Fertility Blog by Illume Fertility

Fertility Consultation Guide | What to Expect, Next Steps & FAQs

Written by Sierra Dehmler | August 27, 2024

So, you’ve booked your first fertility consultation. Congratulations! Reaching out for help is one of the biggest hurdles in this whole journey. Committing yourself to this process is a great feat, and you should be proud of yourself for taking this important step.

In this article:

What to Expect at Your Fertility Consultation 

Your first fertility consultation will be full of information, new faces, and learning about all the possible pathways available to you to help accomplish your fertility or family-building goals.

At Illume Fertility, the majority of our fertility consultations are conducted via telehealth, though in-person consultations are still available if you prefer. This big first appointment is when you'll first meet your doctor on a HIPAA-compliant video call and discuss your goals.

You'll be introduced to the rest of your Care Team via email, phone call, and/or video call soon thereafter. This Care Team will consist of a core group of experts devoted to your particular treatment (including a reproductive endocrinologist, dedicated fertility nurse, patient navigator, and a financial counselor). With your doctor and the rest of these important team members, you will discuss what led you to this point and where you want to go from here.

How to Use the Fertility Consultation Worksheet

We never want you to feel like you’re alone in this, and we certainly don’t want anything to fall through the cracks because of overwhelm, a forgotten question, or miscommunication. Our goal is to help you feel as supported, educated, and in control of your journey as possible.

That’s why we’ve created the ultimate Fertility Consultation Guide, complete with a free,  downloadable worksheet to make sure you’re getting the most out of your one-on-one meeting with your doctor or Care Team.

Paired with the following article, the downloadable worksheet will help you feel more prepared for your first fertility consultation, offer a list of important questions you may want to ask your doctor or team, and allow for space to take notes.

We hope the following information will help you feel confident from the start!

Wondering about something we haven't addressed here? Your team is always happy to address any questions or concerns on this journey and is committed to supporting you throughout the entire process.

The Ultimate Fertility Consultation Guide

Below, we will talk through the different phases of your fertility consultation, starting with preparation, moving into the actual consultation, and finishing up with next steps to keep the process moving forward. 

Before we dive in to all the details, be sure to download your free fertility consultation worksheet so you can feel more empowered and confident going into that first appointment!

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Preparing for Your Fertility Consultation

Know What You’re Scheduling

First and foremost, make sure you’re scheduling a time where both you and your partner, if necessary, can be there. At Illume Fertility, our initial fertility consultations are typically telehealth (virtual video) appointments, so physically being in the same room as one another is preferred.

Check to see how your fertility clinic will host your consultation and plan accordingly.

Set Up Your Space

We wrote an entire article devoted to getting the most out of a telehealth appointment.

The nutshell version? It’s important to make sure the lighting is right (nothing fancy, just so the doctor can see your face), keep movement to a minimum (try not to take the doctor on a roller coaster ride), and some other specific pointers so you, your partner (if applicable), and your doctor can focus on the important discussions at hand…instead of frustrating tech glitches.

Give It Some Thought

There are a few things you should consider before your first fertility consultation. Take some time beforehand to really think through these points and write down reminders if needed.

  • What background information can you share? Think about your medical history and journey with family building thus far. Sometimes, when we’re nervous or taking in a lot of information, we can leave things out. Make some notes to ensure you can relay the ins and outs of your story so the team knows the best course of action to take.
  • Come with a list of questions: We provide you with a preemptive list below, but are there other things on your mind? This can be a specific concern you want addressed, a piece of your health history that you want to discuss, or even a logistical question about health insurance or scheduling. It’s all fair game!
  • Think about finances: Are you paying out of pocket or using insurance? At this point, you may not know exactly how much everything will cost, but you’ve likely done some research, checking out average costs for a variety of treatments. At Illume Fertility, we pair you with a financial counselor who will take care of the bulk of your insurance questions, but it’s still important for you to be informed and know what your benefits are.
  • Focus on your end goals: Think about what you want – a baby. Remember that this is the beginning of the journey, and we will get it through it together with you.

Explore Your Fertility Benefits

Call your insurance company and see what sort of benefits you may have for fertility testing and/or treatment, if the clinic you’re scheduled to visit is a clinic they work with (many insurance companies will only provide coverage for certain clinics), and what limitations they include within the coverage.

Not sure where to begin? Here are a few questions to ask your insurer:



The Big Appointment

During your first fertility consultation, you and your doctor will get to know each other, discuss your goals and desired timeline, and how this process typically works. It’s hard to know what questions you’ll have in the moment about procedures, plans, or the science of it all, but there are some things you'll likely want answered:

Questions to Ask Your Team

We also encourage you to talk with your partner, support person, or another trusted friend who may have gone through treatment to come up with specific questions for your journey.

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Your Fertility Consultation: Next Steps

So, your first big appointment is over…what now? Did you walk away feeling like you have clear directives on what follow-up appointments to make, any fertility testing that's needed, or additional medical records or other paperwork you need to work on? 

Make sure you’re clear about the following items:

  1. Diagnostic testing and your proposed treatment plan
  2. What you can do now to increase your chances of success
  3. What medical, insurance, and financial next steps you need to follow up on

We recognize there's a lot going on at once around this first fertility consultation, so here is a quick checklist to help you feel more confident about what comes next:

  • Follow up with your patient navigator about scheduling any diagnostic testing. This may require booking a few different appointments, so have your calendar handy!
  • Does your clinic have alternative resources like acupuncture and nutrition? Come up with a plan for when (and if) you’d like to include these in your treatment. If you're an Illume Fertility patient, ask us about our Integrated Fertility and Wellness program!
  • What logistical items are a priority right now? Think health insurance, medical records, finances, and additional research.

Is your fertility clinic the right fit?

Lastly, one of the most important factors is how you’re feeling. Are you comfortable? Do you feel like you connected well with the doctor and the rest of your team? The doctor-patient relationship is vitally important to any fertility journey, and here at Illume Fertility, we want to make sure you have the right fit.

Always make sure to speak up if you have any concerns with your team. 

Did you know? Illume Fertility even has a dedicated Patient Advocate, Lisa Rosenthal, who is available to provide a listening ear and ensure any concerns are being addressed. You can call Lisa at 203-354-1157 or email her anytime. 

Ready to move forward?

No matter where you go for fertility treatment, everyone you encounter should be working to support you, supplying you with useful tools and information to set you up for success.

You should feel confident, in-the-know, and like you have a group of superheroes working alongside you to achieve your goals. Another reminder: It’s possible to have all of your logistical questions answered during your fertility consultation and still walk away with a big one unanswered: "Will this work?"

While there are many factors that impact fertility treatment success rates, the one thing you can feel confident about is that here at Illume Fertility, we are deeply committed to doing all we can to help you build the family of your dreams, including supporting you mentally, emotionally and physically. 

We wish you all the best at your first fertility consultation, and we hope you feel in the driver’s seat of the wild (but worth it) journey ahead of you. You've got this!
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