10 Questions to Ask at Your First Fertility Appointment
Facing your first fertility consultation can feel like stepping into the unknown, but having a clear list of questions to ask at your first fertility appointment turns that uncertainty into confidence. In this guide, we draw on clinical expertise and real-world community insights to highlight the key areas you’ll want to cover.
Author
Reviewed by
Kayleigh Hartigan
17 min read
Updated 27 July 2025
What happens at the first fertility appointment (NHS or private)?
When you first start with a fertility clinic, you’ll usually have two initial appointments. The first one is all about gathering information — the clinic staff will organise some baseline tests, and typically takes about 30 minutes or less. These often include recording your height and weight, blood tests (like AMH, FSH and progesterone), a pelvic ultrasound to check your ovaries and uterus, asking a few simple questions about your menstrual cycle, and a semen analysis if you have a partner. Some clinics carry these out on the day, while others will book them separately.
The second appointment — usually a week or two later — is when things start to come together. This is the time to ask questions, go through your results in detail, and explore what your next steps might look like — it’ll likely last up to an hour, depending on how many questions you have. Whether that’s more testing, lifestyle support, or starting treatment like ovulation stimulation, IUI or IVF, this conversation is about creating a plan that’s tailored to you.
What questions should I ask at a fertility consultation?
To help you go into your initial consultation feeling prepared, confident and informed, we’ve put together a list of key questions. We asked our clinical experts for their best advice; and our community has shared what they found most helpful (and in some cases what they wished they had asked) when they were starting out.
1. Who will be managing my care?
Your initial clinic consultation will be the first time you meet some of the people who you’ll be seeing a lot of when you start treatment. These are the people who truly shape your experience, and how you connect with them matters. You’ll want to look for a communication style that fits well with yours, openness to your questions and transparency in their answers. Often, this comes down to your gut instinct, so don’t be afraid to go with what feels right for you.
You can ask:
“Who are the doctors and nurses that will take care of my treatment? Can I speak directly to them today?”
Expert advice
“My top tip is to find a clinic that takes the time to really understand you. Fertility isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ journey, and it’s so important to choose a team that will look at your full history and consider your overall gynaecological health.”
— Rebecca Hay, Head of Patient Services Operations, The Evewell
2. What do my previous test results mean? (if applicable)
If you’ve already had any fertility-related tests — whether through your GP, private health checks, a previous clinic, or at home — bring them with you to this appointment. That includes things like:
- Blood test results (e.g. AMH, FSH, LH, progesterone, oestrogen, thyroid hormones, vitamin D, iron levels)
- Ultrasound or scan reports
- Semen analysis or at-home sperm test results
- Surgical notes or post-miscarriage reports (such as after a D&C)
- Cycle tracking charts (such as BBT, LH surge timing, or data from wearable smartwear technology or cycle-tracking apps)
These results can offer useful clues, even if they seem unclear or contradictory. Ask your doctor to walk through them in plain language — not just what the numbers are, but what they might mean for your cycle, hormone health, or overall fertility.
You can ask:
“Can we go over my past test results in detail, and what they might indicate about my fertility?”
Community experience
“I’m glad I did at-home progesterone tests, thyroid tests, LH tracking, and hormone tracking with my Mira device — it meant I could come prepared with more information that could be relevant.”
— Tassia, 35, Bath
3. What initial tests do you recommend for me — and why?
Understanding what initial tests you need and why can help to clarify your fertility status and treatment options. Ask about anything you’re unsure of, no question is too simple. Discuss the specifics of your medical history and personal circumstances.
Then, find out what the fertility assessments recommended might involve — often these include AMH, FSH, LH, progesterone, thyroid, vitamin D, or iron; or scans to check your ovaries, uterus, and/or fallopian tubes. Knowing what to expect can help alleviate anxiety and prepare you for the next steps.
You can ask:
“What tests do you recommend for my specific situation, and how will they help in diagnosing my fertility issues?”
Community experience
“Fertility treatment at every level is tough physically, emotionally, mentally and financially. I have learnt to advocate for myself with medical professionals and to not be afraid to ask questions if I am unsure of anything.”
— Suky, 41, Nottingham
4. What are my treatment options — and what would you recommend based on what we know so far?
The results of the tests mentioned above will help to determine what’s available to you, and enable the clinic to provide a personalised plan based on your individual circumstances and treatment needs. However, even before these tests and results, you should be able to talk through the likely options at your first consultation, so you can get a sense of what’s involved, the potential effectiveness, risks and time commitments of each treatment. This knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions, for a collaborative process that you’re happy with moving forward.
You can ask:
“At this stage, what treatment options do you suggest, and what are the pros and cons of each?”
Expert advice
“A good clinic will explore every option – including ways to help you conceive naturally – before recommending treatment. That thoughtful, personalised care can make all the difference.”
