Fertility Appointment Questions

Written by Cynthia Obinatu, community and editorial lead. Checked against published guidance from the National Health Service and the World Health Organization. Not yet reviewed by a clinician. Educational, not medical advice.

How these fertility appointment questions work

The list starts with seven questions for a first fertility visit. Tick the ones you want to ask. Type your own question into the box and press Add. Reset clears the list, and Print or save as PDF gives you a copy to carry in. Your ticks and your own questions save on this device and nothing is sent to us. If you are going as a couple, one of you can tick and the other can add.

What your ticked questions mean

The list helps you ask. It never reads a result and it cannot say why you have not conceived. Only a doctor who knows your history can do that. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines infertility as not achieving a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex, and says it affects about one in every six people of reproductive age in their lifetime. The National Health Service (NHS) says fertility problems can affect either partner, and the WHO says infertility may occur because of male, female or unexplained factors, so the second and third questions on the list ask about ovulation and about a semen analysis for your partner.

What tests are done to check fertility?

For women, the NHS lists blood tests for progesterone to check ovulation and, if periods are irregular, other hormones. It lists a swab or urine test for chlamydia, and an ultrasound scan of the ovaries, womb and fallopian tubes. Some women have an X-ray of the womb and tubes after dye is injected, and keyhole surgery is usually used only when a problem is likely. For men, the NHS describes a semen analysis. The low sperm count page says it measures the amount of sperm, how fast they move and their shape. If a problem shows, a second test is usually done about 3 months later. Your doctor decides which tests fit you.

How do I check my fertility?

The first step is a visit to a doctor. The NHS says to see a doctor after a year of trying, or sooner if you are 36 or older or already know of a fertility problem. Bring the date your last few periods began, any medicines or supplements you take, and your partner if you can. Our fertile window guide and ovulation calculator help you track your cycle until the visit. Use the question list above to plan what to ask.

How much does a fertility test cost in Nigeria?

We do not publish prices, because we have not found a verified Nigerian price list for fertility tests. The last question on the list asks what options involve and what they will cost, and it is worth asking at the first visit, with the price of each test written down before you agree to it. Ask whether the clinic is a hospital department or a private fertility centre, and whether tests are bundled.

Fertility questions and the stigma of waiting

The WHO says women in particular frequently experience stigma, divorce and violence when a couple cannot conceive. If waiting is weighing on you, you are not the only one. The doctor box lists the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) number for when the waiting gets too heavy. If you can, go together so you can both talk about your history. Our checklist for him gives your partner his own part, and the male fertility supplements guide covers what the trials show. For preparation steps before the visit, read preparing your body to conceive.

Common questions

Where this comes from

• Infertility: tests to find the cause. National Health Service.
• Low sperm count. National Health Service.
• Infertility overview. National Health Service.
• Infertility fact sheet. World Health Organization.

This page has not yet been reviewed by a clinician. It stands on the published guidance above, and we say so plainly rather than implying a review that has not happened. Read it alongside our medical policy.