What happens during an RE consult?

PrincessLeash · December 2011

Hey ladies, I'm just wondering what happens during a consult with an RE? And how far in advance to ttc did you see one?

Two*True · December 2011

This question may or may not be addressed in the FAQs link at the top of the page - I can't recall.

Anyway, at our appt we met with the REs biller who told us exactly what our insurance would and would not cover. We also met with a nurse who got our history, etc. Then we met with the RE would told us about all the various options and who listened to what our ideas/thoughts were. Since our insurance covered everything we decided to go ahead and run a battery of tests right there even though there were no known fertility issues.

We first saw the RE six+ months prior to TTC. There was no reason for that though. We just started looking into who our insurance would allow us to see and made an appt to figure out our options.

leapgirl8 · December 2011

We had basically the same experiece as Two*True, but 2-3 months before the first IUI. The clinic's financial person (can't remember her title?) explained the costs of IUI, medicated IUI, IVF, etc., and took our insurance information so she could call them directly to discuss what was covered. (This was a big help: They told Jen that nothing was covered, but actually most of the procedures were. She clearly knows what questions to ask and how to get things covered.) We met with the nurse who would be doing most of our tests and calling to give us results. And we met with one other person who gave us a lot of written information and gave us the name of the social worker we had to visit before the first cycle.

ball.and.chain · December 2011

We recently met with an RE as a sort of second opinion -- we've been going to a midwife practice for IUIs and were trying to decide whether we wanted to switch to more aggressive methods. So our consult may have been a little different because we were already TTC when it happened.

Anyway, it was really just a chat with the RE. I had filled out extensive health info on their online portal, which the RE had read; she had also gone over my health records from my PCP and the midwife practice which had been faxed over a head of time. She asked me questions about what we'd been doing, why we had decided to meet with her, some clarifying questions about my health history, etc. She explained how their practice works and explained that they have a financial person who can work with insurance companies (though we did not meet that person as we were not at their main office). She went over the diagnostic tests she recommended I have and answered questions we had. She also asked my wife and me some getting-to-know you questions -- what do you do, how long have you been together, etc.

My initial consult with the midwives was very similar except that it also included writing me a prescription for prenatal vitamins. Oh, and they gave me a long list of blood tests I had to have before they would do an IUI: STDs, blood type, CMV status (can affect your choice of donor), and certain vaccinations (once I had had a long time ago but they have to check for antibodies and re-vaccinate you if they are no longer there). I had an upcoming annual exam so I got those there but I think at some practices you might be able to get your blood drawn that day if you want to. Other than that, there typically is no physical exam of any kind at the consult, from my experience and what I've heard from others.

ball.and.chain · December 2011

Oh, re: timing. We had our midwife consult in May and were able to start TTC in July. If you are not having diagnostic tests (ultrasound, HSG), that is probably sufficient time to get blood work back and be ready to go. I will say that one of the things I was tested for was MMR antibodies, and if I didn't have them they were going to re-vaccinate me and then I was going to have to wait 3 months before TTC (still had 'em, thank goodness). So things like that could throw a wrench in your timeline if you don't take care of it well in advance of when you want to start. If you are taking CMV status into account, you will also need to know the test results of that test before you can choose a donor (if you are using one from a cryobank) or just only choose from CMV negative donors.

An RE will likely do diagnostic testing so I might add another month in there to make sure. Three months before you want to start is not ridiculous. So much of the testing is cycle-sensitive so you only have so many opportunities to do it.

Not related to the RE consult exactly, but to timing -- I've heard you should start taking prenatal vitamins well in advance so you might as well start now!

PrincessLeash · December 2011

Thank you for sharing ladies

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