First fertility consultation: what to bring and how to prepare

By Dr Najib Boudra, obstetrician gynecologist. Updated on 9 November 2026.

You have finally booked an appointment. After months, sometimes years of waiting, the first fertility consultation is both a relief and a little daunting. You wonder what to bring, what the doctor will ask and whether you should come together.

Well prepared, this consultation saves precious time: from day one the doctor can draw a clear picture and order the right tests. Here is how Dr Najib Boudra suggests you approach it, as part of our care for infertility in Fes (page in French).

When is it time to consult?

International guidance, such as that from NICE in the UK, suggests seeing a doctor after one year of regular unprotected intercourse without pregnancy. This is shortened to six months after 35, and there is no reason to wait with very irregular periods, past pelvic surgery, known endometriosis or a known problem in the man.

If you are still unsure, our article couple infertility: when to see a doctor covers these situations.

Coming together matters

The World Health Organization notes that infertility can come from the woman, the man, both, or remain unexplained. Looking only at the woman would waste time. That is why we see the couple together from the first consultation.

Having the husband present allows us to go over his medical history, order his tests straight away and make decisions together. If one of you really cannot come, let the front desk know: we will find a way not to delay the assessment.

Documents to bring

Gather everything you have, even what seems old or unimportant. A complete file is far better than a test repeated for nothing.

• Blood tests already done: hormone tests, serology, blood group.
• Ultrasound scans and their reports.
• A hysterosalpingogram if one was done, with the images.
• The husband’s semen analysis results.
• Operation reports for any abdominal or gynecological surgery.
• Previous treatments, with doses and outcomes.
• A list of your current medicines.

If your results are on your phone, print them or sort them in a folder: the consultation will run more smoothly.

Questions the doctor will ask

The doctor needs to piece together your history. Prepare your answers in advance, ideally with dates:

For the woman

The date of the last period, usual cycle length and regularity, pain during periods or sex, previous pregnancies and their outcome, past infections, contraception used. An app or calendar of the last three months of periods is very useful.

For the man

Childhood illnesses, especially late descent of the testicles or mumps, surgery, current treatments, work involving heat or toxic products, smoking.

For the couple

How long you have been trying, how often you have sex and what you have already tried. These questions are personal, but they are confidential and essential.

What happens during the appointment

After the conversation comes the woman’s clinical examination, often with a pelvic ultrasound done on site. It shows the uterus and ovaries and lets the doctor count the small follicles that reflect ovarian reserve.

The doctor then orders the tests needed, in the logical order recommended by the NHS and NICE:

• for the woman, hormone tests on a specific cycle day, confirmation of ovulation and assessment of the tubes;
• for the man, a semen analysis, and our article on semen analysis results explains how to read it;
• for both, serology tests.

You will not leave with a final diagnosis on the first day, and that is normal: results need to be gathered first.

Prepare your own questions

The consultation is your time too. Write down what you want to know, because emotion often makes you forget the essentials. For example:

• Which tests are needed, and in what order?
• How long will the assessment take?
• Can we keep trying naturally in the meantime?
• Is there anything in our lifestyle we should change now?

Finally, think about folic acid: if you are not already taking it, ask the doctor whether to start.

Booking your first consultation in Fes

At the Boudra Fertility Center, an IVF center in Fes, Dr Najib Boudra and his team have supported couples for more than 30 years. The first consultation lays the foundation for the whole journey: a well-run assessment, clear explanations and a plan suited to your situation.

For a couple appointment, call 05 35 93 08 18. Use this list to prepare your file.

Frequently asked questions

This article is for information only and does not replace a consultation. For any question about your situation, talk to your doctor.