1.	Do all the background checks on the track record and history of innovation. Centres that have been around for a long time have stood the test of time and the ability to innovate requires solid basics. Ask other doctors who they would go to if they had fertility problems. Doctors and those in the industry often have a deeper knowledge of the standing of IVF centres beyond the ‘hype’ that exists in the media.
2.	Contact the centre by phone and/or email to assess their responsiveness and forthrightness to your queries. Ask about the range of services available as this gives an indication on the level of expertise available in the IVF centre. It is not uncommon to find couples treated for IVF when pregnancies could have been achieved with simpler methods.
3.	Visit the Centre to get a sense of the ‘look-and-feel’ of the people and place. Talk to members of the IVF team to determine their clinical philosophy, approach and compassion. See the doctor and present your medical history with all available reports of previous test results that you can gather. He must be able to address all your concerns and answer your questions in a logical and easy-to-understand manner. You should have a basic plan of action by the time you leave the Centre.