A woman should know several things about fertility before booking an appointment with a fertility doctor. For this reason, we have listed the 5 things everyone should know before their first appointment with the fertility doctor.
- Your partner’s ovulation history
A crucial piece of information you need when making that first fertility checkup of the status of your partner’s ovulation. This is a record of how she releases a mature egg every month.
But then how do you collect this data? Well, tracking your partner’s period cycle helps. Record when it starts and ends.
There are many methods to choose from. You could use the calendar method, basal body temperature, as well as mucus test.
The mucus discharge and body temperature are influenced by your partner’s luteinizing hormone. This is the enzyme that matures a female’s egg.
A woman can only ovulate once her egg is mature to be released from the fallopian tube. An increase in this luteinizing hormone signifies ovulation that occurs 28 to 36 hours after the hormone peaks.
Take a urine sample by urinating in the fertility test strip. If it turns in the color or displays a positive charge, it indicates ovulation.
Also, as per information from Verywell Family, one of the first aspects a doctor would be interested in is your ovulation status – whether you are releasing an egg every month. Prior to your appointment, you might be able to determine this by monitoring and recording your basal body temperature (BBT) over several months.
- Expect Extensive Fertility Tests
Your sex and medical history are essential data that you need during your first fertility consultation. Various seemingly unrelated records could provide a clear picture regarding your fertility.
The records include your and your partner’s medical history, allergies, and congenital issues. Your fertility expert will also compute your well-being and family health history – including your parents and your spouse’s.
Expect to undergo further examination. Checks for height, weight, semen, and blood are undertaken here.
Your partner may also need a vaginal ultra-scan to establish infections and the physical condition of her cervical and fallopian structures.
The reproductive health expert may ask for specific examinations. What he asks you comes after they assess your previous medical history, as well as the nature of your infertility.
According to the study conducted by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, when couples seek treatment, their assessment may entail several tests. For the female partner, this could involve a blood test and a pelvic ultrasound scan. As for the male partner, a semen analysis (sperm test) would typically be conducted. Depending on the specific situation, additional blood tests might be necessary for the male partner, and the female partner might require further investigations or repeat ultrasound scans.
The outcome of these tests, coupled with the previous medical reports you provide, would form the basis for establishing how to initiate fertility treatment.
- Have a Medical Insurance
Infertility affects over 15% of couples all over the world. Yet fertility treatment is still expensive and extensive. Still, you need to cover the costs arising from the fertility treatment available when you begin this process.
Footing this specialist’s medical expenses can be financially expensive. Luckily many insurance companies coopt this procedure.
Medical insurance is designed for just that. But it’s your responsibility to check whether your medical policy covers the fertility treatment you seek.
Again you need to be aware of whether the treatment entails additional out-of-pocket expenses.
Having medical insurance can help get the most suitable fertility treatment. But different clinics take different insurance companies.
After the initial fertility deficiency assessment, your reproductive health expert could detail the treatment regime. Here is where you need to check the fine print regarding your insurance coverage.
It’s a great idea to have your policy and discuss it with your clinic if they accept it and the policy offsets the greatest treatment expenses.
- Expect Semen Analysis
Infertility is mostly due to a lack of sufficient sperm or where they are unhealthy sperm. Sperm analysis is thus a vital feature of any first fertility clinic visit.
This assessment is done after your medical history has been reviewed and the structure of your reproductive organs evaluated.
What’s the essence of this analysis? Well, a semen test provides the accurate status of your semen physiology and health.
Based on the study conducted by UCFS Health, semen analysis is among the initial tests performed to assess a man’s fertility. Its purpose is to identify whether issues related to sperm production or sperm quality are contributing to infertility. Notably, approximately half of couples facing infertility have a male-related factor involved. Additionally, semen analysis is employed as a post-vasectomy verification tool to ensure the presence of sperm in the semen.
Here, a semen sample is collected via a laid down procedure. Most clinics would provide you with a sterile container for collection.
Reputable fertility treatment outfits provide a secure space for you to masturbate into the vial and then take it for analysis.
Once your semen sample is in the lab, they break down the volume and concentration of the semen. Vital statistics regarding sperm count, shape, movement, and presence of white blood cells and their DNA are documented.
These results are compared against the set parameters to understand your semen status.
- Treatment has challenges
One vital factor you must be aware of during your first visit to a fertility center is that this treatment is challenging.
Be ready to undergo radical lifestyle changes to accommodate the strict treatment procedure. You will expect various trial-and-error medications, frequent trips to a clinic, and expensive tests and analyses.
What’s more, not all approaches would render the expected outcome. Yet other treatments could cause unintended side effects. You may enroll for a process that doesn’t work, even after spending several months in it.
Hence expect to get disappointed in one way or another. Be prepared to accept a review of a treatment plan when the preferred option fails.
All these sacrifices and disappointments could naturally result in huge mental stress. But this is the last thing you need during this therapy.
Your emotion directly impacts treatment. Any slight mental and physical trauma could result in poor medical efficacy.
In conclusion, we have discussed five things people should know before making their first appointment with a fertility doctor. We hope that these tips can help you get prepared for the next steps in fertility treatment.
SIMILAR QUESTION
What Questions Should I Ask My GP About Fertility?
Introduction
Fertility is a complex topic that can be confusing and intimidating to discuss. When considering fertility, it is important to speak to your GP to ensure that you have all the information you need to make informed decisions. Asking the right questions can help you to understand your fertility, identify potential issues, and find a plan of action that works for you. This paper will discuss the questions that you should ask your GP about fertility in order to gain a better understanding of your reproductive health.
Questions to Ask Your GP about Fertility
1. Are there any underlying health conditions that could affect my fertility?
Your GP will be able to provide you with information about any underlying health conditions that could affect your fertility, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and thyroid disorders. Knowing this information can help you to make informed decisions about your fertility.
2. What lifestyle changes can I make to improve my fertility?
Your GP can provide advice on lifestyle changes that may help to improve your fertility. These can include changes to your diet, such as increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables, as well as taking up regular exercise. Your GP can also provide information about the potential benefits of reducing your alcohol and caffeine consumption.
3. What type of infertility testing can I undergo?
Your GP can provide information about the different types of fertility tests that are available, such as semen analysis, ovarian reserve testing, and hysterosalpingogram (HSG). Knowing this information can help you to decide which tests may be beneficial for your individual situation.
4. What treatments are available if I am diagnosed with infertility?
Your GP can provide information about the different treatments that are available for infertility, such as assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and medications. Knowing this information can help you to decide which treatments may be beneficial for your individual situation.
5. Are there any resources that I can access for more information?
Your GP can provide information about the different resources that are available, such as books, websites, and support groups, which can provide additional information on fertility. Knowing this information can help you to make more informed decisions about your reproductive health.
Conclusion
Fertility is a complex topic that can be confusing and intimidating to discuss. When considering fertility, it is important to speak to your GP to ensure that you have all the information you need to make informed decisions. Asking the right questions can help you to understand your fertility, identify potential issues, and find a plan of action that works for you. This paper discussed the questions that you should ask your GP about fertility in order to gain a better understanding of your reproductive health.
