Due Diligence Guide for Prospecting Parents Seeking Fertility Treatment
For individuals and couples considering IVF, the process often begins with medical testing. But according to Beth Frattura, founder and executive director of the Stork Foundation, successful outcomes depend just as much on preparation, transparency, and financial understanding as they do on treatment itself.
“IVF is an extremely complicated process and a large learning curve,” Frattura says. “Doing a little due diligence upfront is going to make a huge difference because it’s an emotional process, a medical process, and a financial process all at once.”
Consult with Medical Experts
Frattura stresses that IVF care should always begin with a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist working at an accredited clinic.
“These physicians have additional specialized training beyond OB-GYNs and focus exclusively on infertility and reproductive medicine,” she explains.
However, she notes that patients often underestimate the importance of the embryology lab itself.
“Just as important as the doctor is the lab,” Frattura says. “Lab quality plays a massive role in IVF success, because fertilization and early embryo development are happening outside the body.”
She recommends selecting clinics that adhere to established clinical and laboratory standards and that have demonstrated experience with IVF specifically, not just fertility care more broadly.
Check Their Success Rates
Many patients rely on publicly reported IVF success rates when comparing clinics. Frattura encourages patients to consult data from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), which publishes clinic-level outcomes broken down by patient age.
“SART is one of the most transparent tools available for reviewing IVF outcomes,” she says. At the same time, Frattura cautions against assuming higher success rates automatically indicate better care.
“Some clinics are more selective about the patients they accept,” she explains. “They may turn away patients with a lower probability of success or those who have already had multiple unsuccessful IVF cycles, and that can artificially inflate success rates.”
Because of this, she advises patients to focus on whether a clinic reports to SART and is transparent about outcomes rather than choosing based on percentages alone.
“Higher numbers don’t always mean better care for every patient,” Frattura says.
Begin Financial Planning
Financial clarity is a core part of IVF due diligence, according to Frattura. She notes that every reputable fertility clinic should have a dedicated financial team to walk patients through costs before treatment begins.
“Fertility insurance varies dramatically, and in many cases, there is no coverage at all,” she says.
Even when insurance is available, coverage may be limited to diagnostics or less intensive treatments.
Medication costs are another frequent source of confusion.
“A lot of people don’t realize that fertility medications fall under a separate pharmacy benefit with totally different rules,” Frattura explains. “Those medications can add up very quickly and significantly change the total cost of treatment.”
For patients without insurance coverage, she recommends asking for self-pay pricing.
“If you don’t have infertility coverage, you should ask for the cash price from the clinic,” she says. “Pricing can vary significantly from insurance billing.”
Find Support, IVF Grants, and Guidance
Nonprofit fertility grants are often misunderstood as an entry point into IVF, but Frattura explains that they typically come later in the process. Conversations about possible grants and financing options for treatment should be discussed in the clinic discovery phase.
“Transparency around pricing, financing options, and grant eligibility should be part of the conversation from the beginning,” Frattura says.
Does Insurance Cover Your Treatment?
In the United States, IVF coverage is shaped largely by state laws and employer health plans.Insurance coverage has not kept us with rising demand for fertility treatment in the U.S. These out of pocket expenses highlight a critical gap in how we support families in the country. While some states have infertility insurance mandates,these laws often include many exemptions.
“Whether IVF is covered depends almost entirely on where you live and what kind of health plan your employer offers,” Frattura says.
“Self-insured employers are exempt from state mandates, small employers are often excluded, and multi-state employers may fall outside state rules,” she notes.
Seek Educational Resources for Your IVF Journey
Frattura believes one of the most significant gaps in fertility care is the lack of early education around fertility timelines and costs. Educational reinforcement in family planning is encouraged. Fertility coaches often fit the role of teaching individuals how to seek out help and guide them through the family planning process.
“We talk all the time about saving for retirement or planning for college,” she says. “But we don’t talk enough about fertility timelines, preservation options, or the true cost of care.”
She adds that IVF should be understood not only as a medical intervention but as a financial decision that requires planning. As a general statement, most people dream of starting a family but don’t begin the research process until the time comes, which could be too late for some.
If you intend on starting a family, you should begin to seek guidance from fertility planning experts. There are fertility coaches available to explain discrepancies and guide you through this financial and emotional turmoil.
