What kind of questions are asked by consulltant at a first consultation at a fertility clinic?

Question

Have first appointment next week and want to get the most out of it but very nervous incase they cant help us. Want to be prepared!

Answer 1

Boo,
good luck with your appointment. Please try not to be nervous. My husband and I had our first appt at hospital fertility clinic 6 weeks ago, BaggyK was spot on with the questions they ask you.

I suggest that you find out everything and confess anything to your partner before you go - for example you do not want to hear for the 1st time about previous STI's infront of the consultant (i am not insinuating anything).

if you have not already, start keeping a diary of your cycle, I use an online service, that logs your cycle and sends you reminders of when your period is due etc. I then print off what I need when I go to the consultant

As a result of our first appt:
my husband had to provide a specimen
I had a scan - I have fybriods. Also a cyst they are going to remove
I had to have a clamidia and rubella blood tests
I had to give blood to check hormone levels during ovulation
I also have to have a laparoscopy to check for blockages in the Fallopian tubes
I have to loose weight, drink less and exercise more.

It sounds like loads, but this was over the 6 weeks following our first appt and if it means I might get a baby at the other end it's worth it.

We had our 2nd appt yesterday, which was giving us the results of all of the tests.

Don't forget - ask loads of questions, ask them to explain things if you don't understand - my consultant drew pictures to explain things.

This is all on the NHS so it's free!!

Good luck Boo,

the lovethinguk

Answer 2

I had infertility treatment for my first child. Obviously we both had consultation and the questions they asked were about general health. This was 26 years ago, so the situation may have changed since then. My partner was given a little cup and a magazine ( ! ) and told to go into a little room. I was given a general medical check up and asked about my menstrual cycle, regular, heavy, how long it lasted etc., then how often we had sex. They checked my husbands sperm count there and then (we went private) and we were told to start taking my temperature every day for three months to determine when ovulation took place. These days there are kits I believe that do this.
The next appt was worked around my cycle and we had to have sex before the appt. On the day I had a "post coital test" which was like a smear test, to check whether I was killing off the sperm and to see if we were compatible.
Its very individual thing and nothing to worry about, once you start the ball rolling as it were; you feel that there is someone out there that will make it happen and you are not so alone.
The first appt is the most nerve wracking of course, but you will be fine. Even all those years ago there were things that they could do for you in order to get your pregnant. Things have moved on since then so relax and good luck, you will get there.

Answer 3

Q: What are the first steps you will take to determine and/or treat our specific fertility problem?

Q: Should I be charting my basal body temperature (BBT) each month?

Q: What are the different treatment options for fertility medications?

Q: What are the costs of treatments and how much does my insurance cover?

Q: What are the side effects and risks of fertility drugs, including the chance of multiple births?

Q: When I am in treatment how often do I need to come to the office for appointments and can you be flexible to accommodate my work schedule?

Q: What are your pregnancy success rates?

Q: Can I do all the necessary testing and procedures in your office or will I have to go out to separate laboratories or hospitals?

Q: Is there someone I can call for questions at any time?



TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR INITIAL CONSULTATION



Send or take with you any previous medical records concerning fertility tests. If you have had hysterosalpingogram, the film is more valuable than the printed report.


List out your concerns about your cycles - whether you are regular, have a short luteal phase, lack mucus, get positive ovulation predictor tests, etc. Include basal body temperature charts if you have them, and with as much detail as possible. If you are switching fertility doctors, be prepared to list what you have tried and how you responded -- include all meds.


Make a list of all your questions - it will actually speed things up even if you have a long list because you won't fumble around trying to remember what you want to ask.


Consider typing your list of questions and handing a copy to the doctor. You can even consider faxing or mailing this ahead of time, but you will probably have a bunch of things to add at the last minute.


Don't worry about asking "intelligent" questions . . . you should ask anything and everything you want answered.


Be prepared to discuss some family medical history, including preganncy problems, lupus, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol problems.


Consider saying that you are trying to be an informed patient and would like to be a partner in your own treatment.

Answer 4

There will be three kinds of questions: couple questions, male questions and female questions.

Couple questions:
- How long have you been trying to conceive?
- What methods have you used to track ovulation?
- What are your habits around trying to conceive?
- Do either of you smoke? (smoking is the single largest cause of infertility in men and women)

Female questions:
- What are you cycles like: reglar/irregular?
- What have your cycles been like over the years?
- Have you ever had cancer?
- Have you ever had an STD?
- Do you monitor your fertility and if so, how?

Male questions:
- What is your general medical history?
- Have you ever had cancer?
- An STD?
- Have you had mumps, chicken pox, measles and if so, at what age?
- What do you do for exercise and how often?

Probably, the doctor will give you some suggestions for how to increase your chances of success first and send you away for three months. But he might also order blood tests for both of you to ensure your general health is good.

After that, male fertility is much easier to test than female fertility, so if the doctor feels that tests are necessary, your husband will be tested first to rule out problems on the male side of things. If his fertility is fine, they will do additional tests on you that are a lot more complicated and invasive.

Good luck and happy baby-making.

Answer 5

Hi ive never been but a close friend has. They will initially tel you few about what it entails, injections etc etc, to see if your fully prepared, then they will ask you a few questions about how long you've been trying and what your've already tried. If your periods are regular etc.

Its pretty basic stuff to start with. Dont worry.

Answer 6

something exciting which could no longer something each and absolutely everyone else has presented up earlier over and once extra. you could seek for for questions or perhaps if it really is something that has already been requested, do not waste some time. unique ideas and questions that are extra deeply concept out or out of the norm will be starred because they galvanize concept or make human beings say ' wow, strong question - under no circumstances concept-about that'

Answer 7

My sister is just about to have IVF and has visited a few clinics. They will ask questions about your general health ( is it unexplained infertility or is there a reason ( blocked tubes etc) Also, your circumstances ( Have you any children already, married/ partner/ Any STD's) Do you smoke/ drink/ take drugs etc?

Answer 8

1. How Old are you
2. HOW OLD DID YOU SAY!
3. You are joking are`nt you
4. When did you finish the menopause
5. That means you will be 95 when your child starts school!!
6. OK.....that`ll be £35000.00 or $70000.00

Answer 9

There are some good questions to ask on this link:

http://wish2conceive.com/infertility.htm

Answer 10

go to this website and it will explain it all. It is a doctor i have been to myself.

Dr. Richard Levin
http://www.babies-by-levin.com

Good luck