Ovarian Drilling: A Consent Conversation to Bring With You

If you have been referred for ovarian drilling after fertility treatment, the name of the operation may be the part you keep replaying. You can ask the team to explain why it is offering surgery before you decide. Bring the questions you want answered, including any you found difficult to say at the last appointment.

The lines below are examples to adapt for your own consultation.

Start with the reason for the referral

You could say: “Which part of my treatment history makes you suggest this operation now? What are we trying to change, and how would you check whether it has helped?”

Rotherham describes offering the procedure when a person trying to become pregnant has not released eggs after previous treatments. Its leaflet discusses fertility hormone injections and intrauterine insemination as alternatives to discuss with the doctor.¹

Ask which alternatives are appropriate for your particular assessment, what each would involve and what happens if you want more time to decide. Bring a list of the treatments you have actually tried and questions about anything missing from your record.

Ask about fertility risks directly

The leaflet identifies bleeding, infection and injury to the bowel, bladder or blood vessels as surgical risks. It also describes possible effects on egg reserve, early ovarian failure if excessive ovarian damage occurs, and adhesions that can make pregnancy harder.¹

You could say: “Please explain those fertility risks in my case. How do they affect the balance between this operation and the other options you would offer me?”

Ask what the clinician can assess before surgery and what uncertainty remains. If the explanation is moving too quickly, request a pause and ask it to go through the consent information again. Your questions belong in that discussion even if you are keen for treatment to move forward.

Get your own preparation instructions

Rotherham describes pre-assessment to check fitness for laparoscopy. Its leaflet also addresses pregnancy prevention before surgery and what to do if a period may fall on the operation date.¹

You could say: “Can I have the preparation plan for my booked procedure in writing, including medicines, pregnancy precautions and whom to contact if my period timing changes?”

Use the instructions from your own service. Ask it to resolve any conflict between a leaflet, an appointment letter and advice you were given verbally before changing a medicine yourself.

Leave with the next conversation arranged

You could say: “Who will explain the findings, and what is our plan for reviewing ovulation and fertility treatment afterward? If this does not achieve the change we hoped for, what would we discuss next?”

Ask for the follow-up date or booking process, recovery instructions and a contact route for concerns after discharge. Keep those details with the consent information so you know where to direct questions.

Period, Handled includes a Period Scorecard and a Flag It list and visit script. Use them to organize cycle observations and questions alongside your specialist’s fertility plan. Explore the periods playbook.