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Conversation guide 

Egg freezing consultation: 
your conversation guide

This guide is to help you get the most out of your first consultation on egg freezing. It contains useful information on what to expect at your first visit, what to bring, and some questions that you might want to ask your doctor.

What to know about
your first consultation

The doctor may do a physical examination of your body to assess your fertility health. This may include a genital examination, ultrasound scan and blood test. You can check with the clinic ahead of the consultation if you want to find out more. 

The doctor may ask some questions about your health, lifestyle and past experiences, such as:
  • Do you smoke?
  • Have you ever been tested for sexually transmitted diseases?
  • Have you ever been pregnant in the past?
  • Have you ever been tested for cervical cancer?
  • When was your last menstrual period?
  • Have you tested your level or measurement of the anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) in the past year? AMH is a protein hormone produced by cells within the ovary. Understanding your AMH levels can help to assess your ovarian egg reserve and therefore your fertility
  • If you have a partner, you may want them to attend the consultation with you. Check with the clinic beforehand about this
  • What to bring
    to your first
    consultation

    • The doctor may ask if anyone in your family has had fertility issues in the past, so it is a good idea to find out this information from your relatives before your consultation
    • Your latest medical records, including recent blood test results and Pap (smear) test results for cervical cancer
    • The contact information of your current or past family doctor, General Practitioner (GP) and/or gynaecologist

    Some
    questions
    to ask

    You may find it useful to ask some of the below questions at your consultation

    The egg freezing process

    • How many times will I need to visit the clinic, and what will happen at each visit?
    • How many eggs can you collect each time?
    • How long can my eggs be stored for?
    • Is the procedure painful?
    • What are my chances of success, taking into account my age, health, family history etc.?
    • Are there any long-term health effects from the procedure?
    • How much time will I need to take off work?
    • How many times will I have to go through the procedure?

    Financial questions

    • How much does the procedure cost?
    • Is the procedure covered by health insurance?
    • Is there someone at the clinic I can discuss my financial options with?
    • Is there a charge for storing my eggs?

    Questions about the clinic

    • How long has this clinic been doing egg freezing?
    • What are the qualifications of the healthcare professionals here?
    • What are your success rates?
    • Is there a waiting list?
    • What sort of timeframe would I be looking at?
    • What is your patient satisfaction rate?
    • What happens to my eggs that aren’t used?

    We understand that...

    ...fertility preservation is a big decision, and you are entitled to do as much research and ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable before going ahead. If you have ANY questions or worries that you don’t feel have been fully addressed by the clinic, don’t be afraid to ask again – and again if it’s still not completely clear to you. It’s your body, and you have the right to understand exactly what you are getting into and to make informed choices for yourself and your future.

    You have no way of knowing how people will respond to you about your fertility journey, but one thing you can probably expect is some questions. Thinking through these questions in advance may take the pressure off when that moment arrives. 

    How long have you been considering fertility preservation?

    Some friends and family may want to be reassured that this isn’t an impulsive decision. You’ll have many reasons for making the decision you have – sharing them (or as many of them as you feel comfortable) will help people understand, and ultimately to support your decision.

    How will this affect your day-to-day life? What will it involve? 

    Remember, your knowledge of fertility preservation will probably be far greater than that of your loved ones! They’re likely to be interested in the process, so think through what you feel comfortable sharing

    Consider how your journey may affect things you have planned with loved ones – will you miss a family gathering or birthday for example? It’s always useful to address any potential issues upfront.

    Is this something you are ready for other people to know about?

    Consider if it would be useful for some people to share your news with others (you may want certain members of the family to know but not have the time or emotional energy to tell them, for example).

    What can they do to support you? 

    Think carefully about what help and support would be useful before, during and after your journey, and be as open and honest as you can be. Would you like them to come with you to appointments for example?
    Thoughts from Julie
    Partners are the number one support that women count on during a fertility journey. The presence of a partner at consultations with the doctor, for ultrasounds and certainly on the day of oocyte retrieval can be a testament to their commitment and adds to their greater understanding of the treatment. Partners might feel like back-seat passengers since the treatment mainly concerns the woman having the procedure. This may lead to feelings of powerlessness or guilt. Good communication on feelings, thoughts and experiences and keeping a mutual investment in the relationship is key.

    Some
    questions
    to ask

    You may find it useful to ask some of the below questions at your consultation.

    The egg freezing process

    • How many times will I need to visit the clinic, and what will happen at each visit?
    • How many eggs can you collect each time?
    • How long can my eggs be stored for?
    • Is the procedure painful?
    • What are my chances of success, taking into account my age, health, family history etc.?
    • Are there any long-term health effects from the procedure?
    • How much time will I need to take off work?
    • How many times will I have to go through the procedure?

    Financial questions 

    • How much does the procedure cost?
    • Is the procedure covered by health insurance?
    • Is there someone at the clinic I can discuss my financial options with?
    • Is there a charge for storing my eggs?

    Questions about the clinic

    • How long has this clinic been doing egg freezing?
    • What are the qualifications of the healthcare professionals here?
    • What are your success rates?
    • Is there a waiting list?
    • What sort of timeframe would I be looking at?
    • What is your patient satisfaction rate?
    • What happens to my eggs that aren’t used?

    We understand that...

    ...fertility preservation is a big decision, and you are entitled to do as much research and ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable before going ahead. If you have ANY questions or worries that you don’t feel have been fully addressed by the clinic, don’t be afraid to ask again – and again if it’s still not completely clear to you. It’s your body, and you have the right to understand exactly what you are getting into and to make informed choices for yourself and your future.

    Remember, every situation and every person are unique, but thinking ahead is always a good idea. 

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