First Fertility Visit

Your First Fertility Visit: 5 Things You Need to Know

Going for fertility treatment is a big step in the parenthood journey. It can fill it with an amalgamation of emotions such as excitement, nervousness, stress, anxiety, etc. But don’t worry, it’s normal.

One can have multiple questions going around their head, and you start looking for getting answers to all that questions in your first fertility visit to a specialist. So here is a guide that can help you prepare for your first visit to a fertility clinic.

Before Meeting Doctor

Many fertility clinics offer a consultation before any testing or treatment, and they may ask you for first fertility visit with their main goal towards consultation is to make you familiar with their doctors and nurses. They evaluate your medical history, build a treatment plan, and discuss logistics, including planning for payment.

The first fertility visit and initial consultation also helps you decide whether the clinic and staff fit your needs. Your trust and faith are crucial in sensitive and personal issues.

Things Carry During First Fertility Visit

1. Carry your Medical Records

Carry all your medical files, reports, and prescriptions because every piece of information can be vital in your fertility treatment. It is also essential to list all the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and even the herbal ones you and your partner consume.

In your First Fertility Visit, you will be asked about your medical and fertility history, including your menstrual cycles, experiences of pain during intercourse, past fertility treatment, how often and when you’re timing intercourse, how long you have been trying to conceive, and more.

2. Prepare a List of Queries for Your Doctor

Prepare a list of questions before your first fertility visit, so that you can ask that questions and can clear all your doubts in this first fertility visit. The fertility team will ask many questions, but you must ask yours. Carrying a list of questions will ensure that you remember.

Preparing for IVF

Prepare a list of questions in your first fertility visit or you can check our IVF checklist guide before your visit so that you can ask that questions and can clear all your doubts. The fertility team will ask many questions, but you must ask yours. Carrying a list of questions will ensure that you remember

1. Write Down Instructions or Details

Carry a notebook to write down essential instructions and details. As in the first fertility visit, it sometimes becomes hard to keep everything in mind. Hence, you can take notes to remember all the necessary information and details.

2. Visit with your Partner

It is not mandatory, but it is encouraged to visit with the partner in your first fertility visit, so that doctors can also ask about their health and history. Visiting with a partner ensures that your partner is involved in each step. They also provide emotional support and offer extra insight into the case. He should be involved in the process from the beginning, as they may be helpful for you and your fertility team.

Getting Evaluated

In the initial step of fertility treatment, transvaginal ultrasound is critical. You won’t feel any pain during this ultrasound; expect a little vaginal pressure. It is somewhat similar to a speculum exam or Pap smear.

Why Transvaginal Ultrasound

This ultrasound is done through the vagina, giving a more precise and detailed view of the uterus and ovaries. This transparent view of the uterus and ovaries is vital in assessing fertility. Through this ultrasound, the doctor was able to check the following: –

  • Check your antral follicle count
  • Evaluate for any fibroids or polyps which may or may interfere with your fertility

This transvaginal ultrasound is conducted at any point during the menstrual cycle.

Following is the other fertility testing that may happen during the first fertility visit or subsequent visit: –

For Women

Blood Test:- Blood test to measure the reproductive hormone level. And to identify if there is any hormone disorder that may contribute to past or future complications in getting pregnant.

X- Rays: – Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is an X-ray of the fallopian tube and uterus. In this test, a dye is injected into the uterine cavity through the vagina and cervix. It is done to check whether there is any blockage in the tube, which may obstruct conceiving or getting pregnant.

For Men

A Semen Analysis:- A semen analysis examines the volume and count of sperm, concentration, motility, and morphology within an ejaculate.

Blood Tests: – For procreation in men, hormones play an essential role. In this blood test, the values ​​of FSH and LH are determined. These hormones are needed for the development of sperm cells. Through this test, the testosterone level must also be determined, as it influences the formation of FSH.

Discuss Treatment and Ask Questions

Depending on your circumstances, whether you are dealing with infertility or have an infertility problem with your partner, a doctor provides you with the best treatments. You can get information about the treatment available and their success rate.

But before your first fertility visit to a doctor, start writing down the questions that come up in your mind so that you can clear all your doubts and get all the required information. Asking questions also helps you understand your physician and their clinic. Asking a question is the right of every patient. So never hesitate.

To help you in this regard, we have prepared some questions related to some crucial aspects of fertility treatment to help you make the right decision.

Treatment Options

It is essential to know the treatment options the particular clinic provides and whether they can support you from beginning to end. Discussing the treatment plan also helps you understand the ideal pregnancy timeline.

And in case you need a donor sperm or egg or a gestational carrier that case clinic requires a psychological consult before undergoing treatment. The clinic may also require a legal contact if you’re using a known egg or sperm donor rather than an anonymous one.

The question you may ask:

  • Is there an exact treatment available for your infertility issue? And whether we can treat it medically or surgically.
  • What are the different treatment options the clinic offers?
  • What is the pre-treatment evaluation recommended by the clinic?
  • Whether the clinic can start the IVF treatment when you are ready, or they perform bath cycles means start only on certain days of the month.
  • Do they perform fresh or frozen embryo transfer?
  • Whether they have an age limit for IUI, IVF, or embryo transfer?
  • What is best about their clinic that separates them from others in the city?
  • Whether they facilitate egg or sperm donors in case needed?
  • Whether you need to make lifestyle changes before the treatment?

Treatment Cost

Treatment cost is a significant issue for couples pursuing fertility treatment. The average cost of IVF in the US is $19000. However, most of the time, many insurance companies do not cover it.

Following are a few ways to make a healthy sleep: –

  • What is the cost of treatments such as IVF, IUI, embryo transfer, etc.?
  • Sometimes infertility injections are not a part of IVF. So, in that case, what is the price of these injections?
  • Whether the clinic accepts the insurance? If yes, then whether they will get yours?
  • Whether the insurance available in the clinic covers infertility treatment.
  • Whether they have package pricing if you need more than one IVF cycle?
  • Whether they have any IVF financing available?
  • Avoid using phones, computers or watching tv at least half an hour before bedtime.

Clinic Success Rate

The success rate for different treatment options is significant because the ultimate goal is to get pregnant.

Questions you may ask:

  • What are the pregnancy rates for someone your age with your fertility diagnosis for various treatment options?
  • What are the embryo development and embryology labs’ rates for fertilization and pregnancy for embryo transfers?
  • What safety measures do the clinic have to prevent rare issues such as cryobank failures?

Workflow of the Clinic

You will spend a reasonable amount of time at your clinic if you proceed with the fertility treatment. So, it is essential to understand the everyday workflow of the clinic in your first fertility visit so you become be comfortable and supported in the process.

Questions you may ask: –

  • At what time does the ultrasound start in the morning?
  • Whether your doctor will perform IUI, embryo transfer, or egg retrieval.
  • Whether the physician will be available via phone or email?
  • Who can you contact if you need to ask anything, or when will you be available?
  • How long do the monitoring appointments, on average, take place?

Conclusion

After getting an answer to all these questions, we you prefer to give a second opinion regarding your treatment plan, even if you are uncomfortable or unsatisfied. Clear all your doubts without any hesitation. A good clinic will always be on your back and support you on every treatment step. And will also try to make you feel comfortable.