When IVF doctors differ

Medicine is not an exact science and there frequently are several options available for treating one health problem.  It is not uncommon for patients to get confused when they are offered very different medical opinions for the same condition.  Do not let this become an issue of distrust between you and your physician - this can end up becoming a foundation of dissatisfaction and patient complaints.   

Evidence based medicine is a popular form of practice, especially since it is driven by insurance reimbursement.  Medical practise today is dictated by insurance companies , who pay for the treatments, and this has sadly become more of a business than a science in the past 50 years.  A physician learns a lot of information while in medical  school but this is only the basic foundation of a good doctor’s knowledge.  A good IVF doctor then builds on this knowledge as he practices medicine.  He learns to apply that knowledge which in turn builds his level of expertise.  This application of theoretical knowledge in the clinical setting is an art and is impacted by the expertise of the physician. 

The doctor’s individual philosophy of practice also affects his treatment modality.  Some physicians like to consider themselves progressive and will join any current trend that comes along.  I consider myself to be very conservative.  I will discuss all treatment options available to you when the time is right.  I believe the goal of a successful doctor/patient relationship is to be sure that you and your doctor have similar philosophies, especially when it comes to treatments such as IVF. 

For additional reading see http://blog.drmalpani.com/2005/02/why-do-different-doctors-have.html