Top 7 Questions to Ask Your Gynecologist When Trying to Get Pregnant

Planning a pregnancy comes with so many emotions — the excitement, the nerves, maybe even a little overwhelm. And with the sheer amount of information out there about conception and fertility, it’s completely normal to feel unsure about where to start or what to do first. 

That’s exactly where your gynaecologist comes in. Walking into your appointment with the right questions can make a real difference in how prepared and confident you feel. Here are seven questions we think are worth bringing up — consider them a starting point for your own list. 

Should I See an OB-GYN Before Getting Pregnant?

If you’re wondering what doctor to see when trying to get pregnant, an OB-GYN is a great place to start. These are doctors who specialise in pregnancy, childbirth, and all aspects of female reproductive health — so they really do understand what you’re going through. 

The good news is that you can start seeing an OB-GYN at any point in your fertility journey. Even if getting pregnant isn’t on your radar just yet, an OB-GYN can help you plan ahead and talk through any concerns. And when you’re actively trying to conceive, they become an invaluable partner — offering guidance for both you and your partner and helping navigate any fertility challenges that come up along the way. 

Booking a preconception appointment early also gives you a chance to build a real relationship with your doctor. You can bring along a list of questions (like the ones below!) so you feel more at ease during future visits throughout your pregnancy. 

During this first appointment, your OB-GYN will take a thorough health history and talk through your pregnancy goals. This helps them offer truly personalised support and put together a plan that fits your needs. It’s also the perfect moment to ask all those questions you’ve been turning over in your mind and talk openly about any fertility concerns. 

What Should You Ask Your Gynaecologist When Trying to Get Pregnant?

Here are our top questions to bring to your OB-GYN before getting pregnant. Keep in mind, these are just a starting point — feel free to add your own based on what matters most to you. 

1. When am I most fertile?

Your fertility levels naturally rise and fall throughout the month based on your menstrual cycle. You’ll be most fertile around the time of ovulation¹, and least fertile during your period. 

But here’s the thing — everyone’s cycle is a little different. While the average cycle is 28 days, some people have cycles as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days², which shifts when you actually ovulate. Your OB-GYN can look at your menstrual history to help you figure out which days are your most fertile, and show you how to track your cycle so you can plan more effectively.

2. When should I stop taking birth control?

If you’re currently on birth control, you’ll need to stop before trying to conceive — but the timing depends on your method. Your OB-GYN can help you map out a plan that makes sense for your situation. 

For instance, if you have an IUD or arm implant, a doctor will need to remove it before you can conceive. If you’re on the pill or getting birth control shots, you’ll want to plan ahead and stop well before you start trying, giving those hormones time to clear your system. 

If you’re coming off the pill, research suggests most women’s fertility returns to expected baseline levels within a few menstrual cycles, with most conceiving within roughly 6 to 12 months after stopping³. The timeline tends to be similar for IUDs⁴. However, if you’re on the Depo-Provera shot, it generally takes longer — research suggests a median of around 9 months from the last injection⁵, as the contraceptive effect itself lingers for roughly 3 months after the final dose. Your OB-GYN can walk you through what to expect based on your specific method.

3. Should I take prenatal vitamins or supplements?

This is one of the most common questions we hear, and for good reason. Prenatal vitamins and supplements support both you and your growing baby during pregnancy, but they can also play an important role before you even conceive. Starting them early can help reduce the risk of birth defects — the landmark MRC Vitamin Study showed that folic acid supplementation before conception reduces neural tube defect risk by approximately 72%⁶. 

That’s why many OB-GYNs suggest beginning prenatal supplements two to three months before you start trying. Your doctor will help you find the right type and dosage for your body.

4. Do I need to adjust any of my medications?

This one is easy to overlook, but it’s really important. Certain medications can affect your fertility — for example, some SSRIs have been associated with longer time-to-pregnancy⁷ in some studies, though the mechanism is not fully established and the relationship is complex. If you’re taking antidepressants, never stop or change your dose without speaking with the doctor who prescribed them — abrupt discontinuation carries its own risks. Your OB-GYN will review both your and your partner’s medications and suggest any adjustments or alternatives that might be needed.

5. What lifestyle changes will increase my fertility?

Your appointment is a great opportunity to have an honest conversation about your daily habits — your diet, exercise routine, sleep, and how you’re managing stress. Your doctor can let you know if any changes might support your fertility and help you feel your best as you prepare for pregnancy.

6. Should I take any fertility tests?

If you’ve been wondering whether your OB-GYN can help with fertility concerns — absolutely, they can. If things aren’t happening as quickly as you hoped, your doctor may recommend fertility tests for you or your partner to help get to the bottom of what’s going on and explore your options. 

This is also a great time to bring up anything that’s been on your mind — whether it’s your family history, an existing health condition, or just a nagging worry. Your OB-GYN is there to help you work through those concerns.

