Talking to Your Doctor About Infertility in Women

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Talking to Your Doctor

Living With Infertility

Resource Guide

Talking to Your Doctor About Infertility in Women

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

You have your own health history. Talk with your doctor about your risk and background with female infertility. Talking openly and often with your doctor can help you make good choices.

Tips for Gathering Information

Here are some tips that will make it simpler for you to talk to your doctor:

Bring another person with you. It helps to have another person hear what is said and think of questions to ask.
Write your questions down so you don't forget them.
Write down the answers you get. Make sure you grasp what you are hearing. Ask for help, if needed.
Don't be afraid to ask your questions or where you can find more info. You have a right to know.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

About Your Risk

Am I at risk based on my history?
Am I taking any medicine that puts me at risk?
How do I best prevent this health problem?

About Treatment Options

How do I best treat this?
What medicines can help?
- What are the benefits and side effects?
- Will these medicines cause problems with over the counter products, dietary or herbal supplements, or other medicines I take?
- Can I use assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as IVF?
About Assisted Reproductive Technologies
- What are the success rates?
- Can I use my own eggs?
- Will my insurance cover it?

About Lifestyle Changes

Do I need to gain or lose weight?
Do I need to stay away from caffeine and alcohol?
How much exercise is too much if I am having trouble getting pregnant?
How often do I need a pelvic exam?

References:

Infertility fact sheet. Office on Women's Health—US Department of Health and Human Services website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated August 30, 2018. Accessed December 31, 2018.

Infertility in women. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.... Updated November 6, 2018. Accessed December 31, 2018.

Patient history taking: major systems of the body. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: https://www.ebscoh.... Updated March 30, 2018. Accessed December 31, 2018.

Tips for talking to your doctor. American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated January 19, 2018. Accessed December 31, 2018

Last reviewed December 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG
Last Updated: 12/31/2018

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