📋 Appointment Question Checklist

Your Stress-Free Guide to the First Fertility Specialist Visit

Purpose: Walk into your reproductive endocrinology & infertility (REI) consult prepared, ask the right questions, and walk out with total clarity on next steps—without relying on memory alone.

Table of Contents

  1. Why Preparation Matters
  2. Quick-Start: What to Bring
  3. 10 Must-Ask Questions (with space to jot answers)
  4. Acronym Decoder
  5. Post-Visit Action Planner
  6. How VisitAssist Keeps You on Track

Why Preparation Matters

Fertility consults move fast—doctors cover medical history, diagnostics, treatment options, timelines, and finances in as little as 20 minutes. Research shows that patients forget 40–80 % of what was said during typical medical visits.¹ Preparing questions ahead of time and capturing answers reduces anxiety, improves decision quality, and helps you advocate for the plan that’s right for you.

Tip: Bring a partner, friend, or VisitAssist on speakerphone so you can focus on the conversation, not frantic note-taking.

Quick-Start: What to Bring

✅ Item Why It Matters
Printed medical records (OB-GYN notes, prior labs, ultrasound reports) Saves duplication and speeds diagnosis.
Insurance card & coverage summary Clarify financial obligations day-one.
List of current meds & supplements Some impact fertility or require adjustment.
Menstrual tracking (apps or calendar) Pinpoints cycle irregularities.
Partner’s basic health info REI clinics often test both partners.
Smartphone or recorder (e.g., VisitAssist) Captures the consult verbatim for later review.

10 Must-Ask Questions

Use the blank lines to capture shorthand answers during the consult. (If using VisitAssist, relax—everything is being transcribed & summarized for you.)

# Question My Notes
1 What preliminary tests do you recommend before deciding on treatment? (e.g., AMH, HSG, semen analysis)
2 Based on our age and history, what is our estimated success rate per cycle?
3 Which treatment path—TI, IUI, IVF—fits our situation best, and why?
4 What lifestyle changes could meaningfully improve our chances?
5 How many embryos do you typically transfer per cycle for someone my age?
6 What are the common side effects or risks of the medications you’d use?
7 Can you outline the full timeline from testing to pregnancy test?
8 What are the projected out-of-pocket costs after insurance?
9 If the first cycle fails, how soon can we try again and what gets adjusted?
10 How will you communicate updates (portal, phone, email) and who is my main point of contact?

Pro-Move: End with “Is there anything important that I haven’t asked about yet?”—this prompts clinicians to cover missed ground.

Acronym Decoder

Acronym Stands For Why You’ll Hear It
AMH Anti-Müllerian Hormone Blood marker of ovarian reserve.
HSG Hysterosalpingography X-ray of uterus & fallopian tubes.
IUI Intrauterine Insemination Sperm placed directly into uterus.
IVF In Vitro Fertilization Eggs fertilized in lab, embryos transferred.
PGT-A Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy Screens embryos for chromosomal errors.
TI Timed Intercourse Natural conception timed with ovulation.

Bookmark this section for quick reference during post-visit discussions.

Post-Visit Action Planner

  1. Within 24 Hours

    • Transfer your notes into a secure file or rely on your VisitAssist summary.
    • List next-step tasks (lab appointments, insurance calls) and assign dates.

  2. Within 7 Days

    • Complete ordered lab work.
    • Confirm any required referrals or pre-authorizations.

  3. By Next Cycle Start

    • Finalize treatment plan decision.
    • Order medications if needed.
Task Owner Due Date Done
… … … ☐

How VisitAssist Keeps You on Track

VisitAssist records your consult, auto-labels every question you asked, and emails a plain-language summary with next-step reminders to you (and your partner, if desired). No more “What did the doctor say?” moments—just clarity and confidence as you move forward.

¹ Kessels RP. Patient Education & Counseling, 2003.