Everything you need to know before your first consultation appointment
Thank you for allowing Fertility Answers to be a part of your journey to a family. Our goal for your first consultation appointment is to make you feel confident about your decision to take the next step toward treatment. Our team of reproductive endocrinologists, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants and benefits specialists will guide you along this journey so that you can be an active partner in making the right decisions for you.
We understand that infertility can be a stressful experience and having your first consultation appointment with a fertility specialist is no exception. But, being well prepared for this first visit can make it all go a little easier. Below are some tips to help you be more organized and prepared for this first meeting.
Before Your Appointment
To optimize the benefit that you receive from your first consultation appointment with Fertility Answers, we encourage you to plan ahead by addressing the following items:
- Be sure to completely fill out your Patient Portal before your first consultation.
- Understand your insurance benefits and obtain any prior authorization if required. Many health insurance policies provide no or limited benefits for fertility services. Our office will help you determine your insurance infertility benefits before your first consultation appointment so there are no surprises.
- Be prepared to pay your insurance co-payment at the time of service. If fertility services are not covered under your insurance plan, be prepared to pay for the cost of the entire visit (including any labs or ultrasounds).
- Take the time to read the articles on this site that may pertain to your possible diagnosis and treatment. A better informed patient makes better treatment decisions.
- Obtain copies of your pertinent medical records from other physicians that you think may be helpful in evaluating your situation.
What to Bring to Your First Appointment
To enable our fertility specialists to provide you with the best possible care, please be prepared to have the following information available at your first consultation appointment:
- Copies of your medical history, prior surgeries, and lab reports. If your male partner has had a prior semen analysis or information about a health issue that could be related to his fertility, this would be important to bring as well.
- List of medications and supplements you currently take, including dosages. This applies to the male partner as well, as sperm is sensitive to many medications and supplements.
- Your and your partner’s driver’s license and insurance cards.
- Any forms you were asked to bring with you at the time you scheduled your appointment.
- Any questions you may have for our physician.
What to Expect at Your First Consultation Appointment
Your first visit with Fertility Answers is a very important one and we encourage both partners to attend. During your first consultation appointment, you will meet your physician to discuss your medical history and, based on initial information, some tests may be performed.
The most successful initial consultations occur when your physician knows as much information as possible about your medical history and prior tests or treatments. We encourage our patients to be open with their physician and to become an active participant in their healthcare. You may also meet a physician assistant or fertility nurse who will be the one to review medication details and additional tests that need to be performed, based on the initial test results, during follow-up visits.
Usually on your first consultation appointment we will perform the following:
- Medical histories for both partners will be taken. Try to keep track of the length of your menstrual cycles for several months beforehand. Charting Basal Body Temps (BBTs) for several months will also give your doctor some insights. Using home Ovulation Predictor Kits and recording the results will also be useful information.
- Routine bloodwork/screening of both partners for infectious disease that is recommended prior to conception.
- Genetic screening to determine if you or your partner are carriers of certain diseases that can be inherited by your children.
- Blood tests to determine if your hormone levels are normal. Many of these tests are usually done in the first week of your menstrual cycle.
- Semen analysis for the male partner.
- Pelvic ultrasound to evaluate reproductive anatomy.
