Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by seeing your primary care provider. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in conditions affecting the female reproductive tract (gynecologist) or a doctor who specializes in reproductive hormones and optimizing fertility (reproductive endocrinologist).
What you can do
To prepare for your appointment:
- Ask if there's anything you need to do in advance to prepare for any possible tests.
- Make a list of any symptoms you've had and for how long.
- Make a list of your key medical information, including any other conditions for which you're being treated and the names of any medications, vitamins, herbs or supplements you're taking.
- Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember everything.
- Make a list of questions to ask your doctor to help you make the most of your visit.
Some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is the most likely cause of my signs and symptoms?
- Are there any other possible causes?
- What treatment approach do you recommend, if any?
- Am I a candidate for surgical treatment? Why or why not?
- Am I at increased risk of problems during pregnancy?
- What options are available to improve my chances of a successful pregnancy, if necessary?
- Should I see a specialist?
- Are there any brochures or other printed materials that I can have? What websites do you recommend?
Don't hesitate to ask questions any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- What are your signs and symptoms, and when did you first notice them?
- Are your signs and symptoms continuous, or do they come and go?
- Do you menstruate regularly?
- What is a typical menstrual period like for you?
- Have you ever been pregnant?
- If you have been pregnant, what was the outcome?
- Do you hope to have biological children in the future?
- Are you currently being treated or have you recently been treated for any other medical conditions?
- Iverson RE Jr, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of congenital anomalies of the uterus. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 4, 2013.
- Iverson RE Jr, et al. Surgical management of congenital uterine anomalies. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 4, 2013.
- Hua M, et al. Congenital uterine anomalies and adverse pregnancy outcomes. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2011;205:558.e1.
- Chan YY, et al. Reproductive outcomes in women with congenital uterine anomalies: A systematic review. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2011;38:371.
- Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1528/0.html. Accessed March 4, 2013.
- Cunningham FG, et al. Williams Obstetrics. 23rd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=46. Accessed March 4, 2013.
- Gallenberg MM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Rochester, Minn. March 8, 2013.
- Coddington CC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Rochester, Minn. March 9, 2013.
Find Mayo Clinic on