9.Your doctor visit - Infertility Niche Business

It's natural after a year of trying to make an appointment with your gynecologist or your husband's urologist about your infertility problem (or sooner if you have any extenuating medical issues!). But before you even set your appointment, you should prepare for it.

Your medical advisor undoubtedly will ask you some questions. Anticipating these and having other details ready for her will make your session less awkward and flow smoother.

For example, prior to your office visit, list the details concerning your attempt to have a baby. This information is vital if your doctor is to help you and to get at the root cause of your problems.

He'll ask you things like when you first started trying to conceive, how often you have intercourse, and how are they planned in relation to menstrual cycles. Don't be embarrassed. These are natural questions that he only has a purely medical interest in.

In fact, below is a list of potential questions he may ask you. By preparing ahead of time, you're providing your physician with the most accurate information possible.

 How long have you been having sex without birth control?

 How long have you been seriously trying to have a baby?

 How often to you have intercourse?

 Do you use any lubricants during this time?

 Do either you or your partner smoke?

 Have either of you been treated for any medical conditions, including sexually transmitted diseases?

 What are your stress levels like?

 Are you both satisfied with your personal relationships?

Your physician will then turn to each of you individually and ask you certain questions. For the woman, these questions may include:

 What age did you begin having periods?

 What are your periods like? Are they regular? How long are they? And do you bleed excessively (are they heavy)?

 Have you ever been pregnant prior to this?

 Have you been evaluated for infertility previously?

 Have you been charting your ovulation? How many cycles?

 Are you currently being treated or have you ever been treated for other medical conditions?

 What medications, if any are you currently taking? Include in your answer any dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals and herbs?

 How are you eating? What's your typical diet like?

 Do you exercise -- and how much?

 Has your body weight changed in the last several months or so?

You can see how this list is asked to evaluate you for the risk factors involved in infertility. Similarly, he'll ask the male a few questions as well.

 At what age did you start puberty?

 Do you now or have you had any sexual problems in your current relationship?

Are you having difficult maintaining an erection, do you ejaculate too soon or not at all?

 Do you use recreational drugs? Do you use marijuana? If so, how often?

 What, if an, prescription medications are you currently taking?

 What supplements are you taking, including vitamins, other nutrients and any herbal ones?

 Do your regularly take hot baths or steam baths?

 Have you ever conceived a child with a previous partner?

When you walk into your doctor's office two things will happen, guaranteed. He'll ask you some of the questions we've just covered. And you'll have a head full of questions of your own to ask him.

When it comes to the second part, I'll give you one piece of advice -- write your questions down on a piece of paper. Oh, yes! I don't know what it is about a doctor's office, but once we step foot in there, our brains disengage so that we can't think of even the simplest question we had for him.

Then, once we walk out, get in our cars and head home, all the questions come flooding back. It happens every time.

So, even though you think you'll never forget to ask this question or another, you just might. But if you write it down -- even the most obvious -- then not only can you get your questions answered, but you don't have to strain to remember them in the first place.

Here are only a few of the questions that most couples ask when they walk in for a consultation. Some of these questions no doubt are already on your mind, but others might not be yet.

 Why can't we conceive?

 Do we need to undergo tests? If so, what kinds?

 Do you have any idea yet what our first line of treatment might be?

 Are there any side effects associated with this particular treatment?

 If we use this treatment, is there a chance (and how great of one) that we'll end up with a multiple birth?

 How long will we be on this treatment?

 What is this doesn't work? Is there something else we can try?

 What, if any, are the long-term complications of this treatment?