Always the first step in anything we do fills us with mixed feelings of excitement, expectations, hope, and stress. Especially when this step is the one that leads you to your first meeting with the fertility specialist. This is an especially important benchmark that will help you understand the process and map out your upcoming fertility journey.

Every case is different, so your doctor will need to make an in-depth evaluation of your medical history. Your own preparation at this meeting is extremely important to start this journey in the best possible way. Its duration depends on yours and your partner’s/ spouse’s history and can last from one to two hours. Let’s see the steps of your own preparation.

Visit for one or two?

Many women prefer to go alone, perhaps because they may feel free to express their feelings and ask questions. However, know that both of you will be invited to this meeting. The presence of your partner/ spouse will give you the opportunity to share this experience and to him the chance to understand the path you will take. Additionally, his emotional support will make you feel stronger. Another important reason is that he can help you by completing your own answers or pointing out some details that you might not remember, even asking his own questions, allaying his own fears and concerns.

What should you bring with you?

• Copies of medical files.
• Every basic piece of information is vital. In case you don’t have all the tests you’ve taken, ask them to be emailed to you and print them.
• A list of your questions.
• It is very natural during the meeting not to remember what to ask.
• That’s why a good idea is to write down the questions you have. Of course, the doctor and his team will ask you many questions, but it is equally important to include those that you consider important to you.
• Have a notebook with you.
• This will help you jot down anything you think will be useful to retrieve later in the comfort of your own home. It’s natural to have strong emotions, and an abundance of information can confuse you. Also, taking notes will help you remember some important details better.

Every detail counts

Find the time to recall events and memories concerning your body, your physical and your psychological state. Something that seems insignificant to you may be very important to your doctor.

• Note if you are taking any medications and what they are.
• Include vitamins, tonics, nutritional supplements, and even herbs you take.
• Don’t forget to note the time period and doses you take in the above.

Write down medical information for both of you

• Your menstrual cycle and everything about it is an extremely important chapter. Note the age of first period, whether your cycle is regular, its average duration, whether the flow is light or heavy and whether it is painful.
• Writing down the symptoms during your cycle, will help your doctor, and of course you, to understand if you have PMS – premenstrual syndrome, which is characterized by mood swings, fatigue, depression and nervousness, irritable breasts, strong desire to eat.
• It is important to mention any medical conditions concerning you and your partner/ spouse. Also, if there are any previous tests, evaluations, treatments for infertility.

Write down everything about your attempts to get pregnant

• The time period you have been trying to conceive.
• The frequency of your sexual contacts.
• Note about your basal body temperature as well as the kit results for your ovulation days.

Find out if there is a history of infertility in your family

• Do not hesitate both of you to ask your family members.
• If there is the possibility and intimacy ask even close relatives if there is history of infertility.

What to ask your fertility specialist

This list will help you organize your thoughts and your questions to get the answers you want. Of course it is a sample and you can add your own questions.

• Are there many couples who face fertility problems? Are they close to my age?
• What tests do you recommend for me and my partner/ spouse?
• Are there alternatives for all infertility cases?
• What are the success rates for patients of my own age?
• Are there risks or side effects to these treatments, and if so, what are they?
• What is the cost so that the HR representative at my workplace and my insurance company are informed?
• How long does the diagnosis take?
• How long will it take to come up with a treatment plan?
• Do you offer emotional counseling? If not, can you recommend a fertility counselor specifically?
• Will the procedures be done at the clinic, or some of them will be performed elsewhere?
• How many people does your team consist of, who will monitor the treatment and who will be responsible for the fertility procedures?
• How often will I be able to see my attending physician during my appointments?
• Is there someone in charge that I can turn to, every day when I have questions?
• Are there any lifestyle tips during treatment?

Medical Exams that you will be asked to take

As you understand, tests are the only way to diagnose the problem in order the most suitable treatment to be found. Also, the results will help you create data that will be useful for future exams if needed.

At your first visit, you may have the following tests:

For women:

• Ultrasound to evaluate the ovaries
• Blood tests to check individual hormone levels such as:
• LH (luteinizing hormone)
• FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
• PRL (prolactin)
• TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)

For men:

• Semen sample
• List of infectious diseases before IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in vitro fertilization)

Recognizing and accepting that you have a fertility problem requires mental strength, but it also shows your maturity and determination to have a child.

The first meeting is very important. Being prepared will be a great start in helping you begin this journey with knowledge, understanding, love, safety, towards a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby.