# What a listing does not prove

Lesson 1 of [Check a fertility clinic's claims before you commit](https://fertilityclinics.fyi/academy/check-fertility-clinic-claims.md), 13 minutes.

A listing helps you find a clinic. It does not check the clinic for you.

## A listing is a record

A listing shows what a clinic reported to the CDC, and the clinic's own facts if it claimed the listing. This site does not audit those facts. A listing is not an endorsement, and it can be out of date.

## What one field does not prove

- The services field does not list every service. A clinic may offer more than it reported.
- The cycle count does not measure quality.
- The medical director is not necessarily the doctor who treats you.
- An address does not show the clinic's licensing status in that state.
- A SART or lab accreditation mark is reported, not audited here.

## Paid plans and labels

Some listings carry a Featured label or a labelled sponsored slot. These show that the clinic bought a plan. On this site a paid plan changes how a listing looks and where it appears. It does not change the services, cycle counts or success rates, which come from the CDC record or from the clinic. A label is not a quality signal. A Verified badge shows that the clinic claimed its listing or bought the Verified plan. It does not mean this site checked the clinic's licence, laboratory or results.

## Clinic facts and CDC facts

Cost, insurance, financing and telehealth details come from the clinic, not from the CDC. Treat them as claims. Ask for them in writing.

## Sources

- CDC National ART Surveillance System (NASS), clinic-level datasets, https://data.cdc.gov/d/ix4g-rt8v
- FertilityClinics guide, How to read a fertility clinic listing, updated 2026-10-20
- FertilityClinics guide, Fertility clinics in the United States, updated 2026-10-20

This course is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice.

Also on the [web page](https://fertilityclinics.fyi/academy/check-fertility-clinic-claims/what-a-listing-does-not-prove).

> Success rates are whole-clinic figures reported to the CDC; they do not show any one patient's chance of success. Talk to a doctor or other qualified clinician before you choose a treatment.