First appointment for couples at INVICTA Clinics

If you have been trying unsuccessfully to conceive, a visit to a fertility clinic could offer you a real chance of realising your plans to become parents. Time affects fertility – a woman’s ovarian reserve decreases and sperm quality declines. It is not worth putting off the decision to start treatment, because the sooner you decide to seek expert help, the greater the chance that simple steps (such as regulating your hormone levels) will be enough to achieve the pregnancy you desire. An initial consultation for couples is a step that will help identify potential causes of difficulty in conceiving and establish a plan of action moving forward.

Undergoing the diagnostic tests we recommend will enable you to make the most of your time during your first consultation with a specialist. By analysing the test results, the doctor will gain essential information about your health and fertility. You’ll save time – the doctor will be able to analyse your test results straight away and start planning the next steps.

Each laboratory operates using specific reference values. INVICTA Laboratories specialise in the diagnosis of fertility disorders; consequently, the test results obtained at our laboratories will be of the greatest value to a doctor specialising in the treatment of infertility. Furthermore, having tests carried out at INVICTA Laboratories will help to bring together all the necessary information about patients in one place, making it easier for the doctor to monitor their treatment history.

For Polish-speaking patients, this will take around 40 minutes; for patients calling from abroad, around 60 minutes.

Previous test results, details of past illnesses and medical procedures, as well as a detailed description of your lifestyle and diet, may be useful.

At INVICTA Clinics, we do not require a referral for couples’ first appointment.

Yes, because the cause of fertility problems very often lies with both partners.

During your first appointment, the doctor will carry out a detailed medical history review and may also request blood tests, an ultrasound scan and a semen analysis.

AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) is a hormone produced in both women and men. In women, AMH is produced in the ovarian follicles by the cells surrounding the eggs ready for growth. AMH levels are not influenced by a woman’s menstrual cycle, so they can be tested on any day of the cycle. AMH levels decrease as a woman ages, making it a very good marker of declining fertility, including premature ovarian failure. In patients with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), AMH levels are significantly elevated.

Inhibin B is used to assess ovarian reserve. Inhibin B is produced by the granulosa cells of early antral follicles. This substance is secreted primarily during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Its concentration in the early follicular phase reflects the number and quality of ovarian follicles. There is a positive correlation between inhibin B concentrations and the number of antral follicles assessed by ultrasound in the early days of the menstrual cycle.

The aim of assessing ovarian reserve is:

• to identify young patients with a diminished ovarian reserve and to initiate treatment at an earlier stage,
• to identify middle-aged patients who still have viable oocytes and to determine the appropriate clinical management for them,
• to rule out patients who have no chance of achieving pregnancy (due to the high costs and burden of treatment).

Laboratory tests, when carried out and interpreted correctly, are an essential diagnostic tool. The basic diagnostic panel for women at INVICTA Clinics comprises 12 laboratory tests.

The tests included in the basic diagnostic panel must be carried out on an empty stomach. They are performed using a blood sample taken from the patient at all our centres. You should allow approximately 2 hours for all the tests to be carried out and for the paperwork to be completed in preparation for your first consultation with a specialist.

The man should have a general semen analysis carried out. He should abstain from sexual activity for 2 to 7 days prior to the semen analysis. The sample (collected via masturbation) can be provided at the INVICTA Clinic, in a private room (subject to prior booking), or delivered to the Clinic within 30 minutes of collection. The semen is submitted for analysis in a sterile container (such as a urine sample container).

A semen analysis is the primary indicator of male fertility. It enables us to assess a man’s reproductive potential and accurately diagnose the underlying causes of any fertility issues he may have.