Finding the Right Doctor

An Excerpt from Fertility & Beyond: Join the Conversation

By Natalie Burger, MD, Reproductive Endocrinologist

Ultimately you want to find the right doctor and the right practice. In some cases, you may need to consult with a couple of doctors before you find the one that’s the best fit for you. You need to have great communication with your doctor. It’s also helpful to have your partner present for discussions since there may be confusion or different “interpretations” of what was actually said. It’s important to work as a team throughout the whole process.

Having said that, how do you find the right doctor?

First, look for a physician who has gone through the appropriate, specialized training – not only the four year Ob/Gyn residency, but also the three years of a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellowship. There are some Ob/Gyns who do IVF treatment, but traditionally they practice in areas not otherwise served by a specialist.

Also, you’ll want to make sure you’re working with someone who is Board Certified. This means that they have successfully passed further exams after completion of their fellowship. This usually happens within the first five years or so after they finish their fellowship training. If they don’t receive a board certification after a number of years, that might raise some questions as to why they have not become board certified.

Next, look at online reviews.

Of course, every clinic is going to have a patient or two that get upset and leave some kind of negative rating regardless of how good the practice is. But if there is repetition of negative reviews, that should raise questions and concerns. A general pattern of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the clinic is telling.

Ask your Ob/Gyn to give you some insight into a practice’s reputation in the community. Ask them to recommend a preferred clinic.

If you are comfortable talking to others about your situation, referrals are always a great way to find a good practice and doctor.

Lastly, make sure the clinic has some degree of patient volume. If they only see a couple of patients a month, they are going to have a different level of experience than a practice that sees hundreds of cases a year. The doctors will be more knowledgeable in a variety of treatment options. Plus, they’ll likely be up-to-date on current research and their techniques will be well practiced.

About Natalie Burger, MD, Reproductive Endocrinologist

Dr. Burger is Board Certified in both Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. She has special interests in hysteroscopic surgery, ovulation induction, PCOS, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and recurrent pregnancy loss.

Natalie began her studies in molecular biology at MIT—but realized that women’s health was of particular interest to her. She ended up working in a laboratory where she learned about the field of infertility. She knew that she wanted to specialize in women’s health and thought that obstetrics would be the field of focus. In the end, she realized that infertility treatment and surgery were what really drew her toward the field of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Reproductive medicine is an ever-changing and dynamic field where she can be a very important part of people’s lives at a point when they’re really struggling and facing personal challenges. She considers it a privilege to work with these special couples and patients in their quest to grow their family.

Contact Information:

Phone: (512) 451-0149
Website: http://txfertility.com

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