13 questions to ask at your first IVF consultation

Before you go: write your questions down

The HFEA says not to be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to, and suggests taking a notepad and pen. It also says you should never feel pressured to rush into a decision you’re not completely happy with.

NICE says couples should be seen together, and that what you’re told in the appointment should be backed up with written or online information.

Why is this treatment right for me?

Ask what the alternatives are, how your age affects the choice, and what other options there would be if this treatment doesn’t work. Before treatment, clinics must explain why each treatment, including any add-on, is being offered to you, and how it may help.

Ask: “What are the benefits of the treatment you’ve recommended?”

Which tests will I need, and why?

Ask what each test is for, what it costs, and whether recent results from elsewhere can be used. Everyone involved in treatment has health screening, including blood tests for HIV and hepatitis B and C.

Ask: “Which tests will I need to have and why?”

What medicines will I take, and how?

Ask what you’ll take and how, what the side effects might be, whether there are alternatives, and whether you have to buy your medicines from the clinic or can get them elsewhere. The contract must say if you’re required to buy them from the clinic or a supplier it chooses.

If you’re NHS-funded, you still pay prescription charges unless you’re exempt.

Ask: “What medication will I have to take and what side effects may they cause?”

What should I do if I feel unwell on the medicines?

Fertility medicines can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Clinics must tell you the symptoms, what to do and who to contact. Ask for the number to call out of hours, and write it somewhere you’ll find it quickly.

Can I have a costed treatment plan?

Your clinic should give you a personalised costed treatment plan, listing the tests, medicines and any add-ons, and what could change the price. You can discuss it before treatment begins. The HFEA says it’s fine to question your clinic about the cost of your treatment. Our guide to IVF costs lists the charges to check.

Ask: “How can these costs be reduced?”

What are the refund, cancellation and time-limit rules?

Your contract must say whether there’s a time limit on completing treatment, and set out the clinic’s cancellation and refund policies. Ask about embryo storage fees at the same time.

Ask: “What are the refund and cancellation policies at this clinic?”

Why are you suggesting this add-on for me?

The HFEA says routine cycles of proven fertility treatment are effective without any add-ons. If one is suggested, ask why it’s for you specifically, whether it’s safe, the full cost, and whether anyone at the clinic benefits financially.

The HFEA rates each add-on from green to red. In June 2026 it said that, of the add-ons it has reviewed, none had been shown to increase the chance of having a baby for most fertility patients.

Ask: “Will you, or anyone employed by this clinic, benefit financially from me having this add-on?”

How do your results compare with the national rate?

The HFEA’s Choose a Fertility Clinic tool shows each clinic’s inspection and patient ratings, birth rates and multiple birth rate, alongside the national rate. Clinics must also give you the national live birth rate next to their own.

The HFEA says to use clinic figures as a rough guide, not a prediction. Differences of one or two percentage points are often down to chance, and the figures can’t tell you about your own situation: that’s a conversation for your doctor.

Ask: “What is your birth rate for people my age, compared with the national rate?”

How many embryos would you transfer, and why?

NICE recommends transferring a single embryo in the first full cycle for people under 37, and never more than 2 in any cycle. The HFEA says multiple births are the biggest health risk of fertility treatment.

Ask about freezing other embryos and what storage costs. Storage can last up to 55 years, but your consent has to be renewed every 10 years.

How does counselling work here?

Every HFEA-licensed clinic must offer you the chance to talk to a counsellor, as a routine part of treatment. You can go alone or with a partner. Some clinics charge, and how the service works varies, so ask.

NICE says counselling should be offered before, during and after treatment, whatever the outcome.

Ask: “If I don’t take up counselling now, will you offer it again later?”

Who do I contact, and when?

Ask for a named contact for medical and other questions, the best time to phone, and an out-of-hours number. The HFEA can’t answer medical questions about your treatment: urgent ones go to your clinic.

Ask: “Can I have the contact details for someone to answer medical or other questions?”

What happens next, and what will I sign?

Ask how many times you’ll need to visit, which consent forms you’ll sign and why, how your personal information will be used, and whether your partner’s details are recorded. Consent is a legal requirement before IVF.

It’s also fair to ask what support the clinic offers if treatment stops or doesn’t work.

Ask: “What consents do I need to provide and why?”