Initial visit to GP after TTC for ages

[ABitApprehensive]

I've (rather we've) been TTC since April 07 without ever achieving a pregnancy. I am now thinking that I should approach my GP but wanted to leave it a respectable amount of time so she wouldn't send me away because I hadn't been trying long enough.

My question is for those who have been through this, what should I expect her to do/suggest? Will she tell me to get OP kits, will she take blood tests to establish that I'm ovulating or will she send me straight to the hospital for tests?

Any advice on what to expect or to hear of others' experiences would be so helpful at this stage.

Oh, BTW I'm 29 and DH is 32, we're both in good health and I've never been pregnant before and he's never made anyone pregnant before (or so he tells me lol!).

[Bellie]

Hi Abitapprehensive.

We went to our GP a few weeks ago as we had been trying for our 2nd for 14 months. We were referred straight away, but we are both 35.

My understanding is that most GPs will refer after 12 months for those 35 and over and after 18 months for those under 35. However I still think it is worth talking to your gp at this point as you may be refered now.

Good luck!

[kd73]

Hi abitapprehensive,

I would go now, I waited thinking next month would be the one and eventually had to acknowledge that without assistance, it probably wouldn't happen. My one regret is that I didn't go sooner.

In my case I went to the GP under 35 (over 30) and they undertook a series of blood and semen tests before referral to the hospital for further investigations.

Hope this helps and good luck. If you want further info just ask!

[fruitloop79]

Hi there Abitapprehensive. We've now been TTC for 6.5 months - came off pill beginning Aug.
I went to my doc a couple of months a go with symptoms of PCOS. He sent me off to have a scan and lo and behold I do have PCOS . A week after my scan I saw my GP who suggested I come back in 5 months and as I'd convinced myself he would sort it out and prescribe me something like Clomid. So I put my foot down and told him I really wanna try Clomid. So he referred me to a gynae at sub-fertility unit. My appointment's on 5th March. Will have been TTC only 7 months by then but who knows what they'll tell me, prob to go away, maybe take bloods, hopefully gimme some Clomid (fingers crossed).
Do you have regular cycles?
Any symptoms of PCOS or thyroid imbalance? I also have an underactive thyroid, and no you don't have to be overweight to have either/both.
Your GP should arrange to take your blood for tests just as LH against FSH (or something like that), he'll check your testosterone levels and ovulatory function. He shouls also ask for a o~o~ sample from DH if he's never fathered a child before.

BTW, I'm 28 and also in good health apart from PCOS and UT

Let me know how you get on and don't take no for an answer!

Fruity

[fruitloop79]

(such as not just as)

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Some GPs will do simple tests like a blood test for you (and perhaps a semen analysis for him) but others will simply refer you onto a subfertility unit at hospital without doing any tests beforehand. The GP should not tell you to use OPK's at all as usage of these is beset with problems anyway.

I would ask for a referral regardless of how any test results come back. You can wait a long time to be seen by such a unit so the sooner a referral request is made the better.

The general consensus seems to be that gynaes like to see people after 12 months of ttc without success and after 6 months if over 35.

If your periods are irregular in nature and or very heavy and painful these are very good reasons to seek medical help earlier.

Good luck, feel free to ask any further questions.

[ABitApprehensive]

Hi everyone, thanks for your helpful advice. I don't know what you make of my case, I have a very regular cycle, with very unremarkable periods at the end of them - i.e. not heavy or painful. Some cycles, but not every cycle, I have that egg white sort of gluey discharge mid cycle (so sorry if TMI ) so don't know if that means I'm not ovulating every month or not? I'm not overweight and don't have any pre existing medical conditions, nor does DH. We always make sure we do the deed when I start to detect the "egg white" stuff but still no luck!

I don't know if there is a sort of glossary of terms here but Fruitloop79 mentioned "LH against FSH". I wonder if anyone could explain this to me?

I've heard that some couples just have unexplained fertility that can't be explained even after all sorts of tests and invasive exploratoty operations. It's a real worry.

[ABitApprehensive]

Whoops, sorry, should have said unexplained infertility in the last sentence there, not unexplained fertility.

[Bekkie32]

...really do not be afraid - I have been through allsorts to get my baby. I had an ectopic and then decided to seek help at a fertility clinic.

Yep sperm tests are done and blood tests for hormone levels. An underactive thyroid was noted with me and put right with Iodine tabletts. if the sperm test is poor then that can help to explain the troubles. If not no fear - they can do ultrasounds, check ovaries for cysts, put colour dye in your tubes to see if blocked, do cycle monitoring. There are a whole range of treatments available. The operations - yes the thought of one is daunting, and I was also scared - but you feel nothing (I had one for the ectopic) and is only laproscopic in most cases it is only ever advised if ABSOLUTELY necessary. After all the checks you feel relieved you had them and it does take a lot to get the ball rolling - I was terrified, but it was an eye opener - I was amazed at what can be done.

Although easily said than done - try not to think too far down the line, take each test and procedure as it comes. It is more important to get that ball rolling. There are cases of unexplained fertility, yes, but in most cases a reason is normally found. It is easy to try to self-diagnose, I did it for years - and then realised i had wasted valuable years in doing so. We will be with you every step of the way, just keep us informed of the tests, results etc.. and we can help further.

[Bekkie32]

oh I forgot to say, I was TTC for 8 years!!! and now have a daughter born last year

It is good you are thinking of getting the ball rolling now rather than waiting as long as I did!

[Bekkie32]

...they can do ultrasounds to check you are ovulating too. If not they can jump start your ovaries into action - hormone injections. But please, dont be scared. I went through needles too - and hated them, but if you need injections - you also get used to them too.

[fruitloop79]

FSH= follicle stimulating hormone
LH = Lutenising(sp?) hormone.

Attila might be able to help you with the reason for this test. I'm not sure what it means really.

Good luck

[kd73]

A bit apprehensive, the gluey thing mid cycle is cervical mucas and a very positive sign.

I use this as a sign of ovulation and therefore always pounce on dp at this time. With this in mind I have had 2 (albeit unsuccessful) pg in less than 12 months after trying for years and a laparoscopy in March 07!

Good luck

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

A blood test often done is a day 3 test done early in the cycle. This measures your LH and FSH levels. Ideally these two should be the same, if LH is higher than FSH this can be indicative of there being ovulatory problems and should be checked out further. Both the levels of LH and FSH should be compared against one another.

If a person has a blood test done (or any test for that matter) they should be made fully aware of what is being tested for and why the test is being done.