Your first Consultation
During your first consultation appointment at the CRG, your doctor will take a full medical history or 'anamnesis' in order to have a complete medical picture of you and your partner. There will also be a
physical examination.
Anamnese
An anamnesis consists of a series of questions, whereby the doctor attempts to gather as much relevant information as possible regarding your medical history, physical condition, and current health status. In order to facilitate the process, you will be asked to complete a detailed questionnaire beforehand. You can download this questionnaire by clicking on the link on this page.
If there are any points of issue, or if you have ever had previous related treatment, your medical file will be requested and consulted.
Many of the questions that the doctor will ask you, will be of an intimate nature. They are all aimed at identifying the reasons why you and your partner are having difficulties in conceiving. Below are are a few examples of the type of questions you can expect:
- whether either of you have any children from a previous relationship;
- how long the unfulfilled desire to have children has existed;
- the age of the woman;
- whether you have regular penetrative sex resulting in ejaculation;
- how regular you have intercourse and at which stage of the womans' cycle;
- whether you have any problems in regard to this;
- which sort of contraception you have used in the past, plus any details relating to this;
- whether you have had any operations;
- dietary habits, alcohol use and other lifestyle issues (i.e. smoking);
- the medical history of your family. This is to determine whether there are any hereditary illnesses or abnormalities.
Physical examination
A physical examination will form part of the consultation, assuming that one has not been performed recently by another doctor.
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The size of the testicles is determined and measured by means of an orchidometer. |
The examination will include the following: checking that the penis is normal, whether both testicles are descended and are of normal size and that there are no growths present. The structure of your sexual organs will be examined and the vas deferens palpated to check for abnormalities. The epididymis will also be checked for abnormalities such as cysts.