First visit to RE: what can I expect?

[Anonymous]

I have a first consult with SGF next week - what should I prepare for?

[Anonymous]

I created a detailed post over two years ago to answer this but have never been able to find it again! We were at Columbia, not SGF so might be some differences.

Our first visit was more of an intake of our history. I was sent for bloodwork on a specific day and an HSG also on a specific day (can’t remember which cycle day they wanted them done). Husband went for a semen analysis. Once all those came back we had a follow up appointment to review all the numbers and the doctor presented a plan (we did IUI). We had an insurance/billing meeting with the office, I had some pre authorization to do with insurance, and then we scheduled the first round of IUIs. Took maybe two months from first appointment to first IUI cycle start but if I remember correctly I had misunderstood timing on one test and didn’t schedule it as soon as I could have.

[Anonymous]

Not much - they're going to ask you questions, and then set you up with all the tests. The tests are frustrating because for some, you're waiting for certain cycle days, etc. Once all your results are in, they will meet with you again to go over them and lay out their plan for you. That's the meeting where you'll actually feel accomplished and like you have a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not much - they're going to ask you questions, and then set you up with all the tests. The tests are frustrating because for some, you're waiting for certain cycle days, etc. Once all your results are in, they will meet with you again to go over them and lay out their plan for you. That's the meeting where you'll actually feel accomplished and like you have a light at the end of the tunnel.

They have specialists who will ask tons of questions about you and hubby’s family and extended family, looking for genetic issues; they even chart it all out (and later write up a report).

Then, different techs handle test scheduling, except my initial blood draw was done right there. Other tests will be cycle-specific .

Our first consult was during Covid, so hubby’s semen analysis wasn’t allowed in-office; had to collect it at home then race to the office within a hour. We recently had him re-tested and, the offices are back open now for that (at least at Dominion).

Once all the results are in, they schedule another in office consult to go over and plan the treatment options. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thank you all! I keep finding myself think that maybe we’ve jumped the gun on scheduling and we should just try for one more month, but hearing that things can take a while to actually get started is making me feel better about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all! I keep finding myself think that maybe we’ve jumped the gun on scheduling and we should just try for one more month, but hearing that things can take a while to actually get started is making me feel better about that.

Yeah, there’s definitely no harm in scheduling. Keep trying while you wait to see. We kept trying and trying and then we got the results and it was such a relief to know there was nothing I could have done differently—it was my husband’s sperm count. Which might be worth mentioning ahead of time to your partner, my husband was rocked to find out he was the problem. He had no idea and assumed it could only be me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all! I keep finding myself think that maybe we’ve jumped the gun on scheduling and we should just try for one more month, but hearing that things can take a while to actually get started is making me feel better about that.

Yeah, there’s definitely no harm in scheduling. Keep trying while you wait to see. We kept trying and trying and then we got the results and it was such a relief to know there was nothing I could have done differently—it was my husband’s sperm count. Which might be worth mentioning ahead of time to your partner, my husband was rocked to find out he was the problem. He had no idea and assumed it could only be me!

Thanks - I’ve warned my husband, but I’m pretty sure I’m the problem here! My cycles are all over the place, so hopefully it will be an easy fix.

Thanks to everyone for your kind and supportive responses. I never thought I’d be taking this step, but here we are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all! I keep finding myself think that maybe we’ve jumped the gun on scheduling and we should just try for one more month, but hearing that things can take a while to actually get started is making me feel better about that.

Yeah, there’s definitely no harm in scheduling. Keep trying while you wait to see. We kept trying and trying and then we got the results and it was such a relief to know there was nothing I could have done differently—it was my husband’s sperm count. Which might be worth mentioning ahead of time to your partner, my husband was rocked to find out he was the problem. He had no idea and assumed it could only be me!

Thanks - I’ve warned my husband, but I’m pretty sure I’m the problem here! My cycles are all over the place, so hopefully it will be an easy fix.

Thanks to everyone for your kind and supportive responses. I never thought I’d be taking this step, but here we are.

This is good you warned him; probably his numbers are fine.

