3 Ways To Prepare For A Consultation With An Infertility Specialist
Your doctor might refer you to an infertility specialist if he or she believes that there is an underlying problem that is leading to challenges with conceiving. To make the most of the consultation with the specialist, you want to prepare ahead. Being prepared can help ensure that you get the information needed and a thorough assessment of your health status. Here are a few ways that you can prepare for the visit.
Create a List of Questions
Even though you will have more time to talk with the infertility specialist in the future, having a list of questions ready for the consultation will help ensure you get the most information possible early on the process. With the specialist's answers, you and your partner can make a more informed decision about your reproductive future.
Some of your questions should cover topics, such as the diagnostic testing, what you can do to improve your chances of conception, and treatment options that are available. For each treatment that is recommended, you need to be prepared to ask about the success rates and the side effects.
Write a Detailed History of Your Attempts to Conceive
During the assessment, the infertility specialist will ask several questions about your medical history. You can help him or her with the assessment by providing a written history of your attempts to conceive. The specialist can use this information to get a better understanding of what has not worked in the past.
The history needs to include such details as when you and your partner first attempted to conceive. You also need to detail if conception efforts were during the ovulation period. Include any other details that you believe are important for the specialist to know.
Detail Your Medical History
In addition to knowing about your efforts to conceive, the specialist needs to know about you and your partner's medical history. If you have been previously assessed for infertility, you need to provide the specialist's name, contact information, and an account of the previous specialist's conclusions.
If you or your partner are currently taking medication, this information needs to be noted, too. Even vitamins and supplements that are being used need to be noted. If possible, note the doses of all medication that is taken.
The consultation is not your only opportunity to discuss conception problems. However, taking advantage of the time spent with the infertility specialist will help you and your partner prepare for the future. Make an appointment at a clinic like Women's Care Inc to start learning more about infertility and reproductive health.