Guide · 5 min read
Questions to ask your clinic or specialist
A ready-made set of questions to bring to a fertility appointment, grouped by theme and based on the HFEA's own suggested questions, so you can have clearer conversations about your options, risks, add-ons, and costs.
The HFEA suggests preparing questions before a clinic appointment. Here are prompts grouped by theme — it is completely reasonable to ask as many as you need, and to ask for answers in writing.
About your situation and options
- What does my diagnosis or test result mean for my options?
- Why are you recommending this particular treatment, and why is it the best option for me?
- What are the alternatives, including doing nothing for now, and why might they be less suitable?
- How does my age affect which treatment is right for me and my chance of success?
- Are there lifestyle changes that could improve my chance of success?
About success rates and risks
- How many patients here have had this treatment in the last two years, and how many went on to have a baby?
- Is that figure for patients in my age group and situation, and which measure is it (per embryo transferred or per egg collection)?
- What are the risks of each option, and what medication will I take?
About add-ons
- Why are you recommending this add-on for me specifically?
- What is my chance of pregnancy with routine treatment compared with adding this on?
- What does the add-on cost, what is the evidence for it, and will anyone at the clinic benefit financially if I have it?
About costs and support
- Can you break down all the costs, including medication and any storage fees?
- What other costs might come up, and how could they be reduced?
- What happens, and what counselling or support is available, if the treatment does not work?
See also choosing a clinic for how to compare providers, and cross-check any add-on against its HFEA evidence rating.
A short checklist
- Ask what your diagnosis means for your options
- Ask about the risks of each option and any recommended add-on
- Ask for a full, written cost breakdown including medication and storage
- Ask what happens, and what support is available, if a cycle is not successful
Medical review complete
- Written by
- Jordan Avery · Editorial lead
- Medically reviewed by
- Dr Lena Park · Reproductive endocrinologist (medical reviewer)
- Last reviewed
- Next review due
Sources
- Preparing for your clinic appointmentHuman Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) · Published 18 July 2016 · Accessed 19 July 2026
- Treatment add-ons with limited evidenceHuman Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) · Published 16 October 2023 · Accessed 19 July 2026
- Choose a fertility clinicHuman Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) · Accessed 19 July 2026
- Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (NICE guideline NG257)National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) · Published 31 March 2026 · Accessed 19 July 2026
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