What is the first visit to Invimed like? .

Unlike infertility, which is a permanent condition - couples diagnosed with infertility can still have a child of their own. Specialist infertility treatment centres such as the Invimed clinics Warsaw, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdynia and Katowice come to the rescue. Dr Artur Kobielski from Invimed in Katowice answers questions about what the first visit to an infertility clinic is like.

When to attend the first appointment?

If you're wondering whether it's time to get your first infertility consultation at Invimed, take a look at our earlier interview with Dr Artur Kobielski: When to visit an infertility clinic?

To make an appointment, call: 500 900 888, email: invimed@invimed.pl or use the form at www.invimed.pl/kontakt.

What does the first visit to InviMed look like?

First of all, you need to make it clear to yourself that coming to an infertility clinic for the first time is the first step towards fulfilling one of your dreams. You need to come well in advance with the attitude that you are coming to a doctor who specialises in infertility treatment, who has experience and knows what tests to order and what to do to finally succeed in getting the pregnancy you want.

In our clinic, the couple's visit for the first infertility consultation begins with a meeting with the midwife - the Medical Care Coordinator, who completes the documentation, provides initial information. Only after this does the medical consultation take place. The doctor looks at the medical records, takes a medical history and conducts a possible gynaecological examination.

What test results are worth bringing to the first infertility consultation?

For your first appointment, you should bring your medical records relating to your diagnosis or treatment to date - test results from the last year and any hospital discharges from operations on the reproductive system, as well as other surgical treatment. The process will certainly be speeded up if the doctor knows the current results of the patient's AMH, TSH, FSH, LH, oestradiol or progesterone tests (see page: Female infertility diagnosis).

In a man, for example, a semen test may be useful. All of these tests are best performed at the infertility clinic of your choice - especially the semen test. At Invimed, we have an excellent embryology team that takes care of the 100 per cent reliability of this examination. During the visit itself, the doctor will decide on further diagnostics.

What does the doctor ask as part of the medical history at the first infertility consultation?

The first infertility consultation aims to gather full information about what has happened to the couple so far in their efforts to get pregnant. It is important to know the patients age, their health status, their efforts so far, the tests done during this time. This information allows the doctor to advise on what to do next - in what direction to deepen the diagnosis or what treatment options to propose.

Does the doctor always examine the patient gynaecologically or perform a vaginal ultrasound during the first consultation?

A gynaecological examination and a vaginal ultrasound at the first visit can be dispensed with. It depends on the individual case. The most important thing is to take a history and prepare a plan for further treatment, e.g. ordering the necessary blood tests or semen tests in the first instance.

On the other hand, it should be remembered that the gynaecological examination and vaginal ultrasound are part of the diagnosis and allow the state of the reproductive organs to be assessed. It is necessary to rule out the presence of myomas, polyps, to assess the normalcy of the endometrium and the structure of the ovaries. If, on the basis of medical history, it appears that these changes may be encountered in the reproductive organs, these examinations should be carried out. Their results may influence further management and even qualification for assisted reproductive technology treatment - insemination or in vitro.

The finding of an ovarian tumour qualifying for surgery, for example, or of submucous myomas or endometrial polyps of the uterus cardinally alters plans for infertility treatment. Therefore, the earlier these lesions are detected, the better.

Can a doctor recommend supplementation at the very first visit?

Already at the first visit, the couple can expect some recommendations in this area, especially if the history shows that they are living under stress and not eating properly. In such cases, implementing supplementation can be helpful.

It is important to remember that the ingredients of good supplements are selected to provide important substances that are necessary for the correct development of sex cells. In the case of men, their efficacy can be observed, for example, by performing control semen tests after a period of supplement use.

During infertility treatment, any supplementation should be monitored by a doctor. It is also advisable to consult a dietitian, as we should remember that supplements supplement what we ourselves do not fully provide in the meals we eat.

When does the practitioner suggest that patients consult a dietician and when do they consult a psychologist?

The help of a dietician and a psychologist can be used by every couple, regardless of whether the attending doctor has referred them for such consultations. In the Invimed clinic in Katowice, we enable patients to consult both a dietician and a psychologist, who have been working with infertile couples for years.

Dietary recommendations are very important when trying for pregnancy. In fact, every patient and patient should ask themselves whether they are definitely eating correctly. This is of decisive importance from the very beginning of trying to get pregnant until the happy delivery of the baby.

A separate group is made up of patients who are overweight, obese or diagnosed with diabetes and have been qualified for treatment by implementing dietary recommendations. During the first infertility consultation, these issues are discussed in detail in order to decide on support from a dietitian.

The psychological aspect may also be important for the success of the effort?

For a couple trying to get pregnant, infertility treatment is not always a brief episode. Subsequent tests uncover the secrets of the problems and can severely lower self-esteem and well-being. An even greater burden for the couple is a failed insemination or IVF, especially when the failure is repeated.

Every doctor tries to be a psychologist for their patients, but when I see that I have reached the proverbial wall, I know it's time for a specialist psychologist.

In many difficult cases, psychological therapy can influence the success of treatment. A great advantage of Invimed is that every couple who has been to an initial infertility consultation can benefit from one free psychological consultation. An honest, open conversation with a specialist can help more than you might expect.

More information

Additional guidance on the first visit can be found on the page: FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions. You are also welcome to contact the Invimed helpline on: 500 900 888.

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Dr n. med. Artur Kobielski

Specialist gynaecologist-obstetrician and treating couples at the Invimed clinic in Katowice. Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of the Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice. In 2018 nominated by female patients for the title of Gynaecologist of the Year.

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