| When it comes to fertility treatment, getting a | | | | problems with the recommended treatment, such as |
| second opinion is often a necessary route, which | | | | certain potent fertility drugs or microsurgical |
| translates into seeing two separate fertility doctors | | | | procedures. If you're not comfortable with the |
| about the same set of symptoms. The fertility | | | | recommended treatment, perhaps another doctor |
| doctors can be in the same field or specialize in | | | | can recommend a different approach. |
| different areas. This can happen at either the | | | | 4. Is the treatment not working? This is a real |
| diagnostic or treatment stage of an infertility | | | | dilemma for fertility patients. If you've been in |
| investigation. | | | | treatment for a reasonable length of time (see |
| It's difficult to know whether you're justified in | | | | chapter 12) and you're not conceiving, maybe the |
| getting a second opinion. Just because you don't like | | | | wrong diagnosis was made, or perhaps the |
| the sound of your diagnosis doesn't mean you | | | | treatment recommended is not right for you. Seeing |
| require another opinion. Let's say your doctor | | | | another doctor may help to confirm or alleviate |
| suspects that your infertility is caused by | | | | concerns. |
| endometriosis and wants to perform a laparoscopy | | | | 5. Are risky tests or procedures being |
| procedure to confirm his or her suspicions. You might | | | | recommended? If you don't like the sound of |
| not like the sound of this and decide to see a holistic | | | | microsurgery, hearing it from someone else might |
| doctor or an herbalist instead, who may tell you that | | | | make you accept the procedure more readily. Or, |
| you're under stress and only need to rest and take | | | | you may find out that microsurgery is premature and |
| various herbs in order to conceive. | | | | isn't necessary after all. Find out if there are alternate |
| The following guidelines should help you decide | | | | therapies or procedures that can yield the same |
| whether a second opinion is warranted. If you | | | | results. |
| answer yes to even one of the questions below, | | | | 6. Do you want another approach? A forty-five |
| you're probably justified in seeking a second opinion. | | | | year-old woman who is entering menopause wants |
| 1. Is the diagnosis uncertain? If your doctor can't find | | | | to prolong her fertility with fertility drugs so she can |
| out what's wrong or isn't sure whether he or she is | | | | conceive. Her doctor refuses to treat her, saying that |
| correct, you have every right to go elsewhere. | | | | she's too old to have a child. The woman finds this |
| 2. Is the diagnosis life-threatening? In this case, | | | | approach unacceptable and sees a second doctor |
| hearing the same news from someone else may help | | | | who doesn't have a problem with her age and is |
| you cope better with your illness or come to terms | | | | willing to put her on the drugs for a limited period of |
| with the diagnosis. Diagnoses like cancer, however, | | | | time. |
| usually won't change; the diagnosis is based on | | | | 7. Is the doctor competent? If you suspect that |
| carefully analyzed test results, not just on the | | | | your doctor is incompetent, seek a second opinion |
| patient's symptoms. | | | | either to reaffirm your faith in him or her or to |
| 3. Is the treatment controversial, experimental, or | | | | confirm your original suspicions. |
| risky? You might not question the diagnosis but have | | | | |