Taking the step to book your first fertility consultation is a significant and courageous one. It’s a moment filled with hope for the future, but it can also be accompanied by a great deal of apprehension and uncertainty. What will the doctor ask? What tests will we need? What should we expect? These are all completely normal questions.
My name is Dr. Vrushali Pillai, and as a Senior Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Borneo Hospital, Thane – part of the Borneo Hospitals group with dedicated family health centres in Thane, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and Raipur City – I understand the sensitivity and importance of this first meeting. Our primary goal is to create a supportive, confidential, and comfortable environment where you can get clear answers and feel empowered.
This article aims to demystify your first Fertility Consultation. We will walk you through how to prepare, what to expect during your visit with us at Borneo Hospital, and what the subsequent steps might look like. Understanding the process is the first step towards reducing anxiety and moving forward with confidence on your path to parenthood.
Before Your Appointment: How to Prepare for a Productive Consultation
A little preparation before your first Fertility Consultation can help you feel more in control and ensure the discussion is as productive as possible.
1. Your Medical Histories (for Both Partners):
Your doctor will need a comprehensive picture of your health. Before your visit, try to jot down key information for both of you:
- For the Woman: Details of your menstrual cycle (how long, regularity, any pain), any past pregnancies or miscarriages, history of gynaecological conditions (like PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids), past surgeries (especially pelvic or abdominal), and any chronic illnesses (like thyroid disorders or diabetes) or current medications.
- For the Man: A history of any significant illnesses (like mumps in adulthood), any surgeries (especially testicular or hernia repair), any known issues with sexual function, and any chronic health conditions or medications.
2. Collect All Previous Test Reports:
If you or your partner have had any relevant tests done in the past, such as blood tests, ultrasound scans, or even a semen analysis, please gather these reports and bring them with you. This can save time and prevent unnecessary repetition of tests.
3. Track Your Menstrual Cycle:
If you have been tracking your cycles using an app or a calendar, this information can be very helpful for your doctor.
4. Write Down Your Questions:
It’s very common to feel nervous during a consultation and forget the questions you wanted to ask. The key essential first step is to spend some time beforehand writing down everything you want to know, no matter how big or small. We will provide a list of sample questions later in this article.
5. Attend as a Couple:
This is incredibly important. Infertility is a couple’s issue, and the evaluation always involves understanding both partners’ health. We strongly encourage you to attend your first Fertility Consultation at Borneo Hospital together. This ensures both of you hear the information directly, can ask questions, and feel like a team from the very beginning.
During Your First Fertility Consultation: What to Expect
The first visit is primarily a detailed, two-way conversation in a private and empathetic setting.
1. A Welcoming and Confidential Environment:
We understand that discussing fertility is deeply personal. Be assured that at Borneo Hospital, your consultation will be conducted in a completely private, confidential, and non-judgmental environment. Our aim is to make you feel as comfortable as possible.
2. The Detailed Conversation (The Most Important Part):
The majority of your first appointment will be a thorough discussion. I, or one of my experienced colleagues, will carefully review the medical histories you’ve gathered. We’ll likely ask about:
- Your journey of trying to conceive (how long you’ve been trying, etc.).
- Your lifestyles (diet, exercise habits, stress levels, any habits like smoking or alcohol use).
- Your specific goals and any concerns or anxieties you have. This is also your time. We will encourage you to ask your prepared questions. A open conversation is vital for us to understand your situation fully and for you to feel confident in our care.
3. The Physical Examination:
To further understand your health, a physical examination may be part of the first visit.
- For the Woman: This will typically include a general physical exam (checking your weight, BMI, blood pressure) and may involve a gynaecological examination. I often perform a basic transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) scan during this initial consultation. It is a simple, painless internal scan that uses a small probe to give us a very clear picture of your uterus and ovaries, checking for things like fibroids, cysts, or signs of PCOS. It provides valuable information right away.
- For the Man: A physical examination for the male partner may also be recommended, which might be done at a later stage or with a referral to an Andrologist (a specialist in male reproductive health) if needed.
4. Discussion of Initial Investigations:
Based on our detailed conversation and the initial examination, we will outline a personalised plan for some basic diagnostic tests to get a clearer picture of your fertility status.
Initial Investigations: The First Set of Tests
Your doctor will likely recommend a few baseline tests to begin the evaluation. These are usually straightforward.
For the Female Partner:
- Hormonal Blood Tests: These are simple blood tests, often timed to specific days of your menstrual cycle, to check important hormone levels. This helps us assess your ovarian reserve (egg supply), often through an AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) test, and check key hormones that control ovulation (like FSH, LH, Prolactin, and TSH for thyroid function).
- Transvaginal Ultrasound (TVS): As mentioned, this scan gives us a detailed look at the health and structure of your uterus and ovaries.
- Tubal Patency Test: Your doctor may also discuss a test for a later date to check if your fallopian tubes are open, which is necessary for the egg and sperm to meet. Common tests are an HSG (Hysterosalpingogram) or an SSG (Saline Sonography).
For the Male Partner:
- Semen Analysis: This is the cornerstone of male fertility evaluation. It is a simple, non-invasive, and critically important test. The sample is analysed in our lab to assess three key parameters: sperm count (the number of sperm), motility (how well they move), and morphology (their shape and structure).
It is important to remember that these tests are done in a step-by-step manner.
After Your Consultation: What Are the Next Steps?
- Reviewing Your Results: Once your initial test results are available, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled. During this visit, your doctor will discuss all the results with you in detail, explaining what they mean in the context of your specific situation.
- Formulating a Plan: Based on all the gathered information, your doctor will discuss any potential diagnosis and outline a clear path forward. This might range from simple lifestyle advice, to medications to help with ovulation, or a recommendation for assisted reproductive treatments like IUI or IVF.
- A Partnership in Care: At Borneo Hospital, we believe in a collaborative process. We ensure you fully understand all your options, the pros and cons, and that all decisions about your treatment are made together.
A Checklist of Questions to Ask During Your First Fertility Consultation
Having a list of questions ready can be very empowering. Consider asking:
- “Based on our age and history, what basic tests do you recommend for both of us to start with?”
- “Are there any specific lifestyle or dietary changes that you would advise for us?”
- “What is the general timeline we can expect for this initial investigation phase?”
- “How do we need to coordinate any tests with my menstrual cycle?”
- “What are the general next steps we should anticipate after we get our test results?”
- “Could any of our existing health conditions or medications be impacting our fertility?”
Borneo Hospital’s Commitment to Your Fertility Journey
Our approach to fertility care at Borneo Hospital is holistic and multidisciplinary.
- Our Team: It involves experienced Obstetricians & Gynaecologists like myself, skilled sonographers, expert embryologists if ART is needed, and access to supportive counsellors. Our entire family care model is guided by our founder, Dr. Santosh Madrewar, with a focus on a positive outcome.
- Patient-Centred Care: We pride ourselves on providing compassionate, confidential, and personalised care at all our branches, including Thane, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and Raipur City. We understand the emotional side of this journey and are here to support you.
Taking the step to schedule your first Fertility Consultation is a positive, proactive, and hopeful action towards understanding your reproductive health and achieving your dream of building a family. The initial visit is not an intimidating medical procedure but rather a detailed conversation designed to gather information and create a clear plan.
Remember, you do not have to navigate this journey alone. The dedicated and experienced team at Borneo Hospital is here to partner with you, providing expert medical guidance and supportive, compassionate care every step of the way. Taking this first step is commendable, and we are here to help.
