Transparency
How We Rate Fertility Clinics
Our composite score combines publicly available patient review data with clinical quality signals. Here's exactly what goes into it.
The Composite Score
Each clinic receives a composite score on a 0–5 scale. The score is the weighted average of available patient ratings across Google and Yelp. When only one source is available, that source's rating is used directly. Clinics with fewer than 3 total reviews across all platforms do not receive a composite score.
Google Reviews
Primary sourceGoogle ratings and review counts sourced directly from the Google Places API. Google has the largest review corpus for healthcare providers and strong spam filtering, making it our most trusted signal.
Yelp Reviews
Secondary sourceYelp ratings pulled from the Yelp Fusion API where available. Used to supplement Google data, especially for clinics with fewer Google reviews.
CDC ART Success Rates
Clinical signalThe CDC collects annual data on assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes from every fertility clinic in the US. Live birth rates by age bracket are displayed separately on each clinic profile and are not folded into the composite score to avoid conflating patient experience with clinical outcomes.
SART Membership
Quality signalClinics that are members of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) have agreed to report their outcomes data and adhere to established clinical standards. SART membership is shown as a badge on qualifying clinic profiles.
CDC ART Success Rate Data
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes annual Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Surveillance Reports covering every fertility clinic in the United States. We display data from the most recent available report (2022 outcomes, published 2024). These reports include:
- Live birth rates per egg retrieval cycle by age bracket (under 35, 35–37, 38–40, 41–42, over 42)
- Number of cycles performed using own eggs vs. donor eggs
- Singleton and multiple birth rates
- Cancellation rates
CDC data is displayed on individual clinic profiles under "Success Rates." It is intentionally kept separate from the composite score because clinical outcomes and patient experience measure different things. A clinic may have excellent patient service but work primarily with complex cases that lower its raw success rate — or vice versa.
View CDC ART Surveillance ReportsOur Principles
Transparent sources
Every data point links back to its origin — Google, Yelp, or the CDC. We display raw review counts alongside aggregate scores so you can judge the sample size yourself.
Regularly updated
Clinic data is refreshed via the Google Places API and Yelp Fusion API. CDC ART data is updated annually after each reporting cycle is published.
No pay-to-play
Clinics cannot pay to improve their score or listing position. Rankings are determined entirely by objective data. Featured placement on regional lists is based solely on composite rating.
What We Don't Include
- Scraped or reproduced individual patient reviews — we link to source platforms only
- Self-reported clinic data that cannot be independently verified
- Pricing information — costs vary by treatment, insurance, and individual circumstance
- Physician-level outcome data — our ratings are clinic-level only
Data Accuracy
While we make every effort to keep clinic information current, details such as phone numbers, addresses, and hours can change. Always verify contact information directly with the clinic before your visit. If you notice an error, please contact us and we'll update it promptly.
How Content Is Written & Reviewed
Editorial articles on Fertlo are written by fertility nurses, patient advocates, and healthcare writers with direct experience in reproductive medicine. Clinical articles — those covering medical protocols, treatment decisions, diagnostic criteria, and success rate interpretation — are independently reviewed by a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist before publication and re-reviewed when material new evidence emerges.
Every clinical article displays the reviewer's name, credentials, institution, and review date. Non-clinical content (costs, insurance, lifestyle) is reviewed by our editorial team against primary sources. Read our full editorial policy →