access to embryo data
Genetic testing can help identify embryos with the best chance of success, but not all clinics offer the same tests or access to your own embryo data.
Some clinics pressure patients into using only their partner labs, and some restrict how PGT results are shared. Here’s what to ask to get a full picture of a clinic’s practices and policies:
Which lab do you use for PGT?
Will mosaic embryos be reported separately or as aneuploid?
Do you transfer mosaic embryos?
Will you provide the full PGT results to me directly?
Can I opt out of certain tests or use a different lab?
Can I choose to send my embryo genetic report to a third-party for additional analysis?
Do you have any partnerships that limit where or how I can use my embryo data?
Streamline your IVF process with Nucleus
Handling the ins and outs of IVF can feel like a full-time job. Between navigating clinic policies, scheduling appointments, and interpreting test results, many parents feel overwhelmed and emotionally drained at the moment they need clarity and calm the most.
Nucleus IVF+ is the first IVF package that brings everything under one roof, from initial consultations to the end of the entire process. It gives you the support and transparency you need every step of the way, so you can focus on your most important task: becoming parents.
Nucleus combines world-class fertility care with the latest in genetic analyses:
Clinic matching: Access to a network of vetted IVF clinics and physicians with proven success rates.
Nucleus Family: Genetic screening for you and your partner, covering over 2,000 genetic conditions.
Nucleus Embryo: A first-of-its-kind genetic optimization platform, letting you compare embryos based on long-term health insights, traits, and well-being markers.
Donor network: Advanced genetic compatibility matching with egg or sperm donors if necessary.
All-inclusive IVF package: Cycles, medication, ICSI, and key fertility and genetic tests.
Concierge support: 24/7 access to licensed genetic counselors and fertility specialists to answer your questions and ensure clarity.
Book a call with the Nucleus team, and find out how we can assist you on your IVF journey and increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Featured image source: Pixabay
