Infertility, when a female is not getting pregnant after 12 months of regular unprotected sex (less for women over 35 years of age), is a medical disease. A couple would eventually start to wonder, is it you? Is it your partner? One of the greatest difficulties is making the first step: setting up an appointment with an infertility specialist. This is, of course, understandable. Making that first appointment seems like a huge leap. It might comfort you to have ideas on what to expect on your first ever visit.
Initial Consultation
At your initial visit, your doctor will determine whether you or your partner has history that may be an underlying medical condition that leads to infertility – this might require further evaluation. If possible, send your past medical records ahead of time. This saves time at your first visit because your doctor will be familiarized with your and your partner’s medical history. The goal for this initial consultation is to provide you with a comprehensive assessment needed to help you make the decisions in obtaining your reproductive goals.
What To Do
It’s important that you make the most out of your first consultation. You can do that by asking as many questions as you can – especially if there are terms or procedures that are not clear to your or your spouse. You should also take ample time to think things through since there can be a lot of issues to consider. You should also keep in mind that the clinic staffs are willing to help you in making the right choice.
Tests
You should also be aware that there are tests done for both female and male patients. These tests are carried out by your doctor before any actual treatment can take play. For women, a full hormone profile may be taken to assess for any hormonal imbalance. Blood tests are done to find out if the patient is ovulating, and an ultrasound might be needed to have a look at the patient’s uterus and ovaries. These are just some of the tests that you will be required to undergo.
For men, a semen analysis might be done to check the quality of sperm cells and the numbers. Sperm might be sent for culture to rule out infection.
