Your Online Fertility Consultation from the UK: What to Gather, What to Ask and What Happens Next

You have read about treatment in Greece, you have a folder of results somewhere on your laptop, and now you are wondering what an online fertility consultation with a clinic in Athens actually involves. What should you ask your GP or UK clinic for, which questions are worth your limited time on the call, and what happens once you hang up?

A first conversation with a fertility specialist can feel heavy, often arriving after months or years of waiting, with hope and nerves in roughly equal measure.

This guide is written for UK patients preparing for a first consultation with the Pelargos IVF team, led by Dr Harry Karpouzis, a fertility specialist and reproductive endocrinologist. It explains the two online formats, the records worth collecting before the call, the questions that tend to be most useful, and the steps that come after.

What is a first fertility consultation for?

It helps to know what a first consultation is not. It is not a commitment to treatment, and it is not a sales meeting. It is a diagnostic conversation and a planning session: the specialist is building a picture of your reproductive health, your history, your circumstances and what you hope for, so that the advice you get is honest and fits you.

The conversation may confirm that IVF is the right step and can start soon, or show that it is not the best first move, or that more investigation is needed. Either way, you leave with information that has real value.

The biggest factor in how useful the appointment feels is preparation. When the specialist already has your records, the time goes on analysis and recommendations instead of collecting basic details.

Free call or full online consultation: which one do you need?

Pelargos IVF offers two kinds of remote consultation, and choosing the right one saves time.

The free 20-minute online consultation

This is a focused introductory call designed to give you an honest first assessment. The team will talk through your medical history and propose a general plan, including practical points such as how long you would need to stay in Athens. What it does not do is go through your medical notes in detail. For many people, it is the natural first step.

The paid online consultation

If your situation is more complex, your history is longer or you simply have a lot to ask, there is a paid online consultation at an affordable price. It usually lasts 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the case, and covers the same ground as an in-person appointment: a detailed review of your history and test results, a discussion of the most suitable treatment path, and personalised guidance on next steps. For this one, the team needs your detailed medical records in advance.

What to gather from your GP or UK clinic before the call

Pelargos IVF lets you share documents before the appointment, so the consultation can be spent on discussion and planning. You do not need a perfectly organised file: a folder of whatever you have, sent a few days ahead, already helps.

If you have had investigations or treatment at a UK clinic, ask them (or your GP) for copies of your results and reports. UK fertility clinics are regulated by the HFEA, which does not regulate clinics abroad, so think of your records as something you carry with you from one system to the next.

Your document checklist

• AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone). One of the most important markers of ovarian reserve. Even a result that is several months old gives the specialist a baseline for how your ovaries may respond to stimulation.
• FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone). Ideally measured on Day 2 or Day 3 of your cycle. It adds to the picture of ovarian function.
• Antral follicle count (AFC). If a transvaginal ultrasound has counted the small resting follicles in each ovary, that result is extremely valuable.
• Semen analysis. For a male partner, this is the most important document. A recent result from a reputable laboratory is ideal.
• Previous treatment reports. Any IUI or IVF cycles, plus reports from surgery such as hysteroscopy, laparoscopy or myomectomy.
• Pelvic imaging. Reports, and the images themselves if you can get them, from scans for suspected endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts or a uterine anomaly.
• Diagnosis paperwork. If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis, PCOS, diminished ovarian reserve, male factor or unexplained infertility, include whatever supports it: ultrasound or MRI reports, pathology results, and letters from gynaecologists or urologists.

Why some results matter more than others

Some results from a year ago are still entirely relevant, while others, particularly cycle-linked hormone levels, may need repeating if they are out of date. Hysteroscopy and laparoscopy reports carry special weight because they show the uterine cavity and pelvis from the inside. The semen analysis reports sperm count, motility and morphology, which most directly affect the choice between standard IVF and ICSI. If none has been done yet, the specialist will recommend one.

The screening you will need later

One set of tests is not needed for the first conversation but will definitely be required before treatment begins: infectious disease screening for both partners, covering HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and syphilis. This is a legal and clinical requirement in Greece for everyone undergoing assisted reproduction, so it helps to know about it early.

Before an online call, the team asks you to share any AMH, FSH, AFC ultrasound and semen analysis results you have. If you have none yet, you can still book. The first consultation will simply focus more on your history and on planning which investigations to do.

Questions worth asking the Athens team

Many patients hold back, worried about sounding uninformed or taking up time. Please do not. Your questions show the specialist what matters most to you.

