What to Ask Your Reproductive Endocrinologist
If you and your partner are having difficulty conceiving than you may be considering consulting with a reproductive endocrinologist for advice regarding fertility treatments. Reproductive endocrinologists, often known as REs, are infertility specialists with specific experience in the field of infertility and its treatment. They can often be very helpful when it comes to conceiving successfully. However, your first visit to your reproductive endocrinologist may be quite daunting, and you may not know exactly what questions to ask about your treatment and care. Here are a few important questions that you and your partner should be sure to ask your RE at your first consultation.
About the Reproductive Endocrinologist
It is important to find out as much as possible about your reproductive endocrinologist. This will help you to ensure that he has the necessary training and skills to provide you with the best treatment possible. It will also allow you to become more comfortable with him and his manner. Some questions that you might want to ask include:
- Where did you earn your degree?
- How long have you been practicing? What clinics have you practiced at?
- Do you specialize in any particular field of infertility (such as IUI or IVF)?
- Are your certified? What board granted your certification?
- What hospitals are you affiliated with?
- What hours do you work? Will you be able to work according to my schedule?
- What are your fees? Do they include all consultations, including those done over the phone?
- Who takes over your responsibilities should you become ill or go away on holiday?
- Are you accepting new patients? Do you have a waiting list?
About the Clinic
If you are thinking about going to your reproductive endocrinologist’s clinic, it is important to find out what facilities the clinic offers. Not all fertility clinics are created equal, so be sure to ask questions including:
- How long has your clinic been in business?
- Do other reproductive endocrinologists work at the clinic?
- Will I see you for all my treatments or will I see other health care workers?
- Does the clinic have an up-to-date laboratory facility? Can you perform ICSI and PGD at your laboratory?
- Does the clinic have ties to egg, sperm, and embryo donation programs?
- Does the clinic accept medical insurance?
- Does the clinic have a full-time or part-time licensed therapist to help us cope with any emotional issues or concerns?
About Fertility Diagnosis
The first step that you and your partner will likely take with your reproductive endocrinologist is that of fertility diagnosis and testing. This can often be a very difficult and confusing stage, so be sure to ask questions that are specific to this process. You might want to ask questions such as:
- What fertility tests will be performed (male infertility tests and female infertility tests)?
- Will I need to undergo a laparoscopy for diagnosis? If so, who will perform the surgery and where will it be done?
- What happens if you can’t find a diagnosis for my fertility problems? What is the next step?
- How much will the diagnostic procedures cost? Are they included in the clinic’s fees?
About Possible Treatments
Fertility treatments and schedules can vary from clinic to clinic, so be sure to ask your reproductive endocrinologist about her basic treatment regimen. You may want to ask the following questions:
- What is usually the first line of fertility treatment?
- How long will you pursue a certain treatment until you decide it’s time to move on?
- Will I need to use fertility drugs, such as Clomid? If so, how much will it cost? Can you offer me a discount on medications?
- Am I a candidate for IUI? Is my partner a candidate for IUI?
- How many IUI cycles do you usually perform?
- Am I a candidate for IVF? Is my partner a candidate for IVF?
- How many embryos do you transfer during each IVF cycle?
- What are your success rates for IUI and IVF?
- Do you offer alternative fertility treatments, like acupuncture or mind-body retreats?
- What are the possible risks of the different fertility treatments?
- Do you offer payment plans to help us with the cost of fertility treatments?
Getting Pregnant