But to add to his tests, their are - not surprisingly- protocols. Usually they give you 2 testing options, home or clinic. It’s actually more complicated for the home option (has to be dropped off within an hour, temperatures controls, etc ). And men often make mistakes.

For a accurate result, schedule to take him to the clinic. At the first consult, they may even ask for a sample on the spot. I mean, they have a special room of course. He can go alone or as a couple (it’s a good idea to make sure he follows the checklist they provide).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all! I keep finding myself think that maybe we’ve jumped the gun on scheduling and we should just try for one more month, but hearing that things can take a while to actually get started is making me feel better about that.

Yeah, there’s definitely no harm in scheduling. Keep trying while you wait to see. We kept trying and trying and then we got the results and it was such a relief to know there was nothing I could have done differently—it was my husband’s sperm count. Which might be worth mentioning ahead of time to your partner, my husband was rocked to find out he was the problem. He had no idea and assumed it could only be me!

Thanks - I’ve warned my husband, but I’m pretty sure I’m the problem here! My cycles are all over the place, so hopefully it will be an easy fix.

Thanks to everyone for your kind and supportive responses. I never thought I’d be taking this step, but here we are.

This is good you warned him; probably his numbers are fine.

But to add to his tests, their are - not surprisingly- protocols. Usually they give you 2 testing options, home or clinic. It’s actually more complicated for the home option (has to be dropped off within an hour, temperatures controls, etc ). And men often make mistakes.

For a accurate result, schedule to take him to the clinic. At the first consult, they may even ask for a sample on the spot. I mean, they have a special room of course. He can go alone or as a couple (it’s a good idea to make sure he follows the checklist they provide).

No semen sample on the spot. At SGF a they want the man to avoid ejaculation 3-5 days prior to sample collection. For at home collection, you can request a collection cup from SGF. Or, you can just order sample cups from Amazon. There is nothing special about the ones that come from the office. You husband will also need to have blood drawn at Lab Corps for standard disease screening before treatment is recommended and for any genetic testing you determine with your doc.

For women at SGF, standard tests include a Cycle Day 3 visit from a blood draw and a transvaginal ultrasound to get your resting follicle count. You’ll need a big blood draw for lack of a better term at Lab Corp. They’ll basically test everything—hormones, thyroid, disease, complete blood count. Then you’ll need an HSG. It shoots die into your uterus and tubes while taking an X Ray to see if your tubes are open. That is btw cycle days 5 and 10 I believe. Then, anything extra your doctor orders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all! I keep finding myself think that maybe we’ve jumped the gun on scheduling and we should just try for one more month, but hearing that things can take a while to actually get started is making me feel better about that.

Yeah, there’s definitely no harm in scheduling. Keep trying while you wait to see. We kept trying and trying and then we got the results and it was such a relief to know there was nothing I could have done differently—it was my husband’s sperm count. Which might be worth mentioning ahead of time to your partner, my husband was rocked to find out he was the problem. He had no idea and assumed it could only be me!

Thanks - I’ve warned my husband, but I’m pretty sure I’m the problem here! My cycles are all over the place, so hopefully it will be an easy fix.

Thanks to everyone for your kind and supportive responses. I never thought I’d be taking this step, but here we are.

This is good you warned him; probably his numbers are fine.

But to add to his tests, their are - not surprisingly- protocols. Usually they give you 2 testing options, home or clinic. It’s actually more complicated for the home option (has to be dropped off within an hour, temperatures controls, etc ). And men often make mistakes.

For a accurate result, schedule to take him to the clinic. At the first consult, they may even ask for a sample on the spot. I mean, they have a special room of course. He can go alone or as a couple (it’s a good idea to make sure he follows the checklist they provide).

No semen sample on the spot. At SGF a they want the man to avoid ejaculation 3-5 days prior to sample collection. For at home collection, you can request a collection cup from SGF. Or, you can just order sample cups from Amazon. There is nothing special about the ones that come from the office. You husband will also need to have blood drawn at Lab Corps for standard disease screening before treatment is recommended and for any genetic testing you determine with your doc.