About your fertility picture

• What does my ovarian reserve suggest about how I might respond to stimulation?
• Based on what you can see so far, which treatment path would you recommend, and why?
• Would you want any further tests or investigations before starting a cycle?
• What are my realistic success rates, given my age and clinical picture?
• If the first cycle does not lead to a pregnancy, what would we change?

About how treatment would run

• How many visits will I need, and how often?
• What does monitoring look like during a stimulation cycle?
• How is the embryo transfer done, and how do we choose between a fresh and a frozen transfer?
• If there are several embryos, how are they selected and stored?

About doing it from the UK

For anyone travelling from abroad, logistics are part of whether a plan works in real life. Ask how much time you need to spend in Athens, whether some monitoring can be done at a clinic closer to home, and how communication works between appointments. Our IVF abroad timeline for UK patients gives a sense of how the weeks usually fall.

It is also reasonable to ask about the laboratory, since embryology is largely invisible to patients but is often where the difference between clinics matters most. At Pelargos IVF, embryology is carried out with partner laboratory IOLife, and the team is happy to talk through its standards. You are equally entitled to a clear, itemised estimate covering stimulation medication, the cycle itself, any extra procedures such as PGT-A where medically indicated, and embryo storage. Our guide to IVF costs in Greece for UK patients is a useful starting point.

What the team needs before building your treatment plan

Before Dr Karpouzis can design a personalised plan, he needs an up-to-date picture of ovarian reserve (AMH and AFC), a clear view of the uterine anatomy (ideally confirmed by ultrasound or a previous hysteroscopy), a full menstrual and reproductive history, any earlier results, and for men, a semen analysis.

The team also needs to understand your circumstances: whether you are a couple or a single woman, whether you plan to use your own eggs and sperm or donated material, and whether any legal steps need attention first.

The Greek legal steps, briefly

Under Greek law (Civil Code Article 1455), IVF requires a documented medical indication. This is part of a framework meant to protect patients, and for most people who contact Pelargos IVF the indication is clear from the start. Unmarried couples and single women also need a notarial deed, a notarised statement of consent, before treatment begins. For a single woman, it is a formal declaration that she intends to proceed on her own. It is relatively straightforward, and the team will guide you through it. There is more in our guide for single women considering IVF in Greece.

Greek law permits IVF for women up to the age of 54. If you are thinking about donor eggs, Law 4958/2022 allows anonymous donors, known or named donors, and a form of identity disclosure under which the donor's identity may be revealed to the child at 18. That differs from the UK, where donors since 1 April 2005 have been identifiable and donor-conceived people can request identifying information at 18. Our egg donation page explains the Greek options in more detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a GP referral to book an online fertility consultation?

No referral is needed. You can book directly online or by contacting the team. If another doctor or clinic has referred you, include any documentation they gave you, as it adds useful context. Copies of previous results and reports from your UK clinic or GP are always worth sending ahead, but they are not a condition of booking.

What if I have no test results yet?

You can still have a first consultation. Dr Karpouzis will take a full medical history, perform or order the relevant investigations, and explain what is needed before a treatment plan can be finalised. Without results, the first conversation simply leans more towards history-taking and planning which investigations to do, rather than interpreting results you already have.

Can a single woman from the UK have IVF at Pelargos IVF?

Yes. Under Greek law, single women can have IVF using donor sperm. A notarised consent document is required before treatment begins, and the Pelargos IVF team can guide you through that process and explain every legal requirement that applies to your situation. A documented medical indication for IVF is also part of the Greek legal framework.

How far ahead should I book?

Book as early as you can, especially if you expect to travel to Athens for treatment, so there is time to plan around work and travel. Availability for remote consultations is generally more flexible than for in-person visits, and you can check current slots and book directly through the online system.

Is my consultation confidential?

Yes. All consultations at Pelargos IVF are fully confidential and follow strict data protection standards in line with GDPR and Greek medical privacy legislation. Your personal and medical information will never be shared with third parties without your explicit consent, so you can speak openly about your history.

Taking the first step from home

One well-prepared conversation can bring months of searching into focus, and you can have it from home. Gather what you have, write down your questions, and find a quiet room with a stable internet connection.

For many UK patients, a remote first consultation followed by a personalised written treatment plan makes the whole process much smoother. When you feel ready, you can book a free online consultation with the Pelargos IVF team. There is no obligation, just a clearer sense of what comes next.

Adapted for UK patients from the Pelargos IVF guide "Your First Fertility Consultation at Pelargos IVF: What to Bring, What to Ask, What to Expect" (https://pelargosivf.com/2026/04/15/first-ivf-consultation-checklist/).