An IVF consultation typically lasts 30–60 minutes, and it covers a lot of ground. Patients often leave — especially from a first consultation — feeling they have only partially understood what they were told, or realising afterwards that they forgot to ask something important.
The questions below are organised by topic. You don't need to ask all of them — identify the ones most relevant to your situation.
About Your Diagnosis and Test Results
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What is the most likely cause of our difficulty conceiving, based on the tests so far? If the answer is "unexplained infertility," ask: What else would you investigate before concluding it's unexplained? See unexplained infertility.
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Are there any investigations you'd recommend that haven't been done yet? This catches gaps before treatment starts rather than after a failed cycle.
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What does my AMH/AFC mean in practical terms for IVF? Ask specifically what they predict in terms of expected egg numbers per cycle. See low AMH and IVF.
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Is there anything in my uterus (fibroids, polyps, shape) that might affect implantation? If yes, ask: Should it be treated before IVF?
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Based on my partner's semen analysis, do you recommend ICSI rather than standard IVF?
About Treatment Protocol
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What stimulation protocol do you recommend for me, and why? Long protocol, antagonist, mild, or natural — and the reasoning specific to your profile.
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What starting dose of FSH do you recommend, and how might you adjust it during stimulation?
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What is the expected number of eggs you'd hope to collect in my cycle? This sets realistic expectations before stimulation starts.
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Would you recommend a fresh transfer or a freeze-all strategy for my cycle? Why? See frozen embryo transfer guide.
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What day do you typically aim for transfer — Day 3 or Day 5? If Day 5 (blastocyst), ask about their blastocyst development rate.
About Success Rates and Your Prognosis
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What is your live birth rate per embryo transfer for patients in my specific age group and with my diagnosis? Ask for their clinic's own data, not general statistics.
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How does your success rate compare to the HFEA average for my profile?
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What is my realistic cumulative live birth rate over two or three cycles? This is more informative than per-cycle rate for planning purposes.
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What factors in my case make you more or less optimistic? A good consultant will be honest about this.
About Add-Ons
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Are there any additional treatments or tests you'd recommend for me — and what is the HFEA evidence rating for each? A clinic that is transparent about the evidence base (or lack of it) for add-ons is more trustworthy than one that presents them all as established treatments. See IVF add-on treatments.
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Is endometrial scratching part of your standard protocol? On what basis? Given the SCRaTCH trial, the evidence does not support this routinely. See endometrial scratching evidence.
About the Embryology Lab
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What blastocyst development rate do you achieve? (The percentage of fertilised eggs that develop to blastocyst — typically 40–60%.)
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Do you use time-lapse incubation, and does it affect your embryo selection process?
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How many embryologists work in your lab, and is the lab open at weekends? Weekend egg collections require lab coverage.
About Costs and What's Included
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What exactly is included in the quoted price? Medication, monitoring scans, embryo freezing, FET cycles — ask specifically.
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If the cycle is cancelled before egg collection, what costs do I still pay?
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Do you offer a multiple-cycle package, and what are the exact terms? What are the refund conditions? What triggers count toward the package?
For detailed cost guidance, see IVF costs UK 2026 and how to reduce IVF costs.
About the Process and Timeline
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How will I be monitored during stimulation, and how will I receive results?
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What is your out-of-hours contact for urgent questions during a cycle?
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How long would I typically wait for a treatment slot after today's appointment?
Specific Situations
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(If you have had previous failed cycles elsewhere) Having reviewed my previous cycle notes, is there anything about the protocol or lab approach you'd do differently?
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(If you are considering treatment abroad or a second opinion) Are there any investigations or protocol changes you'd recommend before I make a decision on where to be treated?
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(If PGT-A has been mentioned) What is your specific recommendation for my case regarding PGT-A, and what would we do if all embryos tested as aneuploid? See preimplantation genetic testing.
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(If donor eggs have been raised) At what point would you recommend considering donor eggs given my profile, and what does your donor pathway look like in terms of waiting time? See donor egg IVF in the UK.
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If this first cycle doesn't work, what would the next step be? A good consultant will outline the decision tree in advance, not just focus on the optimistic scenario.
How to Use This List
Print or screenshot the questions most relevant to your situation before your appointment. You don't need to work through them sequentially — use them to fill gaps in the conversation as it unfolds.
It is also worth writing down the answers during or immediately after the consultation. Patients frequently discover they cannot recall specific details when reviewing information afterwards. Many clinics are happy for consultations to be recorded with their knowledge — ask at the start of the appointment.
If the consultant seems rushed or dismissive of your questions, this is itself a useful data point about the kind of care you are likely to receive throughout treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it rude to come to a consultation with a list of questions?
A: No. Informed patients who ask specific questions are easier to work with for experienced consultants, not harder. Any consultant who is visibly irritated by patient questions about their own treatment is a red flag.
Q: What should I bring to my first fertility consultation?
A: Previous test results (AMH, semen analysis, day 2–3 bloods, scan reports), a summary of your medical history, a list of current medications, and this question list (or your personalised version of it).
Q: Should both partners attend the consultation?
A: Ideally yes, particularly if there are male-factor considerations or if both partners need to consent to treatment. Some consultations are information-heavy enough that having two sets of ears is simply helpful.
Q: What if I think of important questions after the consultation?
A: Most clinics have a nurse coordinator or patient liaison who can answer follow-up questions by email or phone. For complex clinical questions, asking for a brief follow-up call with the consultant or a written summary of the recommendations is reasonable.
This article is for information only. Use these questions as a starting point and adjust for your specific situation and the consultant's responses.