Most couples come to a fertility consultation after months of searching online, and feeling quite scared. The first visit is calmer than that: it is a conversation and a plan for tests. Nothing else is decided that day, and no procedure is done.
The conversation comes first
Expect detailed questions: how long you've been trying, cycle regularity, previous pregnancies or losses, past surgeries or infections, medications, and lifestyle for both partners. This history often points to the likely cause before a single test is done — which is why an unhurried first conversation matters more than any scan.
Both partners are evaluated, always
Fertility is never a one-person diagnosis. Male factors contribute to a large share of infertility cases, so a semen analysis is part of the standard work-up from the start — not an afterthought once "her" tests come back normal.
The typical first-round tests:
| For her | For him |
|---|---|
| Blood hormones — AMH, FSH, LH, thyroid, prolactin | Semen analysis (count, movement, shape) |
| Pelvic ultrasound with antral follicle count | Hormone tests if the analysis is abnormal |
| Test to check the tubes are open (HSG), if needed | General health screening |
How the treatment decision is made
Once results are in, a follow-up visit brings them together. Your doctor explains the likely cause, the options (from timed intercourse and ovulation-inducing medicine to IUI and IVF), and a realistic estimate of the odds for each, given your age and results. IVF isn't automatically the answer. But it also isn't a last resort that you only reach after years of failed simpler treatment. In cases like blocked tubes or an older mother, starting IVF early saves valuable time.
A good fertility plan is one you understand and helped make, with the reasons explained to you.
Frequently asked
How should we prepare for the first visit?
Bring any previous reports and prescriptions, a note of cycle dates, and your questions written down. Come together if you can. Decisions are easier when both partners hear the same explanation.
Does the first consultation commit us to IVF?
No. It commits you to understanding your own situation. Many couples who fear they'll be pushed into IVF leave with a much simpler plan.
How long does the work-up take?
Most initial tests complete within one menstrual cycle, since several are timed to specific cycle days.
What will my chances of success actually be?
That's a fair question to ask at this first visit. The answer depends heavily on age, ovarian reserve, and the cause of infertility found in your tests. IVF success rates by age explains how to read published numbers, and why any single percentage is a population average, not a personal prediction.