Is it possible to evaluate clinics objectively?
Interpreting statistics of fertility programs requires patience and care. Individual ART programs do not use a standard format for reporting their own success rates in advertisements and promotional literature, making comparison among clinics difficult. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART) publish clinic-specific data on most of the ART programs in the U.S. Each clinic reports its annual outcome data to SART in a standardized format. The SART report is comprehensive and provides valuable information about each clinic including: the number of cycles performed, pregnancy rates by age (with or without male factors), miscarriage rates, and average patient age. You may be able to see trends or patterns that will help you understand the quality, stability, and experience of the programs you are considering, especially if evaluated over time.
