Chapter 42, Page 7

Emotional Care

When confronted by infertility, you need more than just medical care - and a good doctor will help to provide you with emotional support as well. Unfortunately, doctors often end up amplifying the stress infertile patients find themselves having to cope with. Many doctors make patients long hours, for no good reason; and others are often insensitive to their emotional needs. Others may be quite thoughtless, and instead of trying to provide special attention to the needs of infertile couples, make them wait with pregnant mothers in the clinic.

A good clinic, on the other hand, can help to alleviate your stress, by recognizing it; teaching patients that this is normal; and showing them how to cope with it. A good doctor will be able to establish a relationship with the couple, based on understanding and respect, to help them maintain and rebuild their self-esteem.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Do you have experience in fertility treatment? When do you consult with an infertility specialist?
Will you refer me to an obstetrician when I get pregnant or will you deliver the baby?
Will you send me to any other physicians or laboratories for treatments or tests?
Will you treat my spouse? If not, who will?
Do you arrange for adoptions?
Do you document surgeries with photographs or videotapes so I can see your findings for myself or provide them to other doctors?
Which hospital(s) do you use?

Questions to ask about Tests, Surgery and Treatments

What kind of procedure is it?
What will the procedure tell you?
What results do you expect?
How long will it take?
What will it cost? Does insurance cover it?
Will it hurt? How will it make me feel afterward?
Can you do it in your office? As a hospital outpatient?
Will I be incapacitated? For how long? Will I miss work?
Will my spouse be involved? How? Will he/she miss work?
Will it interfere with our sex life? How?

Questions to ask about Medications

How long will I take it?
What will it cost? Does insurance cover it?
Will it hurt or have side effects?
Do I take it at home or at your office?

Next Chapter

Credits: How to Have a Baby: Overcoming Infertility