First Fertility Appointment? 13 Expert Tips to Help You Prepare

Before you visit a fertility specialist, make sure to bring your insurance documents, any relevant test results or medical history documents, and your partner, if possible.

Plan for approximately two hours for your in-office initial fertility consult, or about one hour for a telehealth appointment. It’s important that your reproductive endocrinologist gathers as much information as possible about your current situation. You’ll be asked questions about your medical and sexual history, as well as how long you’ve been trying to conceive.

Once you show up for your appointment, you will be checked in at the front desk. The patient services’ staff member may ask you some basic questions about your referring OB / GYN and how you heard about the practice. If you have a co-pay to see a fertility specialist, this is when they will collect the payment. For security reasons, the fertility clinic may take your picture or scan your finger or palm print to have on file.

Next, you’ll meet a clinical assistant who will take your vitals, height, weight, and ask for the date of your last period.

After your visit, a nurse will guide you through the next steps of your treatment and answer any remaining questions. You'll also meet with a financial coordinator to review your coverage and discuss financial options. These conversations may take place in the office before you leave or later by phone. The nurse will also help schedule your diagnostic testing to get you started on your fertility journey.

Your fertility doctor will review your gynecological history and ask about previous pregnancies. They will ask if you have ever had: a successful pregnancy, miscarriages, or sterilization (tubal ligation or vasectomy).

Your doctor will also review your medical history to see if you have any preexisting medical conditions which could affect your ability to get pregnant or maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Then, your doctor will go over any surgeries you’ve had and ask whether you are on any medications, have allergies, or regularly smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or use drugs.

Your doctor will also have a discussion about your family history and whether or not anyone in your family is a carrier for specific genetic disorders.

Your appointment will typically include a pelvic exam with a transvaginal ultrasound. While comfort levels may vary, your provider will discuss the procedure with you beforehand to address any questions or concerns.

Once your exam and ultrasound are complete, your doctor will discuss any initial findings and what they mean for your fertility journey. While some results may be available immediately, others—such as bloodwork or genetic screening—may take a few days to process. Your provider will outline the next steps, including any additional tests needed to complete your fertility assessment. This is also a great time to ask any questions about what your results indicate and how they may influence your treatment options.

Now you know what to expect at your first fertility appointment. At this point, you’ll leave the doctor’s office and see a nurse that has been chosen for you and will stay with you throughout the duration of your treatment.

That nurse will answer any other questions you have and schedule you for your bloodwork, along with an appointment with the finance department, so you know your insurance coverage options.

If you choose to move forward with testing, it's best to complete all tests within 4-8 weeks of your first visit. After that, you'll meet with your provider to create a personalized plan to help you achieve your goal of a healthy baby.

Finally, your physician will discuss any additional testing you may need during a follow-up visit. This could include further bloodwork to assess your ovarian reserve, as well as tests for sexually transmitted infections and thyroid function. Your doctor may also recommend a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to evaluate your fallopian tubes and ensure your uterine cavity is normal. If you have a male partner, your provider may recommend a semen analysis to evaluate sperm count, movement, and shape.