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2.2 How should one prepare for initial medical appointment to discuss
PCOS?
Write down any questions before the appointment. It is usually faster
and more orderly to have a list, no matter how long it may get. Many
questions will be answered in the general course of conversation.
Gather up any appropriate or requested medical records — follow through
and make sure the doctor gets them before the appointment, or bring
them. (Sending in advance is generally preferred.) If the visit is for
fertility reasons and one has already done a hysterosalpingogram (HSG,
x-ray test of the uterus and tubes), a copy of the actual film is
preferred to the printed interpretation or report.
Be ready to supply family history, especially about insulin resistance,
diabetes, lipid abnormalities such as high cholesterol, obesity, high
blood pressure, heart disease, and infertility. Include information
from both parents and their families. PCOS characteristics may be
passed down from either side of the family.
Familiarize oneself with the symptoms of PCOS and discuss any concerns
with the doctor.
If looking for help in getting pregnant, consider bringing in basal body
temperature (BBT) charts to initial evaluation.
See if it would be helpful to arrive for the doctor's appointment in a
fasting state, and clarify any other requirements.
2.3 What are some questions to ask the doctor?
The purpose of the following list of questions, and this entire FAQ, is
to help women have better communication with their doctors, not to
substitute for diagnosis, treatment, and frank discussion with one's own
physician.
What specific tests are used to confirm PCOS?
What tests are done to confirm insulin resistance and/or diabetes?
Are insulin-sensitizing medications prescribed for insulin resistance,
or only for diabetes?
What recommendations or medications, if any, are typically given for the
symptoms of PCOS, such as weight gain/obesity, acne, hirsutism, balding,
lack of menses, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and insulin
resistance?
After initial diagnosis of PCOS, what kind of future monitoring is
recommended?
Is treatment of PCOS similar among different doctors in this practice?
Will diet and exercise information and support be provided?
What kind of birth control is recommended for women with PCOS?
What kind of treatment is offered to women with PCOS who are trying to
conceive?
Is weight loss in obese patients a requirement before any stage of
fertility treatment? For example, would one be allowed to try Clomid,
but not allowed to pursue in vitro fertilization?
Can insulin-sensitizing medications be used while trying to conceive?
Can insulin-sensitizing medications be continued in pregnancy?
Which medications used to reduce PCOS symptoms, such as those for acne
and hirsutism, can be continued while trying to conceive or when
pregnant?
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The above was taken from http://www.inciid.org/faq/pcos2.html#2.2
Remember, if you are seeing an RE, they are infertility specialists, so
you probably won't ask anything they haven't heard before. Since you've
had previous infertility discussions with other doctors, perhaps you
could write up a summary of what has happended to date and take that to
the appt. Just a thought.
I wish you the best!
~Alta
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