— Rebecca Hay, Head of Patient Services Operations, The Evewell
5. What are the costs — and what’s included (and not included)?
Fertility treatment is expensive and costs vary significantly from person to person. Understanding the estimated costs for your suggested treatment plan, plus the potential for extra costs throughout, is crucial so you can budget effectively. Ask for a detailed breakdown of expenses, for not only your primary treatment costs, but additional fees such as medication, monitoring and laboratory services. Knowing the likely financial commitment will help you plan accordingly. Find out more about the cost of egg freezing and IVF in and around the UK.
You can ask:
“Can you provide a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with the recommended treatments, including any additional fees?”
Expert advice
“The cost of treatment can vary considerably from one clinic to another, and the headline figures quoted on clinic websites may not be what you’d end up paying for a cycle of IVF”
— Funding your Fertility Treatment, Fertility Network UK
6. What is the success rate for my specific case?
Knowing the clinic’s success rates can help manage your expectations and steer your decision-making when choosing a clinic. Though these numbers are always an average, and the success of your personal outcome cannot be guaranteed, understanding the statistics will help you to assess whether the clinic aligns with your priorities. Success rates depend on factors like patient age, diagnosis, and the specific treatments offered. These rates also highlight good clinic practices, for example a lower multiple birth rate can indicate a clinic with good embryo transfer practices (favouring single embryo transfers over multiple to minimise risk). You can easily compare the success rates for each clinic on our Clinic Pages.
You can ask:
“What is your clinic’s success rate for patients in my age group and with a similar background, personal circumstances and treatment needs? Can you share any specific examples?”
Expert advice
“The fertility regulator found that an average fertility patient will go through three embryo transfers. This is because, even for the youngest demographic of IVF patients, the chance of having a live birth from an embryo transfer is just one in three. Understanding these statistics can not only provide some level of comfort when cycles don’t end in the way you’d hoped, but can also help you to financially plan for your fertility treatment.”
— Kayleigh Hartigan, clinical specialist and founder of Seen Fertility
7. What support services do you offer?
From before the start to long after you’ve finished fertility treatment, this process is one that stays with you and is felt in every aspect of your life. It changes us as people, and having good emotional and mental support in place is really important. This is something you might overlook at the beginning of the process, when you’re keen to get started with treatment, but it’s worth asking about the support services available from your first consultation. Many clinics offer counselling sessions as part of your treatment package, and they should also be able to recommend support groups and educational resources (we’ve put together some useful guides here, too). Ask about your options to book sessions before, during and/or after your treatment — different things will come up at different points on your fertility path, and it’s good to know there’s support available at each stage.
You can ask:
“What counselling or therapy services are included in my treatment package? Can I book these sessions at any point before, during or after treatment? What support groups can the clinic connect me with?”
Community experience
“Whilst going through IVF, I was offered counselling which was a huge help, but the same was not offered to my partner. Looking back, I think he could have used someone to talk to more than me. He needed just as much support as I did. We as women are much more open about this, whether with family and friends or ‘strangers’ on social media. Men don’t often have the same connection. Knowing we are jumping back next year into IVF, I don’t want him to experience those feelings alone again.”
— Faye, 34, Derbyshire
8. How will we communicate?
Establishing clear communication channels is essential — you’ll be in touch with the clinic a lot for test results, appointments and will likely have questions for your consultant as you go along. Ask about how the team usually communicates, whether it’s via phone, email or an online portal, and who your first point of call will be. You can also check our clinic reviews to read about the experience of others and see how they rated the clinic on communication, which will help to decide if it feels right for you.
You can ask:
“How do you usually stay in touch with patients about treatment, appointments and test results? Who will be my main point of call, will this remain the same throughout the process, and how available are they to me?”
Community experience
“Communication was done via phone, email or their own app — their app was incredible, I could ask any questions and knew I would get a response the same day, or if it was for another department they simply sent it on and I got to the right people. All documents are there (even now) for my review.”
— patient at Manchester Fertility Clinic, as reviewed on Seen Fertility
9. What is the treatment timeline and next steps?
Everyone’s fertility path is unique, but getting an overview of what you should likely prepare and plan for will help you to feel more in control. After your first consultation, the next steps will usually include:
- Follow-up tests: Depending on your initial assessment, your doctor may recommend additional tests to gather more information about your fertility status. These could include blood tests, ultrasounds, or other diagnostic procedures to pinpoint specific issues.
- Clinic waiting times: Ask how long you might be waiting between appointments, tests, or treatment cycles. Some clinics have short turnaround times, while others may have a wait depending on demand, availability of specialists, or internal policies. Knowing this upfront can help you plan around work, travel, and life commitments.
- Treatment plan development: Once you have all necessary test results, your clinical team will create a tailored treatment plan that outlines your options. This plan may include timelines, medications, and specific procedures, enabling you to understand what lies ahead.
- Financial consultation: Many clinics will offer a financial consultation to discuss costs associated with your treatment plan. This is crucial for budgeting and understanding what insurance may cover, allowing you to make informed decisions regarding your finances.
- Counselling and support resources: The fertility process comes with a huge emotional and mental load, so you may want to engage with the support services offered by the clinic early on, or set out your preferred plan for counselling sessions from the start, to help you feel supported throughout.
