Your First IVF Consultation: 10 Questions You Should Ask
Walking into your first fertility consultation can feel overwhelming. You may not even know what you do not know. The good news: having the right questions prepared makes a significant difference — for your understanding, your confidence, and ultimately your care.
Here are ten questions worth asking at your first IVF consultation.
1. Based on my test results, what is my realistic chance of success?
Not the clinic average — your chance, given your specific diagnosis, age, and ovarian reserve. A good specialist will give you a personalized assessment, not a glossy brochure number.
2. What protocol do you recommend for me, and why?
There is no single IVF protocol. Antagonist, long agonist, mini-IVF, natural cycle — different approaches suit different patients. Ask your doctor to explain their recommendation in plain language.
3. How many embryos do you plan to transfer?
Single embryo transfer (SET) is the standard of care for most patients. Transferring two embryos increases the risk of twins, which carries meaningful medical risks. Make sure you understand the clinic's philosophy and the rationale behind their recommendation for you specifically.
4. Do you recommend genetic testing (PGT-A), and is it right for my situation?
PGT-A can identify chromosomally normal embryos before transfer, potentially improving success rates and reducing miscarriage risk. But it is not right for everyone — and it adds cost. Ask for an honest assessment of the tradeoffs for your specific case.
5. What does your cancellation rate look like?
Cycles are sometimes cancelled before egg retrieval if the response to stimulation is poor or if there is a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Ask how often this happens at their clinic and why.
6. Who will I see at each appointment?
In larger clinics, you may be monitored by different providers on different days. Will you have a primary physician? Who makes decisions if something unexpected happens?
7. What is your lab's fertilization and blastocyst development rate?
The IVF lab is as important as the clinical team. Ask about their fertilization rate (typically 70–80%) and the percentage of fertilized eggs that reach the blastocyst stage (typically 40–60%). These numbers reflect lab quality.
8. What support services do you offer?
Fertility treatment is emotionally demanding. Ask about counseling services, support groups, acupuncture referrals, and how your team handles the emotional side of care — not just the medical.
9. What are all-in costs, and what does insurance cover?
Get a detailed cost breakdown: consultation, monitoring, medications, retrieval, transfer, genetic testing, storage, and any possible frozen embryo transfer. Ask the billing coordinator specifically what your insurance covers — and what it does not.
10. What happens if this cycle does not work?
It is a hard question, but an important one. Ask how the team will analyze what happened, whether the protocol would change, and what the path forward looks like. A clinic that has a thoughtful answer to this question is one that will stand by you through the whole process.
Final Thought
You are interviewing the clinic as much as they are evaluating you. Take notes. Bring a partner or trusted friend. Do not leave without understanding the answers.
Our team is committed to making your first consultation informative, honest, and unhurried. Book yours today.