Nothing in life is perfect. No matter where you go, no matter what you do, there are blemishes, missed opportunities and human error. And there are plenty of things we just don’t know and can’t guess until they happen.
It can be that way also with fertility clinics.
Imperfections are part of the landscape of being human, something we have to accept and be patient with. But what if, after several tries, things just are not working out? Let’s say that after several attempts to get pregnant with donor eggs or donor sperm, things just are not working out.
Then by all means, change clinics. You might not be using a bad clinic; in fact, they might be very professional, very friendly and usually quite successful. But if it is not working out for you, find a clinic that will work out for you.
Of course, there are other times to change clinics because the clinic itself just does not live up to your basic expectations. For instance:
- If you are finding the service poor, that the staff never seem to have time for you when you need them or are often rude, change clinics. You are important to them and you should be treated that way. Sometimes people feel they don’t have very much time with the doctor, and if that’s a concern, find a clinic where the doctors make the time for each patient.
- If you are losing faith in the doctors, perhaps because they seem to be overlooking important things or are not giving you as much information as you would like, change clinics. You have a right to fully understand every procedure and test, and to be informed about what happens next.
- If you ever find that clinic staff are not being open and straightforward with you about something related to your fertility, change clinics. You can’t afford to doubt your medical team. Whether they seem to be purposefully keeping you in the dark or simply don’t seem to be up to speed on your treatment, neither one is a good sign.
It goes without saying that as an intended parent, you are the customer and you should be able to get the service you expect. And if not, you get to take your business elsewhere.
Once your IVF is in progress, it’s not a good idea to switch clinics. There is just too much that can go wrong, too many details that can get lost in communication (or missed communication) switching midstream. Unless you are really afraid of something going medically wrong, you should not even think of switching mid-stream.
This goes also for egg donors and surrogates. It’s your body on the line, and you have the right to be treated professionally and with respect. And you must have confidence in the whole medical team, that they are being open with you and that they know what they are doing and are doing it right.
The bottom line is this. You don’t need a specific reason. If you don’t feel comfortable with a clinic, move on. But do so between IVF attempts, not in the middle of an attempt.
