20 key questions to ask your fertility specialist

Questions to ask your fertility doctor (first visit)

When running through questions to ask, first visit jitters can take hold. Remember, this is a fully supportive environment (or should be!) No question is silly, and there’s very little they won’t have seen and heard before.

During your initial consultation, you will discuss your medical history, your efforts to get pregnant, as well as your understanding of available fertility treatment options. Your fertility specialist will likely give you enough information for you to leave the appointment with a clearer understanding of the next steps. But just in case they don’t, here is a list of important questions to ask in your first fertility appointment:

1. What diagnostic tests are available and relevant to me/us?
2. What fertility treatment options are available and relevant?
3. What should I expect at each stage of fertility treatment?
4. Are there any risks involved?
5. How long will treatment take/how many appointments will I need?
6. How much will my fertility treatment cost? Do you have any payment plans such as insurance or finance?
7. What is included in the cost? Can I expect any additional costs? Is medication included?
8. What add-ons are available? Do you expect I/we will need them? What could the results show?
9. How would you advise we optimise our chances of success?
10. What are the chances of multiple live births at this fertility clinic?
11. What should I/we do if fertility treatment fails?
12. What counselling and support are available during and after my fertility treatment?

Questions to ask during fertility treatment

As you progress through the stages of fertility treatment, questions will crop up. Understandably, you’ll be apprehensive about how your treatment is going, the next steps and what is the likelihood of success.

During your treatment, you will discuss your results, next steps and potential side effects of fertility medication. You might want to ask your fertility specialist these questions:

1. What do the results of the fertility test show?
2. Are there any fertility supplements I should be taking? Or any other lifestyle changes I can make to boost my fertility?
3. What side effects can I expect from the IVF medication and fertility treatment? How can I ease the side effects or symptoms?
4. What is the next step?

If you’re having multiple rounds of fertility treatment, you could use the break in between cycles to discuss changes. Whilst it’s tempting to try and control everything during fertility treatment, the reality is that much is out of our control. However, simple alterations can make a difference. For example, your doctor might suggest adjusting the dosage of medication to protect from OHSS or to attempt a greater yield of eggs collected.

Speak with your fertility specialist about what they would recommend to increase the chances of success.

Questions to ask after fertility treatment

Sadly, the reality is that not all fertility treatment results in a pregnancy, so if you’re in a position of failed IVF treatment, take the time to speak with your partner or those close to you about what you wish to do. Your fertility specialist will advise you on what you could consider (donor eggs or sperm or a surrogate, perhaps) but the decision is ultimately yours.

1. Are any further tests needed to understand why I/we can’t get pregnant?
2. What fertility treatment would you suggest I try now?
3. If I receive a specific diagnosis, would you recommend referring me to a different fertility specialist?
4. What counselling is available to me?

Don’t torture yourself by asking what you could have done differently. Ruminating will only make you feel worse and won’t help you move forward at this emotional time.