For women at SGF, standard tests include a Cycle Day 3 visit from a blood draw and a transvaginal ultrasound to get your resting follicle count. You’ll need a big blood draw for lack of a better term at Lab Corp. They’ll basically test everything—hormones, thyroid, disease, complete blood count. Then you’ll need an HSG. It shoots die into your uterus and tubes while taking an X Ray to see if your tubes are open. That is btw cycle days 5 and 10 I believe. Then, anything extra your doctor orders.

No experience with SGF.

But at FOF during Covid, they only allowed the at-home collection.

The clinic is probably back open now, and I would strongly suggest you have him go that route, because so many more things can go wrong to throw off results. For example - traffic (he must drop it off within an hour). The office collection rules out many errors.

I actually scheduled it for my husband and went along to make sure he followed all the collection protocols (they give you a list) ,’but , he turned out not to be the main issue. Still, better safe than sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all! I keep finding myself think that maybe we’ve jumped the gun on scheduling and we should just try for one more month, but hearing that things can take a while to actually get started is making me feel better about that.

Yeah, there’s definitely no harm in scheduling. Keep trying while you wait to see. We kept trying and trying and then we got the results and it was such a relief to know there was nothing I could have done differently—it was my husband’s sperm count. Which might be worth mentioning ahead of time to your partner, my husband was rocked to find out he was the problem. He had no idea and assumed it could only be me!

Thanks - I’ve warned my husband, but I’m pretty sure I’m the problem here! My cycles are all over the place, so hopefully it will be an easy fix.

Thanks to everyone for your kind and supportive responses. I never thought I’d be taking this step, but here we are.

This is good you warned him; probably his numbers are fine.

But to add to his tests, their are - not surprisingly- protocols. Usually they give you 2 testing options, home or clinic. It’s actually more complicated for the home option (has to be dropped off within an hour, temperatures controls, etc ). And men often make mistakes.

For a accurate result, schedule to take him to the clinic. At the first consult, they may even ask for a sample on the spot. I mean, they have a special room of course. He can go alone or as a couple (it’s a good idea to make sure he follows the checklist they provide).

No semen sample on the spot. At SGF a they want the man to avoid ejaculation 3-5 days prior to sample collection. For at home collection, you can request a collection cup from SGF. Or, you can just order sample cups from Amazon. There is nothing special about the ones that come from the office. You husband will also need to have blood drawn at Lab Corps for standard disease screening before treatment is recommended and for any genetic testing you determine with your doc.

For women at SGF, standard tests include a Cycle Day 3 visit from a blood draw and a transvaginal ultrasound to get your resting follicle count. You’ll need a big blood draw for lack of a better term at Lab Corp. They’ll basically test everything—hormones, thyroid, disease, complete blood count. Then you’ll need an HSG. It shoots die into your uterus and tubes while taking an X Ray to see if your tubes are open. That is btw cycle days 5 and 10 I believe. Then, anything extra your doctor orders.

No experience with SGF.

But at FOF during Covid, they only allowed the at-home collection.

The clinic is probably back open now, and I would strongly suggest you have him go that route, because so many more things can go wrong to throw off results. For example - traffic (he must drop it off within an hour). The office collection rules out many errors.

I actually scheduled it for my husband and went along to make sure he followed all the collection protocols (they give you a list) ,’but , he turned out not to be the main issue. Still, better safe than sorry.

If you need to micromanage your husband jacking off into a cup, you might want to reconsider parenthood with this person.

[Anonymous]

Wow kind of concerned about these future dads who cannot be trusted to get a semen collection at home . . .

Honestly, I feel that most men probably prefer this vs the clinic.

[Anonymous]

These last 2 comments are not very helpful or supportive.

If you must know, we decided when we began this journey - TTC - to take each step together. My husband comes to every one of my appointments, actively listens, writes things down ahead of time, and asks thoughtful questions. He is the epitome of thoughtful and supportive.

So its only natural I came to his too.

[Anonymous]

OP here - had the first appointment today. It lasted about an hour, and in a few days someone will reach out to me to schedule a ton of tests and ultrasounds. Thanks for your help in knowing what to expect!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - had the first appointment today. It lasted about an hour, and in a few days someone will reach out to me to schedule a ton of tests and ultrasounds. Thanks for your help in knowing what to expect!

Good luck OP! and hope everything goes well / results in a healthy happy baby!!