What to expect at your first infertility consultation.

You may be on the point of seeing the doctor hoping to find out why you and your partner haven’t been able to get pregnant even though you’ve been trying for over a year. Perhaps it seems easier to go on in the bliss of ignorance for a while longer. You’ll be left with no reason to keep postponing that initial infertility consultation if you are aware of what to anticipate, so here goes.

This is what the specialist will want to know.

In what year did you begin puberty? For the women, although you would possibly not like to remember that day, you should try and remember when your periods started. If you started puberty very late or very early it may be an indication of a problem.
Any health issues you have at the moment or that you have had previously could be significant. Things that seem trivial might end up being vital bits of information, so maybe you should phone your mom and find out about any childhood illnesses you had and go from there. The illness itself or even the medication for the illness could impact your fertility badly.
Have you had any surgical operations at all? Maybe check with your parents, they may recall things that you won’t, such as having tonsils or teeth removed.
Are you on any chronic medication? Are there any other pills you take quite often? Ever had chronic medication previously? Try to remember any supplements or vitamins as well.
When was your first sexual encounter? Have you been with multiple sexual partners? Have you ever suffered from an STD? STDs might cause infertility and when girls are sexually active before 18 years of age their cervical wellbeing can also be affected.

For the ladies:

How long are your cycles and how long does the period last? Is bleeding very heavy (or quite light)? Is cramping acute?
How many times a week do you have sexual intercourse? Too often or too seldom can both be problematic.
How does your sexual intercourse correlate with the lady’s ovulation? You need to have intercourse at the right time of the month to make a baby.
Have you been pregnant previously? This may seem like a strange question considering that you are there to enquire about problems getting pregnant, but many couples struggle to get pregnant for a second time. What’s more, a history of miscarriages may also point to a problem.
Do you make use of lubricant? What lubricant do you use? Any additional intimacy enhancing products? Another strange question, asked not because the specialist is curious, but because some lubricants give the sperm a tough time.
Do you or your partner have any sexual problems? Failure to reach orgasm? Vaginal dryness? Pain? Problems getting an erection? Nothing is off limits! Everything must be revealed if you are looking for a precise diagnosis.

The specialist will also possibly also ask about your emotional wellbeing, which is a tough one, especially after that interrogation! Try to ensure that you have spoken about all this information with your partner before you get to the doctor. Learning about your partner’s dodgy past for the first time in a doctor’s room is not beneficial to emotional stability!

The doctor could need to make sure that all your bits are present and in good condition, and ladies, this will most likely include a quick internal exam for you. It may seem like a whole heap all at one time, but it’s a good idea to try and remember that the doctor only wants to do what’s best for you, and that internal examinations are part of the deal. Do your best to get used to it – you’ll have to go through at least a few more when you finally do get pregnant.

Depending on your replies to these questions, the doctor could ask you to have various infertility tests done. For the men this includes a semen analysis, and for the ladies, a pap smear. Both partners may have blood tests, ultrasound scanning or STD checks. Any ‘plumbing problems’ on the lady’s side can be checked via hysterosalpingogram or laparoscopy – if it gets to that.

Was that as horrid as you thought it would be? If it was, I fully understand! You may feel totally exposed, inside and out! Just keep bringing to mind what your ambition is – a baby of your own! That may help bring things into perspective.

Here is more information on Infertility Costs. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Infertility.