Find the Best Fertility Pharmacy for You
By Team BHF
How to Choose the Best Pharmacy for Fertility Medications? Don’t click “Buy Now” on those TTC, IUI or IVF prescriptions until you read this . . .
Nice work. You’ve finally selected the best fertility clinic for you and have a treatment plan in hand. At this point, you’re probably already exhausted and have little time to research an endless roster of pharmacies, weighing the pros and cons on what to look for, before placing your order online. Whether you are having trouble conceiving, planning to freeze your eggs, pursuing IUI or IVF, or working with a surrogate, it’s true that the pharmacy you choose can (literally) make or break your future family.
Too frequently, patients blindly follow a predetermined path that’s based on a combination of their insurance coverage and partnerships that their fertility clinic has in place. And with good reason; many times, these really are the best rates available on everything from Clomid and Femara to Metformin and Gonal-F. Too, there is something to be said for improved communication among fertility industry partners that work together frequently. Imagine a world where your fertility clinic nurse says, “Hold on, let me call Anne at the pharmacy just to double check that they got your order’” - amazing!
In the very least, you want to make sure you are making a responsible decision when it comes to selecting the pharmacy you will use for your fertility drugs. Why? The wrong formula could arrive at your doorstep. Your package of fertility medications may be delayed or lost even. Requirements, like temperature control, could go ignored, causing your precious cargo to spoil. Mistakes like these pose a huge risk to your treatment plans let alone your mental health.
We’ve rounded up a few of the key questions to ask before deciding on which pharmacy to run with before starting your fertility treatment plan.
Does this pharmacy specialize in fertility medications?
Many pharmacies like Mandell’s, Fertility Pharmacy of America and Freedom Fertility Pharmacy, deal exclusively with fertility patients which speaks volumes. Not only does it mean that they understand your journey, but they really understand all of the medications and requirements that they bring. Accompanying syringes and cotton swabs? Refrigerated packaging? It’s all par for the course with these guys.
- One of the best parts of working with a fertility medication exclusive pharmacy is that their Customer Service reps get it. You may find that many of them are actually former IVF patients themselves!
- Another bonus? Their websites often feature super helpful educational content like how-to injection videos, side effects to expect and more. The only caveat here is that you should always follow your doctor’s orders first. If you find conflicting instructions or have a question, best check with your clinic.
- Lastly, some fertility pharmacies like SMP Pharmacy, provide you with a patient portal. For some, yet another patient portal is the last thing they need. However, some of its features - like having your very own patient dashboard that lists your protocols and being able to track your medication delivery - can feel like a godsend if not downright empowering.
What’s their customer service really like?
Marketing testimonials are one thing but if you really want to know the quality of service you’ll be getting, peruse the Instagram account and comments of a fertility pharmacy you’re considering. You can also search topics in any Facebook groups you belong to for keywords like “Fertility Pharmacy” or “IVF Medications”. Social media is one of the first places where patients go to applaud or vent about the service they receive. Yelp is another hot bed of reviews.
A quick and easy way to sum them up is to literally just pick up the phone and call them. Go ahead, right now. Tell them you have a question about your Menopur injections and let’s see where you land. Do you get sent through a complicated phone tree and then accidentally hung up on? Unacceptable. Thank you, next!
Is their fertility medication pricing competitive?
Because there are so many variables involved, namely your particular health insurance, it can be difficult to get a straightforward quote on how much a fertility medication costs but do your best to get a price quote. Discounts are great, if you know the starting point.
The real savings come into play with coupons. Literally, modern day, coupons. Check out medication discount companies like GoodRx or SingleCare. Some individual drug manufacturers like EMD Serono and Ferring also offer savings programs on individual medications.
The big takeaway here? Make sure that your fertility pharmacy accepts these discount programs and keep your eyes peeled for any and all discounts you can find. Some companies like Rescripted have an Rx program that will actually price match. Nice.
What’s the shipping situation?
Any reputable fertility pharmacy will provide the following. (If they don’t, red flag!)
- Next-day delivery
- Temperature controlled packaging
- Ability to review and track orders
- 24/7 Customer Service access via call/text/email/chat
NOTE: If discretion is important to you, and you’d prefer not to have a large cardboard box sitting on your front porch that reads “I’m doing IVF” in big letters, definitely make it known to your pharmacy and ask how they can accommodate. This is especially important if you’ll be having any medications delivered to your office.
Oversees Delivery of Fertility Medication
This can be a tricky one. If you are planning to be abroad for a significant length of time you may want to consider a pharmacy that’s actually headquartered abroad. There are international fertility pharmacies that can ship worldwide but beware, some might be shady. RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association has a fantastic listing of resources to help you find a trusted pharmacy.
