First Steps

First Steps

For many couples, the decision to seek support is not an easy one. When you reach out to us, it’s not a major, irreversible step—it’s just a conversation to start with. Here, you’ll learn what happens next so you know what to expect.
 

When It Makes Sense to Schedule a Consultation

If you haven’t conceived after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse, it’s worth getting evaluated. If the woman is 35 or older, we recommend doing so after just six months—not to cause alarm, but because time becomes a more significant factor at that point.

The initial evaluations usually take about one menstrual cycle. Afterward, we’ll both know significantly more and have a foundation for discussing the next steps.
 

The Initial Consultation

We begin with a detailed discussion, ideally with both of you as a couple. We take the time to review your medical history: your current situation, menstrual cycle, previous pregnancies or treatments, pre-existing conditions, your questions, and your wishes.

The goal is to understand your situation and decide together which tests make sense.
 

The Initial Evaluation

We always examine both partners—not because we suspect a problem with either of you, but because the cause may lie with the woman, the man, or both. Most tests are conducted simultaneously, which saves time.

The basic evaluation is generally covered by basic health insurance. What you can expect in your specific case depends on your situation—you can find the details on our “Prices & Health Insurance” page.
 

For women

the evaluation is based on the menstrual cycle and usually consists of two short appointments:

• At the beginning of the cycle, a blood test to determine hormone levels (hormone status), along with an ultrasound of the ovaries and uterus.
• A little later, around the 10th to 12th day of the cycle, an ultrasound with contrast dye. This allows us to check whether the fallopian tubes are patent (contrast ultrasound). Most women find this ultrasound quite tolerable.
   

For men, we assess sperm quality (spermiogram). This appointment is not tied to the menstrual cycle and can take place at any time in parallel.

Depending on your medical history, additional tests may be required—we’ll discuss this with you on an individual basis. We perform all of these evaluations in-house. You can find more detailed information on our “Evaluations” page.
 

How long it takes

Since the tests for women are scheduled according to the menstrual cycle, they are spread out over about a month. That may sound like a long time, but it’s manageable: typically two short appointments for you and one for your partner. After that, the key results will be available.
 

Results and Treatment Plan

Once all the results are in, we’ll meet again. We’ll discuss what we’ve found—and what we haven’t—and what that means for you.

This will form the basis of your personalized plan, which you’ll help decide on. Our guiding principle is to start with the gentlest methods and go only as far as necessary. You can read about the available options on our page “Family Planning.”