The doctors that you see will ask you and your partner a great many detailed questions about your medical history and your personal lives. But the fertility consultation should not be a one-way flow of information. Don’t hesitate to ask questions yourself to fully understand what is happening/ will happen.

It is a good idea to note down any questions or concerns you have when you think of them and then take a list with you to your appointments. Couples can use the checklist developed below as a starting point for asking questions.

• What qualifications do you have for treating infertility?
• What is your own experience?
• Why are you interested in fertility treatments?
• What is your experience with the fertility centre and the laboratory that you use?
• Which approach do you adopt?
• What is the success rate of your programme?

• What are the opening times on weekdays as well as weekends, evenings, holidays?
• Are there specific times we can call with questions?
• Who talks to your patients? A doctor? A nurse? Somebody else?
• Which tests are carried out in the practice and which elsewhere?
• Who carries out the procedures? Is the same doctor involved throughout the examination or are others from the clinic also involved?
• Where is the laboratory work done? How experienced are the personnel?

• How do you determine the approach that you advise a couple to adopt?
• How quickly can you begin the tests?
• What tests do you recommend?
• What considerations are important in relation to the recommended tests?
• How long do the tests take? Are there “signposts” to determine whether further tests are necessary?
• Are there changes to our lifestyle that can improve our fertility or the accuracy of the tests?

• What are the expected costs?
• What is included in the price?

• What information material do you provide for patients?
• Can you recommend any books or other sources of help?
• Should I/we to consider some form of psychological help during the testing process?
• Do you offer support to your patients, in the form of discussion groups, for example?
• Are psychological therapists/counsellors attached to the clinic or do you have a list of advisers with expertise in infertility?