HEALTH
First Appointment Process at an Infertility Clinic
If you are having difficulty becoming pregnant, you may want to consider visiting one of the infertility clinics in your area. To help you feel more confident about seeking help, learn more about what will happen at your appointment.
Schedule Your First Appointment
The first step in the appointment process is to schedule your consultation. When you call the clinic to set up a date and time, you can also ask questions about the appointment process, the fertility doctors, or insurance policies.
If there are multiple specialists at the infertility clinic, you can request a specific doctor before scheduling. One of the clinic’s staff members will get you started in the scheduling process and help you with the next few steps.
Fill Out Paperwork
You will be asked to fill out some paperwork about your medical history. You may need to sign in to an online portal to access the documents. Once you set up your account and fill out the information, you can often submit the paperwork through a portal.
A doctor will review your paperwork before your initial consultation. The information you provide will help them develop a treatment plan based on your situation. The patient team will review your insurance plan to determine what treatments the policy covers. Having your information ahead of time can help your appointment go more smoothly.
Complete Fertility Testing
The person you speak with to set up your appointment will ask about fertility testing. If you haven’t completed any testing, they may recommend it prior to your consultation.
Male and female fertility testing lets the doctor know key statistics that can help determine the cause of your infertility. You aren’t required to get the testing done before your consultation, but it allows the doctor to provide you with a treatment plan at your appointment.
Female testing focuses on the function of your ovaries. It will include bloodwork to test the hormone levels that impact your ability to conceive. Testing may also include a transvaginal ultrasound to look at the uterus and gain a count of antral follicles. A sonohysterogram assesses the function of your fallopian tubes, which may be included in your fertility tests.
Male testing checks the testicular function and the quantity and quality of sperm. The clinic will conduct semen analysis to determine male fertility. Based on the information you provide in your pre-appointment paperwork, your doctor may recommend other tests.
Attend Your First Appointment
The next step is to attend your appointment. This initial consultation allows the doctor to talk to you and find out about your goals. If you have completed the fertility testing, they will discuss the results with you. The doctor will also talk about a treatment plan.
If you haven’t completed the testing, the doctor will schedule a time for you to take the tests. They will also set up a follow-up visit to review the results of the tests and decide on treatment.
Find Out Your Financial Options
At the end of your consultation, you will discuss the financial aspect of fertility treatment. You may meet with a financial counselor who will talk to you about insurance coverage and financing. They will have already reviewed your file and have suggestions about how to make it fit in with your budget.
Take the time to ask questions about the financial part of this journey. Fertility treatments are often costly, but they can be affordable for many people with financing or payment plans. You may also qualify for discount programs, such as military, first responder, or educator discounts.
Find the Best Infertility Clinics
This is a brief rundown of what you can expect with your initial consultation and pre-appointment process. Your next step is to find an infertility clinic near you and set up an appointment.
There’s no obligation with the initial consultation. It can provide valuable information to help you know what’s going on with your fertility issues. You can get answers to questions you may have and meet your fertility specialist. The goal of the appointment is to let you know what options are available to you. You don’t have to let fertility issues keep you from having the family you desire. Infertility clinics can help you realize your dream with the right treatment plan.
Kenneth is a proud native of sydney, born and raised there. However, he pursued his education abroad and studied in Australia. Kenneth has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, making valuable contributions to prominent publications such as Yahoo News and The Verge. Currently, he serves as a journalist for The Hear Up, where he focuses on covering climate and science news. You can reach Kenneth at [email protected].
