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What to Expect from Your Visit to the Clinic
Physician Assistant Kelly Curtis discusses what you can expect as a patient when you visit a fertility clinic.
Featured Speaker:
Kelly Curtis, PA
Kelly Curtis, PA is an Physician Assistant. Transcription:
What to Expect from Your Visit to the Clinic
Melanie Cole (Host): Welcome to Fertility Talk with RSCNJ, the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey. I'm Melanie Cole. And we're talking today about what to expect when you visit a fertility clinic. We're talking with Kelly Curtis. She's a physician assistant with the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey.
Kelly, thank you so much for being with us. So for couples that are thinking about getting pregnant, trying to get pregnant, maybe know that they can't get pregnant, tell us first how long does someone who's trying to get pregnant wait before they see a fertility specialist, before they come to the clinic?
Kelly Curtis: Hi, Melanie. Thanks for having me today. Great question. So, infertility is defined as failure to conceive after one year of regular unprotected sex. If you are 35 and older, six months of unprotected sex is defined as infertility. Some couples may wait the six months or a year prior to coming to us. However, if you know that you have irregular cycles, if you're a chronic pelvic pain patients, if you have PCOS and you know you have trouble with ovulating, then this would be a conversation to have with your OB-GYN to see if you should seek fertility treatment sooner.
Melanie Cole (Host): Who should attend that first appointment? Is it both people in the couple? Just one? How does that work?
Kelly Curtis: It can be both, patient and partner. We do all different kinds of patients. We have single females, male-male couples, female-female couples, male-female couples. Anybody who would like to attend that first appointment to kind of get information about what we offer and the process is welcome to join. We do encourage both partners if possible, just so everyone kind of gets the information all at once and know what the next steps of the treatment would be.
Melanie Cole (Host): What expectations, Kelly, do you want them to have as they begin treatment, as far as how far they're willing to go in pursuit of the pregnancy? Do you speak at that first appointment about expectations and explanations of what fertility treatments are available, that sort of thing?
Kelly Curtis: So the first appointment is kind of understanding your body as well as your partner, if attending, to see if there is any issue that may contribute to infertility. So the first one is education, as far as what we look for in a workup. We always get blood work for female and male patients. We look at a hormonal panel. We look at their ovarian function, which we're able to do with blood tests. Then we also look at other hormones, such as like a thyroid and prolactin that can also play a role in cycles and regularity of things. Then we also discuss imaging studies. So we like to get evaluation of the uterine cavity. And then the fallopian tubes to see if there's any issues with that. We do offer, those imaging studies in our office, as well as sometimes do refer to outpatient facilities for things such as an HSG. And then we also do discuss genetic carrier screening for those trying to conceive and interested in that. So that's kind of what we touch base for for the female patient at the first appointment.
The male patient, we also get a semen analysis for the first visit to see if there's a sperm issue or a male factor issue. Up to 40% of the time, infertility, there's a male factor issue contributing to infertility causes. So it's just as important to check the male patient as well as the female patient and that's kind of where we start off. And then once all of that information is gathered, then we bring you back for a second appointment, which in our office, we refer to as an options appointment, where we do discuss the differences in treatment, such as an IUI or IVF, and what would be the best routes for you and your partner or yourself if you're a single patient looking to concede with possibly third party donor, that would be the best option for you.
Melanie Cole (Host): So that's the consult, which is that visit after you have all of your testing, yes?
Kelly Curtis: Correct.
Melanie Cole (Host): Kelly, once you have worked with the patient a little bit, how often then do they come in while they're in treatment? Is this a very big commitment? Help them to manage those expectations.
Kelly Curtis: Sure. So it really is dependent on the cycle. So we'll start from our first appointment. You sit with the physician, we go over all of the testing that we would like to do. And actually at the very first appointment with us, we do an ultrasound. We do a physical exam and then the ultrasound, which is transvaginal. So that is always in part of our routine workup for any new female patients. And then depending on which cycle you get into, whether it's an IUI or IVF, is kind of dependent on the demands and appointment times. So IUIs, we will do one to two, possibly three ultrasounds in a cycle. And then for IVF, there can be many. So usually, there can be six or so, depending on how treatment is going. And if you're progressing and things like that, how frequently you need to be monitored. You also get blood work at every appointment for IVF, so come hydrated if you are cycling with us for IVF.
