Choosing a Fertility Doctor
Not all doctors are created equal. Especially for your infertility treatment, it is important to find a highly qualified doctor who understands and fulfills your medical and emotional needs.
Dr. Bastuba and his staff is working together with all fertility specialists and gynecologists in the greater San Diego area and can give recommendations for your personal situation.
Low-tech vs. Advanced Reproductive Technologies (ART)
Some patients are not aware of the fact that they can stay in the care of the gynecologist and/or urologist with expertise in male infertility for low-tech fertility treatments such as IUI or Clomid. There are advantages to stay with your OB/Gyn for basic fertility workup and testing, however be aware of the potential risks involved:
1. Be sure they have the expertise and specialized knowledge about testing and diagnosis.
2. Make sure they have the specialized tools in their practice, avoiding you send you to different locations for lab work, ultrasound and other.
3. Confirm that they have an interest in treating infertility and giving you the best available care.
4. Know when it's time to move on. It is a common error for gynecologist to try ineffective treatments over and over, while you loose time, money and confidence in doctors.
If those treatment options have been unsuccessful, your OB/Gyn refers you to a fertility specialist for advanced reproductive technology treatments such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
To locate an infertility specialist, you may go through the various options:
- Ask your OB/Gyn, Dr. Bastuba or any other doctor you know for suggestions.
- Ask in your circle of friends, couples who undergone fertility treatment
- Research on the World Wide Web. Most of the fertility centers have a website giving you detailed information about the doctors and the staff including credentials & awards, hospital affiliations, insurance information, locations and more.
- Use SART Registry at the Center for Disease Control to compare apples to apples on various centers.
Phone Shopping
You might have a list of clinics you consider to investigate. With a simple phone call, you can get a first impression on how they treat their patients.
- How long are you on hold?
- How nice is the person on the other end treating you?
- How long is the wait for the next available appointment?
- What are the fees?
Some couples create a list of important criteria:
- Doctor's credentials (training, qualifications, awards)
- Doctor's skills & experience
- Clinic's accessibility (location, waiting periods)
- Pricing & affordability
- Professionalism
- Clinic's overall patient care and patient education
During your consultation with your new doctor, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you like their personality and style?
- Are they prepared for your appointment and reviewed your medical records?
- Do they listen to you and involve you AND your spouse in the planning process?
- Are they compassionate and showing empathy with your situation?
- Do they give you recommendations and choices you can work with?
Male Fertility Specialists
6699 Alvarado Road, Suite 2207
San Diego, CA 92120
(619) 286-3520
Visit our other websites:
www.vasectomyinfo.com | www.martinbastuba.com