Ten questions to ask at your first fertility clinic appointment

If you're planning to visit a fertility clinic for the first time, here are some questions you may want to ask:

1. What tests do you recommend for me and my partner (if I have one), and what could be causing our difficulty conceiving?
2. Based on my medical history and any tests I have already had, what are the most likely causes?
3. What treatment options are available, and which do you recommend as a first step for my situation? ACOG describes options ranging from ovulation medication and insemination to IVF.
4. What are your clinic's success rates for people like me, and do you report live births per cycle started? MedlinePlus notes that pregnancy rates and live birth rates are different, and outcomes depend on factors such as age.
5. What are the risks and side effects of each option, including multiple pregnancy and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?
6. How long does a typical treatment cycle take, and how many appointments will I need?
7. What will the full cost be, including medications, monitoring, and embryo storage, and what does my insurance cover?
8. Are there lifestyle changes that could help, such as reaching a healthy weight or stopping smoking?
9. Which treatment add-ons do you offer, and what is the evidence for them? The UK regulator HFEA notes that most patients do not need add-ons.
10. What support services do you offer, such as counselling, and what are the next steps?

Bring your records and write your questions down before the visit. It's important to be open and honest with your doctor about your concerns and goals, and to ask anything else on your mind.