The Alabama Supreme Court recently ruled that embryos created from IVF as persons and that anyone who destroys or discards an embryo can be sued and held liable for wrongful death. The essentially equates a fertilized egg to a person in the eyes of the law. This has widespread implications for the ability to provide IVF care in Alabama and potentially the rest of the country. It also has significant implications for the cost, safety and emotional toll of IVF treatments.

If you’re like me then you sometimes push off going to a new doctor’s visit due to the fear of the unknown. Will they have me do a ton of tests? I’m a hard stick and so blood draws are not my favorite. Will I be made to feel ashamed for my choices? How much will it cost? Will they tell me something I don’t want to hear?

It is my hope that this post will demystify your first fertility doctor visit and make the experience less daunting.