24 Questions to Ask Your Fertility Specialist
I remember walking into the infertility clinic for the first time like it was yesterday. My husband and I were just 23 years old and had just experienced our second miscarriage. I remember getting lost in the busy hallways trying to find the small office building, sheepishly writing my name on the list when we arrived, signing the consent forms that we would need to pay for all services and treatments up front and in full, sitting down in the corner and just trying not to make eye contact with anyone else in the waiting room. I wondered what circumstances had led the others to this sad and lonely office and my husband and I tried to stay focused and trying to write down and remember to ask the doctor all of the questions we had been rolling around over and over in our minds… it all just felt so overwhelming..
When our name was called and we finally got to see the doctor, it felt like they were speaking a totally different language. We had no idea there would be so many tests and treatments involved. At the time, I didn't know anyone else going through infertility or miscarriage, and I couldn't begin to tell you how many hours I spent on Google researching everything I could about infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss, which was the diagnosis we were given that day with no explanation for what was causing it.
Our journey spanned nearly 7 years and contained 8 unexplained recurrent pregnancy losses, hundreds and hundreds of tests on both me and my husband, countless medicated treatment cycles, 3 rounds of IVF, and 3 "second opinions" from fertility specialists in 3 different states. I learned over time 24 helpful questions to ask your fertility specialist and I'm sharing my list with you in the hopes that it will help you on your journey. I created a free PDF download that includes the list of all 24 questions to ask your fertility doctor (11 questions to ask at your first appointment and 13 questions to ask at your second appointment), a section to take notes, and additional resources and more.
If you’re having a difficult journey to have a baby, I want you to know more than anything that you are not alone. I know it all may feel overwhelming right now, but you can get through this. No matter what your diagnosis may be, there is always hope and it is possible to have joy and thrive, even in the midst of infertility. It’s so important on this journey to have support. As a certified fertility coach, trauma- specialist, and full-spectrum doula, I help women like you find courage in the hardest parts of their stories and ignite hope even in the midst of infertility and loss. I’d love to get to know you and partner with you on your journey. If you’re interested in individualized, one-on-one support as you take your next steps in your infertility journey, you can schedule a complimentary 30-minute coaching call with me. During our call, we can discuss what you’ve been through and are going through, what your goals are, and assess together if we think working together would be a good fit. Infertility is hard, but together we can do hard things.
