Suggested questions to Ask Your OB/GYN or Primary Care Physician

When you see your OB/GYN or Primary Care Physician for the first time, you'll need to provide him or her with basic information, including:

• Your age
• How long you've been trying to conceive
• Your medical history, including any history of:
  • Endometriosis
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS
  • Sexually transmitted diseases
  • Smoking
  • Premature menopause
  • Cancer treatment
  • Surgery of the reproductive organs
  • Varicocele (in the male partner)

Based on the information you provide, your healthcare provider should have a sense of whether or not you are at particular risk for having a fertility problem. You can then begin to discuss your potential testing and treatment options. Here are some questions to prepare you for that conversation:

• What specific tests would you recommend to diagnose my infertility?
• Should my partner be tested?
• What are the tests for male fertility?
• How much will the tests cost?
• How long will it take to diagnose our problem?
• Based on the results of those tests, what are my treatment options, and how much do they cost?
• Will my insurance pay for the testing and/or treatments?
• If we decide that clomiphene citrate therapy is the next step, how many unsuccessful cycles will we try before we move onto another treatment option?
• What is your success rate with clomiphene citrate therapy - and what are the side effects?
• Will I have to repeat any tests if I go to a Fertility Specialist or Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE)?
• What surgical procedures might you recommend for my partner or me? What are your success rates with those procedures?