Taking the first step toward fertility care is a big moment. For many patients, scheduling that initial consultation comes with a mix of relief, hope, and a lot of questions.

In the video below, Dr. Gil Wilshire walks you through exactly what happens after you book your first appointment — so you can feel prepared, confident, and less overwhelmed.

Why the First Fertility Appointment MattersMaking the appointment is a powerful first step — but it’s only the beginning of your personalized fertility journey.
This initial visit is designed to:

• Understand your medical and reproductive history
  
• Identify any potential barriers to pregnancy
  
• Create a clear, individualized plan
  
• Give you answers and direction
  

Most importantly, it shifts you from uncertainty to a structured, guided path forward.

Step 1: Gathering Your Medical HistoryBefore you even walk through the door, your care team begins learning about you.
You may be asked to provide:

• Prior pregnancy history
  
• Menstrual cycle details
  
• Previous fertility testing or treatments
  
• Medical and surgical history
  
• Medications and supplements
  
• Partner history (if applicable)
  

This information allows the physician to use your appointment time efficiently and meaningfully.

Step 2: What Happens at the ConsultationYour first visit is not just a conversation — it’s a strategy session.
During this appointment:
You tell your storyYour goals, concerns, and timeline matter. This is your chance to be heard.
Your physician reviews your historyPatterns, risk factors, and next steps are identified.
You get a planInstead of guessing, you leave knowing:

• What testing is needed
  
• What can be done right away
  
• What your options are
  

For many patients, this is the moment when anxiety starts to decrease — because there is finally a clear direction.

Step 3: Fertility Testing — What to ExpectAfter the consultation, recommended testing may include:
For female patients:

• Hormone testing
  
• Ovarian reserve evaluation
  
• Ultrasound
  
• Uterine and tubal assessment
  

For male patients:

• Semen analysis
  

These tests are not one-size-fits-all. They are selected specifically for you based on your history and goals.

Step 4: Creating Your Personalized Treatment PlanOnce results are available, your physician will outline:

• Your diagnosis (if one is found)
  
• Your probability of success
  
• Your treatment options
  
• A recommended timeline
  

This could include:

• Trying naturally with guidance
  
• Ovulation induction
  
• IUI
  
• IVF
  
• Fertility preservation
  

Every plan is tailored — there is no “standard patient.”

The Emotional Side of the First VisitOne of the most powerful takeaways from this video is reassurance:
You are not expected to have all the answers before your first visit.
You don’t need:

• A referral in many cases
  
• Years of trying
  
• Every test completed beforehand
  

You simply need to take the first step.

Common Questions Patients HaveShould I bring my partner?If possible, yes — but if not, you can still move forward with your evaluation.
How long does the process take?Some testing can begin immediately, often within the same cycle.
Will I leave with a plan?Yes — that is one of the main goals of the visit.

Why Early Evaluation MattersSeeking care earlier:

• Expands your treatment options
  
• Improves success rates
  
• Reduces time to pregnancy
  
• Provides peace of mind
  

Fertility care is not just about treatment — it’s about clarity, efficiency, and support.

You’ve Already Taken the Hardest StepMaking the appointment is often the most emotional part of the entire journey.
This visit is where:

• Fear becomes information
  
• Confusion becomes a plan
  
• Waiting becomes action
  

And you don’t have to navigate it alone.

The Truth About Egg Supply, Ovarian Stimulation, and IVF
One of the most common fears patients share when starting fertility treatment is this: “If we stimulate the ovaries to make more eggs, will I run out sooner and go into menopause early?” It’s a logical concern. Many people know that women are born with a finite number of eggs, so producing multiple eggs in a single cycle can sound like speeding up the biological clock.

The reassuring reality is that fertility treatment does not cause early menopause.

Understanding Your Natural Egg Timeline
Every month, the ovaries recruit a group of microscopic follicles—think of these as “sleeping” eggs that have been present since birth. In a natural cycle, one follicle becomes dominant and ovulates. The rest don’t continue developing and are reabsorbed by the body. This process happens continuously throughout life, regardless of whether someone is trying to conceive, pregnant, on birth control, or doing nothing at all.

In other words, many eggs are already destined to fade away each month.

What Fertility Medications Actually Do
Fertility medications don’t force the ovaries to use extra eggs that would otherwise be saved for the future. Instead, they rescue some of the follicles that were already going to be lost in that cycle.

By changing the hormonal environment of the ovary, these treatments allow more than one follicle to mature. This is called multifollicular development, and it’s the key to increasing the chances of success with treatments like ovulation induction and IVF.

So rather than depleting your egg supply faster, fertility treatment simply helps make better use of a group of eggs that your body had already recruited for that month.

Why This Matters for IVF Success
For patients experiencing infertility or subfertility, having multiple eggs available in a cycle:

• Increases the number of embryos that can be created
• Improves the chance of selecting a healthy embryo
• Raises the overall likelihood of pregnancy

This is especially important in IVF, where success often depends on having several eggs to work with.

Fertility Treatment and Long-Term Ovarian Health
The most important takeaway is this:
Your egg count declines with age—not because of fertility treatment.

Research and decades of clinical experience show that ovarian stimulation does not accelerate menopause. Your long-term ovarian reserve follows the same natural timeline it would have whether you pursued treatment or not.

Reassurance
Starting fertility care can feel overwhelming, and it’s completely normal to worry about long-term effects. But understanding the biology behind ovarian stimulation can bring real peace of mind.
Fertility treatment isn’t taking something away from your future—it’s giving the eggs already in play a better chance to help you build your family.

Do STDs Cause Infertility? What Every Patient Should KnowSexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are incredibly common, yet many patients don’t realize the long-term impact they can have on fertility. One of the most important questions we hear in the clinic is: Can an STD make it harder to get pregnant? The answer is yes — but the full story is more nuanced, and early diagnosis and treatment make a huge difference.
How STDs Affect FertilityCertain untreated infections — particularly chlamydia and gonorrhea — can travel from the cervix into the uterus and fallopian tubes. When this happens, they may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to:

• Scarring of the fallopian tubes
  
• Blocked tubes
  
• Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy
  
• Difficulty for sperm and egg to meet
  

Because the fallopian tubes are essential for natural conception, any damage to them can significantly reduce the chance of pregnancy.
The Silent Nature of InfectionOne of the biggest concerns with STDs is that many people have no symptoms at all. You can feel completely healthy and still have an infection that is quietly affecting your reproductive system. This is why routine screening is so important — especially for anyone trying to conceive now or in the future.
Does Having an STD Mean You’ll Be Infertile?Not at all.

Many patients who have had a prior infection go on to conceive — either naturally or with fertility treatment. The key factors are:

• How long the infection was present
  
• Whether it was treated
  
• Whether any tubal damage occurred
  

If the tubes are open and healthy, fertility is often normal. If there is tubal damage, treatments like IVF can bypass the tubes entirely and offer very high success rates.
Protecting Your Future FertilityThe good news is that infertility from STDs is largely preventable. You can protect your reproductive health by:

• Getting routine STD testing
  
• Seeking treatment promptly if exposed
  
• Ensuring both partners are treated when needed
  
• Talking with your provider before trying to conceive
  

When to See a Fertility SpecialistIf you have a history of an STD and have been trying to conceive without success, a fertility evaluation can provide clarity and reassurance. Testing — including imaging of the fallopian tubes — helps determine whether any damage has occurred and what the best path forward looks like.
The Bottom LineSTDs can affect fertility, but they do not automatically mean you won’t be able to build your family. With early detection, appropriate treatment, and today’s advanced reproductive technologies, there are more options and more hope than ever before.

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