| You have reviewed the infertility information, | | | | basic understanding of certain kinds of failure, such as |
| assessed the signs of infertility, considered your own | | | | miscarriage, heavy periods that may disguise |
| symptoms, and are now ready to find a caregiver to | | | | miscarriages, and more. |
| provide you with professional medical advice. Now | | | | Your medical background will provide your doctor |
| what? How do you prepare to meet a fertility | | | | with still more detailed information, given not only by |
| specialist for the first time? | | | | you, but also ideally by any prior medical care |
| Begin by contacting your chosen infertility doctor's | | | | providers. A medical record itself is not inappropriate |
| office and asking directly. While there are some | | | | in this situation, and can be obtained from your |
| common elements in most preparations, your | | | | current care giver. |
| doctor's office is the best starting place to put you | | | | The questions you may want to ask are another |
| on track in providing your doctor with the very best | | | | consideration. While they will help your doctor assess |
| of your own personal, unique fertility information. By | | | | your concerns and your level of background |
| finding out what your doctor needs from you, and | | | | understanding, most of all they help your doctor |
| by asking the right questions, you can make your | | | | know who you are and what you, personally, need |
| initial appointments far more productive, and put both | | | | to know. Only by providing this window into your |
| you and your caregiver on the right track from the | | | | own mind can you expect your infertility doctor to |
| start. | | | | give you the ideal information and support you need |
| Once you have a list from your doctor you can begin | | | | before proceeding. |
| on the basics. There are a number of likely details | | | | You should also be prepared for the basic elements |
| you should be ready to offer. It's a good idea to | | | | of any medical examination. If your first appointment |
| write these down so that you will have them ready | | | | is simply an interview you can expect to be |
| to discuss. They can include the background of your | | | | scheduled for blood tests, urine samples, and a basic |
| efforts to conceive, your current medical details and | | | | gynecological exam sometime in the near future. If |
| pertinent questions to ask your doctor before even | | | | the first appointment is a scheduled full examination |
| meeting him or her. | | | | then the tests may occur on the very first day. Be |
| These three areas, provided with diligence and care, | | | | sure to ask in advance, as some tests are sensitive |
| will give your doctor a great body of information to | | | | to your body's menstrual timing and must be |
| help them determine the best course of action in | | | | scheduled at the right time. |
| diagnosing your possible problems. A thorough, well | | | | In the end you and your doctor will have assembled |
| detailed narrative of your efforts to become | | | | a very special, unique record - your very own dossier |
| pregnant will indicate time-span, habits of behavior, | | | | of information that can help you and your care giver |
| possible issues of timing that can be addressed, and | | | | create the best possible treatment and therapy for |
| much of your own hopes and fears; along with a | | | | you and your partner. |