First appointment

[Hands2015]

Hello we have our first appointment with the fertility clinic coming up can anyone let me know what to expect if I should take anything with me or anything I should do/track in the month leading up to it

Thank you

[sanchia46]

Well at the very least track your cycle and the frequency

[Littleflower82]

You should start taking vitamins, hubby took the wellman mens reproduction one I can't mind the exact name an I took the pregnacare trying to conceive, I also took dhea 75mg. My clinic recommebded taking the Borland 3 months prior to treatment. Yeah track you periods also bring those dates

[Littleflower82 in reply to Littleflower82]

Vitamins not boreland lol predictive text!!!

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Hands2015. I do have a list of questions to look through, I could email you in confidence if you want. Email me at [e-mail] and I will send them to you. Diane

[npat90]

Hi, I am pretty sure not everyone's experience with the fertility clinic is the same but I thought I would share my experience with you.

I initially thought I was referred to the fertility clinic (according to my GP) but in actual fact, the way it works in the CCG group where I live is to initially go to Gynaecology. I took hubby with me for moral support and really glad I did as they did favour him being there and asked him a few questions.

Our consultation was with a junior doctor and she went through our history asking questions such as how long have you been trying for, she asked about previous medical history, asked about my cycle. DH already had a SA carried out prescribed by the GP so she went through those results.

Next, she went onto an internal examination and checked I had an up to date smear test.

She then asked for more tests. I have a day 21, 28 and 35 blood test- to check for progoestrone/ovulation, plus a rubella immunity blood test (apparently this is standard for all fertility clinic patients) and the god awful HSG which I have had done and wish to never have again!

Next appointment is in June so there is a lot of waiting around and they are extremely busy, I have been calling for cancellations etc but nothing comes up. I guess you need to be prepared for a lot of uncertainty and waiting around before your questions are answered.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Shirazlover2013]

Thank you all, this is a really helpful post. I too am in the dark as to what to expect at our 1st appointment at GP referred clinic. There is next to no information in the letter we received from the hospital!! It did say it is at the gynaecology dept. But I have no idea how long the appointment will take or what to bring or what to ask. So I will take on board all your suggestions above and will email Dianne for that list of questions too. Npat90 how long was your appointment?

I’m all over period tracking and my vitamins, do you think it helps if hubby takes vitamins too?

Best of luck everyone xx

[npat90 in reply to Shirazlover2013]

Hey Shirazlover2013. The wait for the first appointment was around 3 months. After going back and forth to the GP for 18 months with fertility issues I finally got referred. My GP kept telling me to relax and it will happen!

It is easier said than done but its good to be prepared with questions. I had so many things to ask and I went completely black during the consultation so have a list ready. I also wrote down the dates/ cycle length etc on a piece of paper so I didn't have to faf around on my app on my phone when I was asked.

My opinion on vitamins is quite biased, and I always think it is much better to try and get nutrients from fresh food etc rather than popping a pill so we did a lot of research on improving our diets naturally and to get the best of what we need to make our bodies ready for conception.

I also have looked down the homoeopathic route and have been taking homoeopathic supplements rather than synthetic multivitamins. It is all personal choice and you should do what works for you and is best for you. There are a lot of fertility and conception multivitamins on the market for both you and DH so do your research and decide which is best for you

Hope this helps!