You do not need to ask every question below. Start with three: what the doctor recommends for you and why, your realistic chance of a live birth, and the full cost. Bring them in writing and say at the start that you have them. The lists further down are grouped by topic, so you can add the few that matter most to you.
Your three most important questions
- "What do you recommend for me, and why?" Ask what the doctor thinks is getting in the way, if anything, and what other options there are.
- "What is my realistic chance of a live birth with this plan?" A positive pregnancy test is not the same as a live birth, so ask about live birth. See how to ask about success rates.
- "What will the whole treatment cost?" Ask for a written estimate and what it leaves out. See cost questions.
Not everyone at an IVF consult has infertility
People come to IVF for many reasons. Some have a known fertility problem or have tried other treatments. Others are at risk of passing on a genetic condition, are using donor eggs or a gestational carrier, are a same-sex couple, or want a baby without a partner. Tell the doctor your reason, so the questions and tests fit your situation.
What happens at a first IVF consultation?
Every clinic runs this visit a little differently. These are parts you may meet.
Your health history. The doctor will ask about your periods, such as how often they come and how regular they are. Your partner, if you have one, may be asked about past injuries, surgery, infections, and drug or medicine use.
Your past records. Your doctor needs to see your old records, so bring them or have them sent ahead. It can save repeating tests.
An exam. A physical exam of you and your partner may follow.
Tests. Your doctor will talk about which tests you need. These may include:
- Ovarian reserve tests. These blood tests and scans help estimate how your ovaries may respond to fertility medicines, which helps predict how many eggs may be collected. They do not directly measure egg quality. On their own, they do not tell you whether you can become pregnant.
- A semen analysis. A sperm sample is checked under a microscope.
- Infection screening and genetic carrier screening, which checks whether you carry genes for certain inherited conditions.
- A look at the uterus, and sometimes the tubes. These tests answer different questions:
- An HSG is an X-ray. Dye goes in through the cervix to show the inside shape of the uterus and whether the fallopian tubes are open.
- A saline ultrasound (sonohysterogram) is an ultrasound done while sterile fluid fills the uterus. It shows the wall of the uterus as well as the space inside, which can help find polyps, fibroids or scar tissue.
- A hysteroscopy uses a lighted scope passed through the cervix. The doctor looks directly inside the uterus and can also treat some problems found there.
You may not need all of these. Ask which ones your doctor suggests, and what each one will tell you.
Consent forms. You sign consent forms before treatment starts.
Feelings. You may also talk about the stress of infertility. Feelings like anger, sadness, guilt and worry are common, and your doctor knows these talks can be hard.
If you have a partner, ASRM suggests you both try to come to the first meeting.
How to get ready for the visit
- Write your questions down, with the most important first.
- Bring a list of everything you take, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements.
- Bring your insurance card and the names of other doctors you see.
- Bring past records if your new doctor does not have them yet.
- Think about bringing someone. A friend or family member can remind you of your questions and take notes. Tell them ahead of time how they can help.
IVF consultation questions, by topic
Copy the questions that matter to you into your phone or onto paper.
About tests and diagnosis
- What tests do I need before we start? What will each one tell us?
- How will I get my results, and who will explain them?
- What did my results show?
- Does my partner or donor need any tests?
About the treatment plan
- Is IVF the right choice for me, or are there other options to try first?
- What will my medicine plan look like? (Our guide to stimulation explains this stage.)
- Will you use ICSI? This is when one sperm is put right into each mature egg.
- How many embryos do you suggest transferring, and why? This should be decided for each patient. Transferring more than one raises the chance of twins or more, which carries risks.
- Should we plan a fresh transfer or freeze embryos first? (See fresh vs. frozen transfer.)
- Do you suggest genetic testing of embryos for me? Why or why not?
- What would make you cancel or change a cycle? (See cycle cancellation.)
About your chances
Age is the single most important factor in IVF success, so ask for numbers that match your age and your plan. A success rate also depends on what it is counted "per":
- Per cycle started counts everyone who began, including cycles that stopped before retrieval.
- Per retrieval leaves out cycles that stopped before eggs were collected.
- Per transfer also leaves out cycles where eggs did not fertilize.
- Across all embryos from one retrieval counts a live birth from the first transfer or a later frozen transfer, within a year of starting that cycle.
For the first three, the rate gets higher as you go down the list, because fewer cycles are counted. It helps to know which one you are hearing.
Questions to ask:
- What is my chance of a live birth, not just a pregnancy?
- Is that number for people my age, using my own eggs or donor eggs?
- Is it per cycle started, per retrieval, per transfer, or across all the embryos from one retrieval?
- How many cycles might I need?
About cost and insurance
IVF is costly, and an estimate may not include everything. Fees for the first visit, tests, medicines and procedures such as ICSI and freezing may be left out. Ask for a written estimate, and ask whether each of these is included:
- Medicines, and where you buy them
- Anesthesia for egg retrieval
- ICSI
- Embryo biopsy and genetic testing
- Each embryo transfer, including frozen transfers
- Freezing, and yearly storage fees
- What you pay if a cycle is cancelled
- What your insurance covers. In some states, insurance may cover treatment.
About medicines, visits and support
- How often will I come in for blood tests and scans?
- Who will call me with changes to my medicine, and when?
- Who teaches me how to give my shots?
- What side effects should make me call you, and what is an emergency?
- Who do I call during the day? After hours?
- Do you have a counselor who works with fertility patients?
Our monitoring visit checklist has questions for each visit in a cycle.
During the visit: keep track of the answers
- Check that you understand. Say the answer back in your own words and ask, "Is this correct?"
- Ask what a word means. You can always ask the doctor to explain.
- Take notes, or ask the doctor to write down the main points.
- Ask for written instructions, brochures, videos or websites.
- Ask before you record, and record only if everyone agrees. Our page on recording your doctor visits explains how to ask.
After the visit
Look over your notes the same day. If you are not sure about an instruction once you get home, call the office. A nurse or other staff member can check with the doctor and call you back.
Keep your notes and results in one place. The IVF cycle timeline shows what comes next. Your clinic's own instructions always come first.
Key takeaway
Lead with the doctor's recommendation and the reason for it, your realistic chance of a live birth, and the full cost. Ask which kind of success rate you are hearing, and which costs the estimate leaves out.