last step
 

Communicating with doctors and fertility professionals

Setting expectations

Fertility Doctor

During your course of treatment you’ll engage with many different specialists. At times, it may feel unsettling to feel passed from one pair of hands to the next. You may wish for greater personal attention.

Rest assured, your case is being handled with care. Each health care professional contributes a different kind of expertise. It may require their collective wisdom to help. Take a look at Who’s who in the clinic to understand what each health professional does.

Your doctor is focused on what’s important – making the right diagnosis and recommending appropriate treatment. In the course of a day, he or she will see many couples. A degree of professional detachment is necessary to prevent emotional burnout.

If you feel a need for to discuss your feelings or the more emotional aspects of treatment, ask to see a counsellor. Find out how creating a diverse support network can help you through the coming months.

Questions worth asking

At each stage of the treatment journey you’ll have questions for your doctor. Here are some that you may want to add to your own list during the diagnosis period.

Questions about the tests

  • What is the purpose of the test?
  • Who will carry it out?
  • What does the test involve?
  • Will I feel any discomfort or pain?
  • How much time will I need to allow?
  • When will the results be available?
  • Who will explain the test results to us?

Questions about the treatment

  • Do you have an information sheet describing the treatment?
  • What, if any, are the side effects of this treatment?
  • What are our chances of having a baby if we have this treatment at this clinic?
  • How long should we give this treatment to succeed?
  • What are the risks of multiple pregnancies?
  • What should we do next if this treatment doesn’t work?
  • What support or counselling is available?
Even if doctors are able to identify the barriers preventing pregnancy, many couples go through multiple cycles before successfully conceiving. Take the long view. Organise your time during treatment cycles using this week-to-week planner.