Your Guide To Vetting a Fertility Clinic

Choosing where to freeze your eggs isn’t just a medical decision — there’s logistics, cost, communication, and comfort to think through, too. These are the factors experts say matter most: 

• Location: Visits are frequent — and frequently early in the morning.

• Comfortability: You want to feel seen (and heard) by the care team.    

• Communication: Know how you’ll be kept in the loop — emails, calls, a patient portal. 

• Clinic credentials: Check their affiliations and accreditations, and that the doctors are board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI).

• Lab quality: Look for certifications and success rates. 

• Storage and safety: Find out where your eggs will be and what safety plans are in place, like backup generators.

• Cost transparency: Ask for a clear breakdown of what’s included and what’s not. No surprise bills here. 

Some of those factors may matter more to you than others. Here's how experts recommend evaluating each one as you compare clinics.

Think Through the Logistics 

“Just like with real estate, the top factor is location, location, location,” says Alexander Kotlyar, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at Genesis Fertility, part of the Pinnacle Fertility network. 

You’ll need anywhere from four to seven — sometimes more — early-morning monitoring visits during the stimulation cycle, which usually involve blood work and an ultrasound.  

Getting there before your day even starts is tough enough. Tacking on a long commute can make it even harder, he says. 

Consider Your Comfort Level 

We can’t stress this enough: Healthcare is personal — you want to be able to ask questions, share openly, and feel heard. That starts with being comfortable and at ease with the clinic’s care team. 

As Kotlyar points out, “The science is pretty much the same across most clinics, but the way your clinic makes you feel throughout the process can make all the difference.” 

Two important tells:

• The doctor and staff welcome and answer all your questions so you understand the process from the jump.

• The nursing team has a clear and reliable system for keeping you in the loop so you don’t miss any updates or instructions — and they explain it to you.

Does it matter if you choose a large or small fertility clinic? 

One common mistake Kotlyar sees is assuming a larger clinic or network is the default best choice. “Oftentimes, a patient will get just as much, and possibly more personalized, care at a smaller clinic,” he says. 

Communication style can be the differentiator here: How clearly and quickly do they share results, and how easy is it to reach the team? 

“This varies widely for both large and small clinics, and communication can make the difference between a reassuring journey of fertility preservation and a stressful series of injections and ultrasounds culminating in a minor surgery,” he says. 

Check the Clinic’s Credentials and Accreditation

A few important ones to look for: 

• The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) affiliation. The organization tracks and compares both individual clinic rates and national stats, says Kotlyar. Approximately 95 percent of IVF cycles are done through member clinics, and affiliation also means the clinic undergoes a biennial lab inspection and certification by an outside agency.

• The College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation. This means the clinic’s laboratory has been vigorously inspected to make sure it hits or surpasses safety and legal standards, including equipment maintenance, staff qualifications, and test result accuracy. You can search for your potential clinic directly in their database.

• Reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) specialization. Doctors with this training have completed their OB-GYN residency, plus a three-year fellowship, making them double-board certified experts in egg freezing and IVF.

• The Joint Commission accreditation. The organization looks at the clinic as a whole and conducts unannounced visits as part of its accreditation process to ensure standards, including patient safety, are consistently being met. 

“Most clinics in the US report their results to SART and are accredited by CAP, indicating high safety and quality standards. If they do not/are not, it should be a red flag, unless they provide you a clear and convincing reason why they do not follow this standard,” says Alka Goyal, PhD, Director of Laboratories at Genesis. 

Some of those reasons:

• They’re new and in the process of completing enough cycles for SART reporting

• They say their state oversights are enough, so they skip SART and report directly to the CDC, which is mandatory. Goyal notes that states like New York and California have rigorous standards, for example.)

“Regardless of the reason they provide, it’s critical that they still willingly share success data and not get defensive or vague,” she says. 

Can you search for a clinic’s success rate? 

The success rates for SART-affiliated clinics are on their website, and you can search for a clinic there, too. The CDC also tracks that information — and clinics are required to report it to them. 

There are lots of variables that can impact a patient’s chance of success, says Kotlyar. When comparing stats on the SART website, he suggests looking at the live birth per single embryo transfer rate with genetically tested embryos (usually listed as “PGT-A”) for women under 35.  

“A good clinic should have a 45% or better live birth rate when transferring chromosomally normal embryos into patients younger than 35,” he says. 

Evaluate Their Laboratory

Most of the critical work happens in the lab, says Goyal, so this is an important step in your vetting process. “The way eggs are handled, frozen, and stored can affect how well they survive later,” she says. 

Along with checking for accreditation, Goyal recommends asking these two questions:

• How often do you freeze eggs? “You want to look for clinics that do it regularly, as they tend to have more consistent results,” she says.

• What percentage of eggs survive after freezing and thawing? “A good lab should have survival rates above 85%,” she says.

To get a sense of who — and how — they’ll be handling your eggs, ask them: 

• How experienced is the embryology team — and how long have they been at the lab? Goyal says to look for low turnover and a good number of senior embryologists. “If there is only one star embryologist, that’s a red flag as this creates vulnerability in the lab when that person is absent,” she says.

• How up-to-date is your technology? For example, do you use AI in any of your assessments — or digital storage platforms? “Labs should use a mix of human oversight and technology. If they say they are completely reliant on AI and have done away with manual grading, that’s a red flag,” she says. 