7. Do I need any vaccinations before pregnancy?

It’s really important to make sure you’re up-to-date on your vaccinations before getting pregnant⁸ — this helps protect both you and your baby from potentially serious health conditions. Your gynaecologist will check your vaccine history and let you know if there are any you should get before you start trying. 

Why Does Preconception Planning With Your Gynaecologist Matter?

We know it can feel like a lot of steps before you even start trying — but there’s genuinely strong evidence that structured preconception care improves pregnancy outcomes. When you understand the biology behind your doctor’s recommendations, it becomes easier to make confident decisions and get the most out of your appointments.

How Does Ovulation Timing Affect Conception Probability?

Here’s something that surprises many people: the fertile window is actually quite narrow. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Wilcox, Weinberg & Baird, 1995) found that conception is only possible during roughly six days per cycle — the five days leading up to ovulation and ovulation day itself. Your chances peak at about 33% when intercourse happens the day before ovulation, and drop to around 10% three days earlier. This is why your gynaecologist’s guidance on tracking ovulation is so valuable — it helps you pinpoint the only days when conception can actually happen.

Why Does the Timing of Stopping Birth Control Vary So Much?

If you’ve ever wondered why your friend bounced back to fertility quickly after stopping birth control while someone else waited months, it comes down to biology. Different contraceptive methods work through different mechanisms, and that affects how long it takes your body to reset. Combined oral contraceptives suppress ovulation primarily by preventing the LH surge and the FSH-driven follicle growth that normally trigger ovulation — once you stop, the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis typically resumes its normal cycling within one to three cycles. Copper IUDs work through local inflammatory effects without suppressing ovulation, so fertility generally returns right away after removal. Depo-Provera (injectable progestin) suppresses ovulation more deeply and clears the body slowly, which is why research shows a median return to fertility of around 9 months from the last injection — and sometimes up to 18 months. A meta-analysis in Contraception and Reproductive Medicine confirmed these differences across 22 studies, which really underscores why talking to your doctor about your specific method matters.

What Makes Early Folic Acid Supplementation So Critical?

This is one of those things that really highlights why starting supplements early matters so much. The neural tube — which develops into your baby’s brain and spinal cord — forms within the first 28 days after conception, often before many women even realise they’re pregnant. Large-scale studies, including the landmark MRC Vitamin Study involving over 1,800 women across 33 centres, showed that folic acid supplementation before conception reduces neural tube defect risk by approximately 72%. That’s why your OB-GYN will likely recommend starting prenatal vitamins two to three months before trying — the window for protection opens before you’ll even see a positive test.

Why Is a Medication Review Important Before Conception?

You might not realise that some everyday medications can affect your fertility or pose risks during pregnancy. Certain SSRIs, for example, may interfere with ovulation by altering serotonin’s regulatory effects on GnRH secretion. NSAIDs taken around ovulation can inhibit prostaglandin-mediated follicle rupture, potentially preventing egg release. Research in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology found that antidepressant use was associated with longer time-to-pregnancy in some populations, though the relationship is complex and stopping medication must always be weighed carefully against your mental health needs. Your gynaecologist can evaluate the risk-benefit profile of each medication in your specific situation — which is exactly why this conversation is so important to have before you start trying.

How Do Preconception Tests Compare in What They Reveal?

Not all fertility tests tell you the same things, and understanding what each one actually measures can help you have a more meaningful conversation with your doctor:

• AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone): Reflects ovarian reserve — the approximate number of remaining eggs. Useful for understanding your reproductive timeline, though it doesn’t measure egg quality.
• FSH and oestradiol (Day 3 blood test): Indicates how hard your brain is working to stimulate ovulation. Elevated FSH may suggest diminished ovarian reserve.
• Thyroid panel (TSH, T4): Even subclinical thyroid dysfunction can affect ovulation and increase miscarriage risk. Current American Thyroid Association guidance recommends a TSH below 2.5 mIU/L specifically for women already on levothyroxine for hypothyroidism who are planning pregnancy. For women without diagnosed thyroid dysfunction, a TSH within the standard reference range is generally considered sufficient — but it’s worth discussing with your doctor.
• Semen analysis: Evaluates sperm count, motility, and morphology — male factor contributes to approximately 40–50% of couple infertility, making this one of the most important early tests.

Your gynaecologist will recommend which tests make sense for you based on your age, medical history, and how long you’ve been trying. For women under 35, testing is typically suggested after 12 months of trying; for those 35 and older, after six months.

Supplements and Your Healthcare Provider

When you’re chatting with your gynaecologist about supplements, it’s worth asking about nutrients that come up often in fertility research, such as CoQ10, folate, and vitamin D. Your healthcare provider can help you work out which, if any, make sense for your situation. The research on preconception supplements is always evolving, and your doctor is the best person to help you understand how the latest findings apply to you.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen, especially if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or taking medication. The information presented is based on current medical evidence and should not replace professional medical diagnosis or treatment.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.