Questions to Ask Your Doctor
A Practical Guide to Getting the Most From Your Fertility Appointments
It's easy to walk out of an appointment and suddenly think of all the questions you wish you'd asked.
When you're worried, emotional or hearing unfamiliar medical terms, it's perfectly normal to forget what you wanted to say.
This guide is designed to help you prepare for appointments, understand your options and make sure you leave knowing what happens next.
Remember, not every question will apply to your situation. Choose the ones that feel most relevant to you.
Before Every Appointment
It may help to ask yourself:
What do I hope to learn today?
What symptoms have I noticed?
When did they begin?
Have they changed over time?
Have I written down my questions?
It's also worth taking a notebook or using your phone to make notes during the appointment.
Questions for Your GP
If you're seeing your GP because you're struggling to conceive, you might ask:
Do you think I should be referred for fertility investigations?
Which blood tests would you recommend?
Should my partner also have investigations?
Would an ultrasound scan be helpful?
Should my thyroid be checked?
Is there anything in my medical history that concerns you?
Are there lifestyle changes that may help?
When should I come back if I'm still not pregnant?
Questions About Blood Tests
Which hormones are being checked?
What is each test looking for?
Were any of my results outside the normal range?
Do my results explain my symptoms?
Will the tests need repeating?
What happens if my results are normal?
Questions About Ultrasound
Was everything clearly visible?
Do my ovaries look normal?
Were any cysts or fibroids seen?
Was anything unexpected found?
Do I need any further investigations?
Questions About HSG or HyCoSy
Are both Fallopian tubes open?
Was the test completely normal?
Could there be a blockage?
Do I need further investigations?
What happens next?
Questions About Endometriosis
Could endometriosis explain my symptoms?
Can endometriosis be present even if my ultrasound was normal?
Would further investigations help?
Is laparoscopy appropriate for me?
What treatment options are available?
Could endometriosis be affecting my fertility?
Questions About Hydrosalpinx
Is one tube affected or both?
What caused the damage?
Could surgery improve my chances of pregnancy?
Would IVF be recommended?
Should the tube be removed before IVF?
Questions About Unexplained Infertility
Is there anything that may not have been investigated yet?
Would you recommend seeing a fertility specialist?
Are there any additional tests available?
What treatment options should we discuss?
Questions About IVF
Why are you recommending IVF?
What are the alternatives?
What are the success rates for someone in my situation?
Are there any risks I should understand?
What happens if the first cycle isn't successful?
Questions Before Surgery
Why is surgery recommended?
What are the benefits?
What are the risks?
Are there any alternatives?
What will recovery involve?
Will surgery affect my fertility?
How soon can I start trying to conceive afterwards?
Before You Leave
These questions are often the most important:
What happens next?
When will I receive my results?
Who should I contact if I haven't heard anything?
Do I need another appointment?
Is there anything I should do before then?
If you don't understand something, it's absolutely okay to say:
"Could you explain that another way?"
or
"I'm not familiar with that term—could you tell me what it means?"
Healthcare professionals explain medical information every day and should understand that patients may need clarification.
Remember...
You are not being difficult by asking questions.
You are taking an active role in understanding your own health.
No one knows your body better than you do.
If something doesn't make sense, ask.
If you're worried, say so.
If you feel you've forgotten something important, make another appointment or ask how you can get further clarification.
A Note About Persistent Symptoms
If your symptoms continue despite reassurance or treatment, it's reasonable to return to your healthcare professional and explain what's still happening.
Persistent pelvic pain, recurrent infections, ongoing abnormal bleeding, repeated fertility difficulties or symptoms that continue to affect your quality of life deserve to be assessed.
Sometimes the answer is straightforward.
Sometimes it takes time to find.
Either way, your concerns matter.
Top Ten Questions to Never Forget
If you're short on time, these are the ten questions I'd encourage almost everyone to ask:
What do you think is the most likely explanation for my symptoms?
Are there any other possible causes we should consider?
Do I need any further tests?
What happens next?
When will I receive my results?
What should I do while I'm waiting?
When should I come back?
What symptoms should prompt me to seek help sooner?
Can you explain that in simpler terms?
Is there anything I've forgotten to ask that you think is important?
Related Guides
Start Here – Your Fertility Roadmap
What Happens at Your First Fertility Appointment?
Blood Tests Explained
HSG Explained
Ultrasound Explained
Endometriosis Explained
Hydrosalpinx Explained
Waiting for Results
A Personal Note
Looking back over my own twenty-year fertility journey, there are countless appointments where I left wishing I'd asked one more question.
Sometimes I simply didn't know what to ask.
Other times, I didn't realise there were other possibilities worth exploring.
I can't promise that asking every question will lead to an immediate diagnosis. But I do believe that understanding your options and leaving each appointment knowing what happens next can make an incredibly difficult journey feel just a little less overwhelming.
That's why I created this guide—not to replace medical advice, but to help you feel more confident walking into every appointment.