Understand Where Your Eggs Will Be Stored

The eggs will either stay at the clinic or — usually due to limited space — move to an off-site storage facility. Sometimes they’re kept at the clinic short-term (around six months) before transfer, says Kotlyar. 

The location shouldn't affect their safety, but if they’re off-site, they’ll need to be transported back when you’re ready to use them. The upside: these companies do this all the time and have strong safety records, he says. 

Still, while transporting frozen eggs between clinics is common and safe, Goyal says it’s usually best to freeze and thaw them at the same place. “This helps maintain consistency, as each lab uses slightly different techniques that are designed to work together,” she says. 

Ask about this at your consultation (we’ve got a few more questions below, too) — and be sure that you clearly understand when, how, and where your eggs will be stored. If you’re getting the run-around? That’s a red flag. 

Ask About Safety Systems and Backup Power

This is a non-negotiable. Good clinics must follow strict accreditation standards to protect your eggs, including having backup power sources for all crucial systems, says Kotlyar.

Another crucial safety feature: No chance of sample mix-ups. 

“Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is the state-of-the-art technology used to identify samples, which can help give patients peace of mind,” he says. In fertility clinics, RFID systems use tagged dishes and automated tracking to monitor eggs and embryos throughout the egg retrieval and IVF process — adding an extra layer of verification along the way. Research suggests the technology can help clinics work more efficiently and reduce the risk of mistakes.

Understand Costs and Insurance Coverage

Health insurance coverage can feel like another language at times — and while we wish we could say that elective egg freezing was always covered, only about 20% of large companies offer the benefit, according to a survey of employer-sponsored health plans. Currently, 21 states have fertility preservation mandates — meaning that egg freezing is covered if it’s medically necessary, like if you have to undergo chemo treatments. 

No matter what, call your insurance to check for any potential coverage.

Here’s a general breakdown of what you’ll pay for:

• Consultation

• Egg freezing cycle 

• Medications

• Annual storage fees

Pro-tip: Ask for an itemized list of all fertility costs and inclusions to keep track of what you're being charged for. Sometimes charges come in separately for monitoring and anesthesia.

Prices vary, of course, but research puts the average bill for egg freezing — not including storage fees — at anywhere from $10,000–$15,000 per round. 

And while some private insurances do coverage storage, it’s very plan specific, says Kotlyar. Otherwise, you can expect to spend anywhere from $500–$1,000 a year on storage. 

Questions To Ask 

Now, here's the expert-approved list of questions you should transfer to your Notes app and take with you to your consultation. We chatted with Sahar Wertheimer, MD of HRC Fertility Beverly Hills, and Irene Woo, MD, of HRC Fertility Encino and Santa Clarita Valley, who are both board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, about what they wish their patients would ask them.

At the consultation: 

• What are the clinic’s affiliations and accreditations? 

• Do you take my insurance — and what is typically covered? 

• What is the total cost — and what does it include?

• How does the clinic define success? (For example, number of eggs retrieved, survival after thaw, pregnancy rates, etc.) 

• Who will my main contact be? 

Your OB-GYN may have already done some preliminary fertility testing, like an AMH blood test, and referred you to a reproductive endocrinologist — or you may have it done at the clinic consultation. Either way, ask: 

• How many eggs do you estimate I might retrieve? 

• Based on my age, what is the chance of having a live birth from frozen eggs? 

• How many cycles do you think I’ll need to be successful? 

• What are the risks of the process for me? 

About storage and thawing:

• Where and how will my eggs be stored? 

• What are the storage costs? 

• How long can they stay frozen? 

• How long has your lab been thawing eggs? 

• What is your clinic’s success rate for thawing and fertilizing frozen eggs? 

• When I’m ready to use my eggs, what’s the next step? 

About the process:

• Will I be trained on how to give myself the hormone injections? 

• What are the typical side effects? 

• How often will I come in for monitoring/tests? 

• Should I expect to have to take any time off work — or have a more flexible schedule? 

The bottom line: Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself and your needs. This is the start of a long journey, and you want to choose a place that makes you feel informed, supported, and comfortable. 

FAQs 

How do I choose the best fertility clinic?

Clinics aren’t one-size-fits-all — and there are various factors to think about. Consider location (you’ll be there often), how quickly and easily they communicate information with you, the clinic, and their lab’s credentials and success rate, their storage and safety measures, and, of course, cost. Depending on your priorities, some of these may be more important to you than others — ask questions, get a feel for the clinic, and ultimately choose the one that best fits your needs. 

What success rate should a fertility clinic have?

A good benchmark for egg survival after freezing and thawing is above 85%. For women under 35 using chromosomally normal embryos, a live birth rate of 45% or higher is considered strong. You can ask about both during your consultation — and compare clinic success rates on the SART website.

Are larger fertility clinics better than smaller clinics?

Not necessarily. Kotlyar points out that you can get the same or, in some cases, even more personalized care, at a smaller clinic. Vetting each one in the same way, paying special attention to how they communicate. The way they keep you in the loop and share results could make all the difference, he says. 

Can frozen eggs be transferred to another clinic?

Yes. It’s common and safe, but you do want to ask if they’ll be frozen and thawed at the same place, since this helps maintain consistency, says Goyal.