What Happens at Your First IVF Appointment After Arriving in Istanbul?
Manar Hegazy
Majd Eddin Khaled
After arranging tests, flights, and accommodation, one practical question often remains: What actually happens at your first IVF appointment after arriving in Istanbul?
Will treatment start immediately? Will the ultrasound be repeated? Will additional blood tests be needed? When will medication doses and the next monitoring appointment be confirmed?
The answer depends on your menstrual-cycle timing, previous test results, medical history, and planned treatment protocol.
At Fertiliv, reviewing the case before travel can make the first appointment more organized, but an in-person assessment remains important because treatment decisions depend on your condition at that time.
What Should You Bring to Your First Appointment?
Keep important medical records organized and accessible digitally or on paper.
These may include:
Hormone test results
Ovarian reserve testing
Ultrasound reports and images
Tubal imaging when previously performed
Previous surgery reports
Previous IVF records
Embryology reports
Genetic-test results when available
Current medication and supplement list
Male fertility results
Required identification and marriage documentation for treatment procedures
If you have many records, arrange them chronologically.
1. Reviewing Your Medical and Fertility History
The appointment usually includes a review of your fertility history.
The physician may discuss:
How long you have been trying to conceive
Previous pregnancies
Miscarriages
Ectopic pregnancy
Previous surgeries
Endometriosis
Fibroids
PCOS
Tubal problems
Reduced ovarian reserve
Previous IVF or ICSI treatment
If you previously underwent IVF, detailed cycle information is valuable.
The team may want to know:
Number of eggs retrieved
Number of mature eggs
Fertilization results
Number of embryos
Embryo-development stage
Embryo grading
Whether genetic testing was performed
Whether pregnancy occurred after transfer
These details provide more useful information than simply saying that a previous IVF cycle failed.
2. Reviewing Tests Completed Before Travel
Tests completed in your home country can be reviewed during the first appointment.
Depending on your case, these may include:
Ovarian reserve testing
Thyroid tests
Prolactin
HbA1c
Complete blood count
Selected vitamin or nutritional tests
Required infectious-disease screening
Male fertility tests
Chromosome testing when indicated
Having results ready before travel may save time, but it does not guarantee that no tests will need repeating.
Read Which Tests and Reports Should You Prepare Before Traveling to Turkey for IVF?.
Why Might Some Tests Be Repeated?
A test may need repeating because:
The previous result is old
Timing within the menstrual cycle matters
Your medical condition has changed
A recent result is needed before medication starts
The report is unclear
A required test is missing
Repeating a test does not necessarily mean the original result was useless.
Sometimes the physician simply needs current information.
3. Will You Have an Ultrasound at the First Appointment?
In many IVF plans, a transvaginal ultrasound is an important part of baseline assessment.
It can help assess:
Right ovary
Left ovary
Baseline follicle count
Ovarian cysts
Endometrium
Uterus
Findings that may affect treatment timing
Even if you had an ultrasound before traveling, another scan may be needed at the start of the cycle.
Does the Ultrasound Need to Be on Cycle Day Two or Three?
In some stimulation protocols, assessment during the first days of menstruation is important.
The exact timing depends on the protocol.
If you arrive before your period, an initial evaluation may be completed first, followed by another appointment once menstruation begins.
4. What If You Arrive on Cycle Day Two or Three?
If this is the planned start of treatment, your first appointment may also serve as the baseline assessment.
When the ultrasound and required results are appropriate, the team may:
Confirm that stimulation can begin
Prescribe medication
Set doses
Explain injection timing
Schedule the next monitoring visit
However, treatment does not begin based on cycle-day number alone.
The physician's assessment remains essential.
5. Can Ovarian Stimulation Start at the First Visit?
Yes, in some cases.
Treatment may start that day when:
Menstrual timing is appropriate
Baseline ultrasound is suitable
Required tests are available
There is no medical reason to delay
The treatment protocol has been confirmed
If a test is missing, a cyst needs evaluation, or menstruation has not started, timing may change.
6. How Is the Stimulation Dose Chosen?
There is no universal IVF medication dose.
The physician may consider:
Age
Ovarian reserve
Antral follicle count
Weight
Previous stimulation response
PCOS
Number of eggs obtained in earlier cycles
Selected protocol
Medication doses may later be adjusted according to your response.
7. Will You Learn How to Use the Injections?
If stimulation is starting, medication instructions should be clear before you leave.
Make sure you understand:
Medication names
Dose
Injection time
How to prepare each medication
Injection technique
Storage
Which medication starts later
What to do if a dose is missed or delayed
If you are uncomfortable giving your own injections, tell the team early.
8. When Is the Next Monitoring Appointment?
Once stimulation begins, the next monitoring appointment is arranged according to the protocol.
Monitoring frequency varies depending on:
Follicle growth
Hormone levels
Medication dose
Individual response
A monitoring visit may include:
Follicle measurements
Endometrial assessment
Blood tests when needed
Medication adjustments
Scheduling of the next visit
9. What If a Cyst Is Seen on the Baseline Ultrasound?
Finding a cyst does not automatically mean that the treatment cycle is cancelled.
The physician may evaluate:
Type of cyst
Size
Hormonal activity
Whether it was previously known
Whether it affects ovarian access
Whether observation or delay is appropriate
The final decision depends on the individual situation.
