Consultation

First visit:
This is the first step into identifying the cause of the couple’s infertility and its management. The importance of this step stems from the fact that it offers the chance for the couple to build a rapport with their doctor who in turn can assess the physical and psychological wellbeing of the couple. Seeing the couple together is important. However, if for any reason one of the couple is not able to attend the consultation will take place but it may not be possible to divulge information about the other partner.

Careful medical and personal history taking is normally sought at this stage including sexual history and previous pregnancies. Physical examination of the couple is not carried out as a matter of routine but in certain cases where the examination may yield useful information. Some investigations will have been carried out by the couple’s GP and further ones will be requested by the doctor seeing you in the clinic. After the first visit a general plan for the investigations and management of the potential causes of infertility are usually discussed with the couple. Unless all the investigations had been carried out elsewhere, it would be difficult to identify the cause of infertility and discuss specific management plans.

Second visit:
In the period between the first and second visits the results of all the requested investigation should be available and a discussion about the management options will be discussed in the second visit. Information will be given by the doctor and will be reinforced by easy to read literature created by the clinic specifically for this reason. The couple’s question will be answered however long their list is. Some legal issues such as the welfare of the children (current and future) will also be discussed. Every couple will be given the opportunity to see a counsellor and may be encouraged to do so if they are judged by their clinician to be under a lot of pressure of stress due to their childlessness.

Subsequent visits:
During subsequent visits the outcome of the treatment offered in previous visits will be discussed. Any modifications to the original treatment plans will be discussed at this point and the couples’ questions will be answered. It may be necessary, in certain few cases, to reinvestigate or make significant changes to the original plan of management.