For some women, starting a family doesn’t come as easily as they’d hoped. While it can take a healthy couple up to one year to conceive naturally, age plays a significant role in fertility. For women over the age of 35, it’s therefore important to visit a fertility doctor soon after making the decision to have a baby. To prepare yourself for this new chapter, here are some questions to ask your specialist during a consultation.

What to Ask During Your First Fertility Consultation

1. What Type of Testing Do You Recommend?

The possible causes of infertility are numerous and complex. While age is a factor for both sexes, issues like diminished ovarian reserve, poor sperm motility or morphology, and other factors that could impact pregnancy will be considered. Tests such as semen analysis, blood tests for hormone level, and in-depth physical exams are recommended on an individual basis. 

2. Which Treatments Do You Recommend?

The findings from your tests will help establish a clear treatment course. For some younger couples with issues like unexplained infertility, intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be advised first. When age is a factor in infertility, jumping directly to treatments with higher odds of success, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), is often recommended.

3. What Are the Success Rates for the Treatment?

Success rates will vary based on age, causes of infertility, and additional factors. Your fertility doctor will discuss the odds of success for various approaches based on your circumstances. This will allow you to make informed decisions. 

4. Are There Any Side Effects?

To maximize the odds of success, women are prescribed fertility medications that will help develop as many mature follicles as possible. Several medications are also used to prepare the ovaries for egg retrieval before IVF. Some of these may have accompanying symptoms like mood swings and bloating, but they are temporary and generally mild. Your fertility doctor can discuss potential side effects in greater detail.

5. What Are the Costs of This Treatment?

Your clinic should inform you about the financial aspect of treatment. To better understand your responsibilities, ask which insurance plans are accepted and whether financing options are available. Some facilities also partner with assistance programs to offer discounts for eligible populations.

If you’re ready to meet with a fertility doctor to begin exploring your treatment options, contact the caring team at Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute in Honolulu, HI. Since opening Hawaii’s first IVF clinic in 1985, the specialists here have delivered more than 6,500 babies with comprehensive services. Make an appointment to discuss your path to parenthood by calling (808) 946-2226, or learn more about what to expect with IVF on their website.