Prepare for your appointment
Before your first visit, please download and complete the Self-Assessment Form, and bring this form with you to your first visit. Your medical records should also be sent to us before your appointment, especially detailed information about any previous IVF treatments you may have had. For more information, please download and read the New Patient Information & Checklist.
Since the first visit is very comprehensive, you should allow up to two hours for the appointment. Please be aware that it is not possible for us to start IVF treatment unless your and your partner’s test results are fully completed and consent forms are signed.
The initial consultation
On your first visit, our specialists will interview you and your partner and take your medical, surgical and other relevant history to begin the process of determining the cause of infertility. We will also discuss any previous treatments, the results of tests you may have completed and options for further treatment.The initial assessment may include tests to evaluate and formulate the best treatment for you. Future tests may also be necessary, depending on the initial workup. If you have had any tests performed within the past year, please bring the results with you to the consultation.
Tests for the female partner
Your doctor may perform a number of tests (blood, physical exam, ultrasound, etc.) to help determine the cause of infertility.
Tests for the male partner
The doctor will do a sperm analysis to evaluate your sperm volume, acidity (pH) of the semen, number of sperm, percentage of motile sperm, morphology (shape) of the sperm, and the number of round cells in the semen. In case of an abnormal first analysis, your doctor will repeat the test. Male factor infertility is only diagnosed after repeated abnormal semen analysis. DNA fragmentation may also be performed.
Other tests may include blood tests for hormones such as FSH, LH, estradiol, and testosterone (if indicated), and blood tests for transmissible diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Depending on your medical history, additional tests may be necessary.
After testing: review consultation
In most cases, your doctor will see you for a second review consultation to discuss the results of your tests before you start treatment. It is also useful to have a review consultation after completing a treatment cycle if a pregnancy does not occur. Experience gained from the previous treatment will be incorporated into planning the next round of treatment.