Learn what happens during your first visit to a fertility clinic

November 15, 3:58 PMChicago Infertility & Miscarriage ExaminerIris Waichler

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Dr. Don Klitgaard updates patient records.

AP Photo/Nati Harnik

The roller coaster ride of infertility often takes people to a fertility clinic in their quest to become parents. There is a lot of anxiety associated with this visit.  Your are putting your future parenting hopes and dreams into the hands of the people you will meet there. People often are not certain about what to expect.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE 

One of the most important things you can do to on your first visit is to bring all of your medical records. This will  provide the infertility team you are working with valuable baseline information on your medical history, surgeries,  medications, lab reports, bloodwork information, and any previous testing or ultrasounds that were done. Have complete information on your menstrual cycle. Bring your partner if you have one and all of his records as well. Also bring all of your insurance information. Knowing relevant family history is also useful. It is a good idea to contact your insurance company ahead of time to find out what you can about your insurance coverage for seeing infertility specialists and any testing,medications, or infertility treatment that is covered under your plan. Find out if you need a referral from your primary care doctor to get coverage.  According to Concieve.com there are over 400 fertility clinics in the United States.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE VISIT?

When you first come in you and your partner will be asked to complete paperwork documenting  your medical history, insurance information, and medications. You will then spend some time with the physician discussing you history and formulating an infertility treatment plan. This visit can be an anxious time for you.  You and your partner can spend time ahead of the visit writing out questions you would like to discuss with your doctor.  This saves time and ensures you get all the information you need at this initial visit. According to Richard J. Paulson, MD, Director of University of Southern California Fertility Program in Los Angelas, Most first visits are just talking, unless there is a specific complaint that requires an ultrasound or blood test," says Dr. Paulson. "Use the consultation time to get as much information as possible."

THE NEXT STEP

Your doctor will review all of the medical information you present at the initial interview.  If the records you bring in are comprehensive and recent you may not need any additional testing or bloodwork. If not depending on your doctor's recommendations, your may start with an ultrasound, blood tests, or urine samples.  Todd Deutch,MD, and Richard, Sherban,MD, fertility specialists say "some doctors perform a complete exam, including a pelvic and breast exam...During the exam the doctors will be looking for clues as to why you are experiencing fertility problems."

END OF THE FIRST VISIT

At the conclusion of this visit with your doctor, together you will discuss what your treatment options are and what is recommended for you.  It is useful to take notes or even record your visit if the doctor agrees. A lot of information is exchanged and you want to make sure you understand it all.  Most fertility clinics have a financial or insurance expert that you will meet on your first visit.  Discuss your understanding of your coverage. Infertility treatment can be very costly depending on your insurance coverage. Find out if your clinic offers any special financial options for infertility treatment if you need it. You can prepare some financial/insurance questions ahead of time to bring in at this time. This person is a valuable member of your infertility treatment team.

Your doctor may recommend that you and your partner go home and review what has been discussed at the initial visit.  Think about it carefully and then get back to your doctor with your decision regarding the next step in your treatment.  What follows from here is dependent on the treatment plan developed by you and your doctor. Make sure you feel comfortable with the way you are treated and  asking questions and getting information from all of the staff at the clinic.  If you do embark on infertility treatment, you will be seeing your doctor and the support staff at the clinic many times in the days ahead. You want to feel confident that you, your doctor, and the fertility clinic support staff work well as a team. 

BELOW ARE OTHER GOOD RESOURCES ON INITIAL VISITS TO FERTILITY CENTERS:

1.   The American Fertility Association ,  "When you are trying to expect, by Todd, Deutch,MD, and Richard Sherbahn, MD, pp. 15-16, http://http://www.theafa.org/pubs/2010_Directory.pdf

2. Conceive.com, "What to Expect from your first visit to a Fertility Clinic, by Mary Dixon Lebeau, http://http://conceiveonline.com/seeing-a-specialist-infertility/first-visit/page-3/

3.First Visit IVF, http://http://www.firstvisitivf.org/

4. Shared Journey: Your Path to Fertility, http://http://www.sharedjourney.com/articles/re.html

TO FIND OUT ABOUT CHICAGOLAND INFERTILITY CLINICS GO TO:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-24097-Chicago-Infertility---Miscarriage-Examiner