- Scheduling future appointments: There are going to be many appointments ahead for monitoring, treatment and consultations. Getting these in your diary ahead of time will help you organise your schedule and feel prepared and on track throughout.
You can ask:
“What does my personal treatment timeline look like over the next few weeks and months? What can I book in at this stage? How long is the current wait for treatment to begin after this consultation? Are there any times of year when things typically move faster or slower?”
Community experience
“Prepwork is key. Focus on nutrition and mind health, so you can go into your next IVF cycle feeling confident and healthy.”
— Chantelle, 35, Guernsey
10. What lifestyle changes or supplements do you recommend at this stage?
Your lifestyle plays a key role in fertility — affecting everything from hormone balance to egg and sperm quality, ovulation patterns and implantation. But the advice can be overwhelming and often contradictory, especially online. Your first fertility appointment is the right time to get personalised, evidence-based guidance.
You might already be taking some supplements, so ask your clinician whether these are right for you, and if there are any other supplements that might support your specific situation (e.g. in cases of low AMH, irregular ovulation, or sperm quality concerns).
You can ask:
- Nutrition: Should I be eating more of certain foods? Is there anything I should cut back on?
- Caffeine and alcohol: What levels are considered safe while trying to conceive?
- Exercise: What type and intensity is recommended based on my history and test results?
- Sleep and stress: Could improving my sleep or reducing stress make a difference?
- Complementary therapies: Do you recommend acupuncture, fertility massage, or similar?
- Supplements: Which supplements would you recommend based on my test results?
Community experience
“I had already fallen down various TikTok rabbit holes of supplements that were supposed ‘infertility cures’, but after speaking to my fertility clinic about them, we decided together which ones I could continue with and which I could stop taking.”
— Tassia, 35, Bath
“Most patients under 38 years of age will have on around 7-14 eggs collected, although this isn’t always possible for patients with low ovarian reserves (low numbers of eggs).”
— HFEA (Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority) [6]
How to prepare for your first fertility appointment
Preparing for your first fertility appointment can help you feel more confident, calm, and ready to get the most from your time with the clinic. Whether you’re going through the NHS or seeing a private specialist, here’s how to walk in feeling informed and empowered.
- Bring your full medical history: Note down any past diagnoses, surgeries (such as a D&C or laparoscopy), irregular cycles, hormonal symptoms, or family history of fertility or menopause issues.
- Gather previous test results (if you have them): Include bloodwork (e.g. AMH, FSH, TSH, vitamin D), scan reports, semen analysis, or any cycle tracking data from relevant apps or devices.
- Wear something with “easy access”: If your first fertility appointment includes a transvaginal or pelvic scan, you might prefer to wear something that you can pull up easily, like a skirt, for a little more privacy.
- Wear a short-sleeved shirt: Or something you can roll your sleeves up — this is if you’re having a blood test, to make things easier and more comfortable.
- Track your menstrual cycle: If you haven’t already, start logging cycle length, ovulation timing (using LH strips or BBT), bleeding patterns, and symptoms. This gives your doctor a clearer picture.
- List any supplements or medications you’re taking: Include everything — even herbal or over-the-counter ones — so your clinician can advise what to continue, adjust, or stop.
- Make a note of lifestyle factors: Mention sleep habits, exercise, weight changes, diet, caffeine/alcohol use, and stress levels. These all influence fertility and may help guide next steps.
- Write down your questions in advance: Bring a printed or digital list of the questions you want to ask, so nothing gets forgotten in the moment.
- Bring your partner or a support person if possible: Having someone else there can help you absorb information and offer emotional support, especially if the appointment brings up difficult feelings.
- Bring a notebook or phone to take notes: Some people even prefer to record their first fertility appointment to make sure they get all the information — just be sure to check that your clinician is happy for you to do so first.
- Know your goals for the appointment: Are you hoping to get a diagnosis? Explore treatment options? Rule things out? Understanding your priorities helps guide the conversation.
- Allow yourself time before and after: If you can, don’t rush in or out. You might want time to process what you hear, write down what you learned, or talk things through afterwards.
Choosing the right clinic for you
Your first consultation is the perfect opportunity to gather information and create a clear onward path. Know that you can ask any questions, express concerns and that you don’t have to make any decisions there and then, there’s never an obligation to continue on to treatment.
These initial conversations are key to deciding which clinic is right for you. It’s helpful to speak to more than one clinic — our community says speaking to up to three was the magic number for many of them — so that you can better compare the experiences, costs and outcomes at each, and determine which feels like the best fit.
Our Clinic Matching tool will connect you with clinics best suited to your specific medical needs, from AMH to BMI; aligned to your budget, personal requirements and the experiences of those most like you in our community. We’ve partnered with clinics so you can arrange a free initial conversation, an exclusive benefit of booking through us and a great way to speak to several clinics at no extra cost (for clinics not yet partnered with us, the consultation fee is advertised.)
We’re always here for any guidance and support you might need, whether specific queries about clinics, or help comparing your options and discussing the whole process.