As far as expectations go, with the cycle monitoring, we do expect commitment from our patients. When you do treatments with us, we recommend that it's high priority. There can be frequent office visits, including blood work and ultrasound. It really just depends on the different cycles that you're in. And typically, the ultrasounds are done very early in the morning. I know for our office, they're done between 7:00 and 8:00 AM and it's kind of first come first served. So it just depends on how many different patients are also in that cycle based on how quickly you can get in and out the door. But typically, all of our patients are done between 7:00 and 8:00 in the mornings recycle monitoring.
Melanie Cole (Host): As we wrap up Kelly, and this is great information for couples that are looking for fertility options, wrap up for us, what you would like them to know about what to expect from a new patient visit. And when you're working with new patients and they're meeting Dr. Ziegler and Dr. Martinez, who are both just lovely, let them know what they can expect from the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey.
Kelly Curtis: We have great staff here. We pride ourselves on open communication and being with you every step of the way. So from the first appointment, you know, whether that's getting your first patient portal access, and this is typically how we communicate with you, you're set up with a diagnostic coordinator right away. So all of our nurses, they have different roles here. So you're kind of passed on from a diagnostic coordinator to an IUI coordinator to an IVF coordinator. There's always somebody there to check in with and just make sure that you're on track for treatment and things like that.
Other things that you can do as a patient, to make sure that you're getting the streamlined process is a lot of things are cycle-dependent, so blood work is timed around your period. And the other cycles, whether it's IUI or IVF, is also timed around your period. So calling us and keeping us in the loop, as far as what's going on with you and your body and your concerns is always a great way to keep communication and making sure that we all are providing the best possible treatment.
Melanie Cole (Host): Absolutely. And I know you are. Thank you so much, Kelly, for joining us today and telling us what new patients can expect from the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey.
For more information, you can visit fertilitynj.com to get connected with one of our providers. And that wraps up this episode of Fertility Talk with RSCNJ, the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey. I'm Melanie Cole.
What to Expect from Your Visit to the Clinic
Melanie Cole (Host): Welcome to Fertility Talk with RSCNJ, the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey. I'm Melanie Cole. And we're talking today about what to expect when you visit a fertility clinic. We're talking with Kelly Curtis. She's a physician assistant with the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey.
Kelly, thank you so much for being with us. So for couples that are thinking about getting pregnant, trying to get pregnant, maybe know that they can't get pregnant, tell us first how long does someone who's trying to get pregnant wait before they see a fertility specialist, before they come to the clinic?
Kelly Curtis: Hi, Melanie. Thanks for having me today. Great question. So, infertility is defined as failure to conceive after one year of regular unprotected sex. If you are 35 and older, six months of unprotected sex is defined as infertility. Some couples may wait the six months or a year prior to coming to us. However, if you know that you have irregular cycles, if you're a chronic pelvic pain patients, if you have PCOS and you know you have trouble with ovulating, then this would be a conversation to have with your OB-GYN to see if you should seek fertility treatment sooner.
Melanie Cole (Host): Who should attend that first appointment? Is it both people in the couple? Just one? How does that work?
Kelly Curtis: It can be both, patient and partner. We do all different kinds of patients. We have single females, male-male couples, female-female couples, male-female couples. Anybody who would like to attend that first appointment to kind of get information about what we offer and the process is welcome to join. We do encourage both partners if possible, just so everyone kind of gets the information all at once and know what the next steps of the treatment would be.
Melanie Cole (Host): What expectations, Kelly, do you want them to have as they begin treatment, as far as how far they're willing to go in pursuit of the pregnancy? Do you speak at that first appointment about expectations and explanations of what fertility treatments are available, that sort of thing?
