Talking With Your Healthcare Provider

Even if you and your partner fit the criteria of couples who should see a healthcare provider about fertility difficulties, making that first appointment can be hard.

Your hesitation is understandable. It's common to find reasons to avoid going to a healthcare provider. You're afraid of failing, for example. You're concerned about how much it might cost. Or you may have heard from friends about the difficulties they have had and the money that was spent.

Sound like you? Take heart:

Most infertility cases — 85% to 90% — are treated with conventional therapies, such as drug treatment or surgical repair of reproductive organs.1 In fact, fewer than 5% of infertile couples in treatment actually use in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Your insurance may cover some of your testing and/or treatment costs.

If you want to conceive, it's important to overcome the emotional hurdles and take action. Don't wait! The sooner you see a healthcare provider, the sooner a problem may be diagnosed and treated.

Types of healthcare professionals that might be right for you
Description Healthcare Professional
We just started trying to conceive and are having difficulty. Primary Care Physician or OB/GYN
We've been trying to conceive for more than one year with no luck. Reproductive Endocrinologist (Fertility Specialist)
I am a woman over 35 and have been trying to conceive for more than 6 months. Reproductive Endocrinologist (Fertility Specialist)

Start the conversation now:

  • 1. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Frequently Asked Questions About Infertility. 2000-2004.

Know Before You Go

Check into your insurance coverage before you see your healthcare provider. Your policy may determine what kind of healthcare provider you see, what kinds of fertility tests you undergo and in what sequence. To have a benefits specialist assist you, call Fertility LifeLines™ at 1-866-LETS-TRY (1-866-538-7879). All calls are free and confidential.

Personal Stories

Watch videos

Hear from others who have gone through what you and your partner may be experiencing.
Watch videos

FIND A FERTILITY SPECIALIST

Enter your Zip code to find a fertility treatment specialist or fertility clinic in your area:

FIND A UROLOGIST

The Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR) can help you locate a urologist in your area.

Locate a Urologist

Indication:
For women, Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection), Gonal-f® RFF (follitropin alfa injection) and Gonal-f® RFF Pen (follitropin alfa injection) are indicated for 1) the induction of ovulation and pregnancy in the anovulatory infertile patient in whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure and 2) for the development of multiple follicles in the ovulatory patient participating in an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) program.
For men, Gonal-f® is also indicated for the induction of spermatogenesis in men with primary and secondary hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in whom the main cause of infertility is not due to primary testicular failure.

Important Safety Information:
These products should only be prescribed by physicians specializing in fertility or reproductive health. Use of Gonal-f® or Gonal-f® RFF by women can result in multiple births. Patients should let their doctor know of any allergic reactions to recombinant FSH preparations or other product ingredients. Patients should also inform their doctor of a history of cancer of the sex organs or brain and uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal disease before starting or continuing treatment. Women with a history of abnormal bleeding from the uterus or vagina, swollen, enlarged, or painful ovaries should speak to their doctor before starting treatment. Gonal-f® and Gonal-f® RFF are potent gonadotropic substances capable severe adverse reactions, including Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) in women, which can result hospitalization. Women should inform their doctor if they experience severe stomach pain, vomiting, bloating, or weight gain while taking Gonal-f® or Gonal-f RFF®. The most common side effects are headache, ovarian cysts, upset stomach, and sinus infections in women taking Gonal-f® or Gonal-f® RFF. The most common side effects in men taking Gonal-f® are skin acne, breast pain and growth, and tiredness. Needle injections may cause some discomfort.

For more information, refer to the prescribing and patient information offered below and talk to your doctor.


© EMD Serono, Inc. CIM Last Update 2008-09-16
This site contains medical information that is intended for residents of the United States only and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by a medical professional. Always consult a physician if you have health concerns. Use and access of this site is subject to the terms and conditions as set out in our Legal Statement and Privacy Policy.

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