If you’ve been attempting to get pregnant for at least six months to a year and have experienced no success, it’s time to see an infertility specialist. Since the process can be overwhelming and emotional, it’s wise to prepare as much as possible before consulting with the doctor. By asking the following questions, you can develop a better understanding of your prognosis and the options you have to improve conception.

The Top Questions to Ask Your Infertility Specialist

What Type of Tests Will I Need to Take?

After reviewing your family, medical, and reproductive history, providers typically need more additional information to determine why conception is challenging. To gather this data, doctors will order a variety of tests to check your current condition. Women typically provide a blood sample, while men may be asked to provide a semen sample for sperm analysis.

What Is the Cause of My Reproductive Issues?

Once the test results come in, your fertility doctor can paint a clearer picture of what’s causing reproductive problems. Before you can consider a treatment, it’s important to learn why your body—or your partner’s—has made it difficult to conceive. You should discuss whether conception is possible, and if so, what the chances of getting pregnant are.  

What Is the Best Treatment Plan?

From artificial insemination to in vitro fertilization, there are numerous infertility treatment options that can increase the likelihood of conception. However, treatments aren’t effective for everyone and can be expensive. It’s critical to learn about all your options and learn which ones may deliver the highest success rates.

Ask if treatment involves side effects that you should be prepared for. 

Can Lifestyle Changes Improve My Chances of Conceiving?

Although fertility doctors specialize in treating issues of the reproductive system, they can also assess how other areas of general health may be impacting your ability to conceive. It’s important to find out what you can do in your day-to-day life to boost fertility, such as changing your diet, practicing stress management techniques, or avoiding alcohol and tobacco.  

Will My Health Insurance Cover Treatment?

While there are many ways to treat fertility, a great percentage of these options can be costly. Although some health insurance providers will cover some of these services, it’s important to find out ahead of time what you should expect to pay out-of-pocket so that you can plan accordingly.

Finding the answers to these questions and others is easy when you consult the infertility specialists at Pacific In Vitro Fertilization. Located in Honolulu, HI, this fertility treatment center is staffed with experienced specialists who pride themselves on offering compassionate, customized care within a comfortable and confidential environment. You can learn more about their services online or call (808) 946-2226 to schedule a consultation with a doctor.