Kelly Curtis: So the first appointment is kind of understanding your body as well as your partner, if attending, to see if there is any issue that may contribute to infertility. So the first one is education, as far as what we look for in a workup. We always get blood work for female and male patients. We look at a hormonal panel. We look at their ovarian function, which we're able to do with blood tests. Then we also look at other hormones, such as like a thyroid and prolactin that can also play a role in cycles and regularity of things. Then we also discuss imaging studies. So we like to get evaluation of the uterine cavity. And then the fallopian tubes to see if there's any issues with that. We do offer, those imaging studies in our office, as well as sometimes do refer to outpatient facilities for things such as an HSG. And then we also do discuss genetic carrier screening for those trying to conceive and interested in that. So that's kind of what we touch base for for the female patient at the first appointment.
The male patient, we also get a semen analysis for the first visit to see if there's a sperm issue or a male factor issue. Up to 40% of the time, infertility, there's a male factor issue contributing to infertility causes. So it's just as important to check the male patient as well as the female patient and that's kind of where we start off. And then once all of that information is gathered, then we bring you back for a second appointment, which in our office, we refer to as an options appointment, where we do discuss the differences in treatment, such as an IUI or IVF, and what would be the best routes for you and your partner or yourself if you're a single patient looking to concede with possibly third party donor, that would be the best option for you.
Melanie Cole (Host): So that's the consult, which is that visit after you have all of your testing, yes?
Kelly Curtis: Correct.
Melanie Cole (Host): Kelly, once you have worked with the patient a little bit, how often then do they come in while they're in treatment? Is this a very big commitment? Help them to manage those expectations.
Kelly Curtis: Sure. So it really is dependent on the cycle. So we'll start from our first appointment. You sit with the physician, we go over all of the testing that we would like to do. And actually at the very first appointment with us, we do an ultrasound. We do a physical exam and then the ultrasound, which is transvaginal. So that is always in part of our routine workup for any new female patients. And then depending on which cycle you get into, whether it's an IUI or IVF, is kind of dependent on the demands and appointment times. So IUIs, we will do one to two, possibly three ultrasounds in a cycle. And then for IVF, there can be many. So usually, there can be six or so, depending on how treatment is going. And if you're progressing and things like that, how frequently you need to be monitored. You also get blood work at every appointment for IVF, so come hydrated if you are cycling with us for IVF.
As far as expectations go, with the cycle monitoring, we do expect commitment from our patients. When you do treatments with us, we recommend that it's high priority. There can be frequent office visits, including blood work and ultrasound. It really just depends on the different cycles that you're in. And typically, the ultrasounds are done very early in the morning. I know for our office, they're done between 7:00 and 8:00 AM and it's kind of first come first served. So it just depends on how many different patients are also in that cycle based on how quickly you can get in and out the door. But typically, all of our patients are done between 7:00 and 8:00 in the mornings recycle monitoring.
Melanie Cole (Host): As we wrap up Kelly, and this is great information for couples that are looking for fertility options, wrap up for us, what you would like them to know about what to expect from a new patient visit. And when you're working with new patients and they're meeting Dr. Ziegler and Dr. Martinez, who are both just lovely, let them know what they can expect from the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey.
Kelly Curtis: We have great staff here. We pride ourselves on open communication and being with you every step of the way. So from the first appointment, you know, whether that's getting your first patient portal access, and this is typically how we communicate with you, you're set up with a diagnostic coordinator right away. So all of our nurses, they have different roles here. So you're kind of passed on from a diagnostic coordinator to an IUI coordinator to an IVF coordinator. There's always somebody there to check in with and just make sure that you're on track for treatment and things like that.
Other things that you can do as a patient, to make sure that you're getting the streamlined process is a lot of things are cycle-dependent, so blood work is timed around your period. And the other cycles, whether it's IUI or IVF, is also timed around your period. So calling us and keeping us in the loop, as far as what's going on with you and your body and your concerns is always a great way to keep communication and making sure that we all are providing the best possible treatment.
Melanie Cole (Host): Absolutely. And I know you are. Thank you so much, Kelly, for joining us today and telling us what new patients can expect from the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey.
For more information, you can visit fertilitynj.com to get connected with one of our providers. And that wraps up this episode of Fertility Talk with RSCNJ, the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey. I'm Melanie Cole.