10. What If Your Period Has Not Started Yet?
If you arrive before menstruation begins, stimulation may not start immediately.
The first appointment can still be used to:
Review the case
Perform ultrasound
Complete missing tests
Confirm the proposed plan
Discuss medication
Decide what to do when menstruation begins
A new appointment can then be scheduled when appropriate.
Read When Should You Travel to Istanbul to Start IVF?.
11. Do You Need to Fast for the First Appointment?
Not always.
A consultation and ultrasound generally do not require fasting.
However, some blood tests may require fasting if they are part of your plan.
Do not fast unless the team has told you to do so.
12. What Happens With the Male Partner at the First Visit?
This depends on his individual treatment plan.
The visit may involve:
Medical-history review
Review of previous semen analysis
Deciding whether a new semen test is needed
Hormonal testing when appropriate
Evaluation of male-factor infertility
Discussion of ICSI
Planning semen collection for egg retrieval day
When severe male-factor infertility is present, more detailed planning may be needed before retrieval.
13. Can Semen Analysis Be Done the Same Day?
It may be possible when arranged in advance and laboratory conditions allow.
Important factors include:
Laboratory sample-acceptance hours
Required abstinence period
Type of semen test
Whether additional male tests are required
Do not assume that a sample can automatically be provided at any time of day.
14. When Is the Decision About ICSI Made?
The decision may already be clear before travel when there is an established indication.
In other cases, the plan may be confirmed after reviewing:
Semen analysis
Previous fertilization history
Expected number of eggs
Physician and laboratory assessment
The goal is to select the fertilization method appropriate to the case rather than use the same approach for everyone.
15. When Are Embryo Freezing and Genetic Testing Discussed?
These points should ideally be clear before egg retrieval.
The discussion may include:
Fresh embryo transfer
Freeze-all strategy
Frozen embryo transfer later
Embryo biopsy
Genetic testing when appropriate
Number of expected trips to Istanbul
These decisions can significantly affect travel duration and return timing.
16. Do You Pay for the Entire Treatment at the First Appointment?
Payment timing and structure depend on the treatment program.
Before the cycle progresses, make sure you understand:
What the program includes
What is excluded
Medication costs
Additional testing costs
Freezing costs when applicable
Genetic testing costs if selected
Available payment methods
These details should not be left until retrieval day.
17. What If the Treatment Plan Changes After the Appointment?
That can happen.
A patient may arrive expecting one plan, but new findings during the in-person assessment may justify an adjustment.
Examples include:
Additional testing
Delaying stimulation
Changing medication doses
Freezing embryos instead of fresh transfer
Treating another issue before embryo transfer
A change does not necessarily mean the initial plan was wrong; it may simply reflect new information.
18. How Long Does the First Appointment Take?
There is no fixed duration.
A straightforward appointment with complete records may be shorter than a complex case requiring:
Review of multiple previous cycles
Ultrasound
Blood tests
Male evaluation
Laboratory planning
Medication education
Avoid scheduling important commitments immediately afterward when possible.
19. What Should Be Clear Before You Leave?
Do not leave the first appointment unsure about the next step.
You should understand:
Am I starting treatment today?
Which medications will I use?
What is the dose?
What time should each medication be taken?
How should medications be stored?
When is the next monitoring visit?
Do I need any tests beforehand?
Are there instructions for my partner?
When should I contact the team?
What should I do if my period or schedule changes?
Keep the instructions written or saved in a clear message.
How Can You Make the First Appointment Easier?
Before arriving:
Organize reports chronologically
Provide key information in advance when requested
List current medications
Prepare a summary of previous surgery
Bring previous IVF records
Know the first day of your last menstrual period
Ask whether fasting is required
Confirm the appointment location and arrival time
Read What Should You Pack for an IVF Trip to Istanbul?.
What Happens After the First Appointment?
If stimulation starts, the next phase is ovarian monitoring.
Follicle growth is followed over the coming days, and the physician later determines trigger and egg-retrieval timing according to your response.
If you are planning ICSI, read How Long Does an ICSI Treatment Trip to Istanbul Take?.
If treatment does not start immediately, you should leave with clear instructions about the next appointment or step required before starting.
Conclusion
Your first IVF appointment after arriving in Istanbul is more than an introductory consultation. It is often the point where a preliminary plan becomes an active treatment schedule based on your current ultrasound, test results, medical history, and menstrual-cycle timing.
Stimulation may start the same day, or additional testing, menstrual timing, or another finding may require adjustment. Arrive with organized records, clear questions, and enough flexibility for the plan to be finalized after in-person assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions: What Happens at Your First IVF Appointment After Arriving in Istanbul?
Can IVF Treatment Start at the First Appointment?
Yes, when menstrual timing, ultrasound findings, and required tests are appropriate, but the decision depends on physician assessment.
Will My Ultrasound Be Repeated?
It may be repeated at the beginning of the cycle even if you had an ultrasound before traveling.
Do I Need to Fast?
Usually not for consultation or ultrasound, but some planned blood tests may require fasting.
Does My Partner Need to Attend the First Appointment?
Not always. His attendance depends on whether evaluation, testing, or semen-related planning is required.
What Should I Know Before Leaving?
You should understand your medication, doses, timing, next monitoring appointment, and any additional instructions or tests.