Important questions to ask at IVF consultation??

[Helen_26]

We have our 1st IVF consultation at IVF Wales on 26th March.
Whenever I have had appointment's with the gynae in the past, you can bet on me forgetting to ask something really important.

I really don't want that to happen this time. I want to make a list to take with me and I was wondering what questions do I need to ask? What is really important to know?
I'm so excited /nervous about this appointment that my mind is a complete blank!!

 

[CareBear]

Only question I can think of that I would ask if I was going to IVF consultation would be to get them to go through the whole process step by step, exactly what they are going to do, what meds you need to take and how. Don't know if this helps but good luck!

 

[maz]

You'll probably find that once you get to your pre-treatment planning appointment, they'll have a set procedure that answers nearly all your questions. I found that my clinic was very good at answering my questions before I'd even thought of them let alone asked them. You've got plenty of time to get your thinking cap on, and if I think of anything I'll pop it into this thread for you...

xx

 

[Helen_26]

Thank you both.

 

[FJL]

I'm not sure if its the same in the UK, but over here we have mandatory meeting with the nurses. It goes for about an hour and they go through EVERYTHING with you. From what drugs you take and when, what those drugs do, scans and blood tests, egg collection, fertilisation, embryo transfer etc.

The mistake I made was not asking the 'what can go wrong' questions and this left me an absolute emotional wreck during parts of our cycle when we thought we would be cancelled on as I had not prepared for this.

A good thing to ask you FS though, is what % of success he would give you guys as an individual couple. We were given a 60% chance per cycle (less for a FET though).

 

[snowgirl]

We were completely clueless at our first consulation but I then bought a few books, one of them being Zita Wests Fertility & Conception which really helped. Had I known more about the procedure before the cons, then I would have been able to ask more questions. How much do you know about IVF already? Are you like me (at the initial stage) only knowing it involved drugs and eggs being taken out of you to fertilise or have you read a bit more and come across what effects each drug have on the body? The Zita West book explains this really well.

I documented my IVF on a blog here which may help you to ask the right questions at your consultation? I hope it's useful

 

[Helen_26]

Thanks guys.
FJL - I probably wouldn't thought until later to ask those questions,

Snowgirl - I really am at the initial stage. As well as my PCOS we have severe male factor so what is going to haven to us is a complete unknown.