Help please on what to ask doctor about. - no periods

[shoptilidrop]

Hi

I was wondering if someone would be able to give me a list of things i could print off and take to the doctors with me. I came off the pill in sept 07 and have only had one period ( which was in march). I have had bloods taken for thryoid but that was ok. I have also had a scan and they checked to see if the large ovarian cyst that was removed in 2001 has returned, which is hasnt. I last saw a lady doctor about 5 weeks ago. She told me not to worry, it was quite normal, and to go back to her in 3 more months so i can get refered to a fertility specalist.
I am at the end of my tether with it all, and have decied to go to my own GP and to speak to him, and proberly cry a bit too.. and to see if that will help at all. I dont understand why i cant get refered now.. its only 6 more weeks until its been a year.
Ive also managed to lose 1 1/2 since beginning of may.
I already have one dd, and the lady doctor said that proves i did have periods, so i shouldnt worry.

thanks

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

This female GP is incorrect; this is not normal at all re a lack of periods. As for the words that the lady doc uttered in her last sentence well words fail me. You are being fobbed off. Such problems are often caused by hormonal imbalances - in this regard they should determine whether PCOS is a factor with regards to the lack of periods.
Not many GPs are up to speed with PCOS; this person certainly is not.

I would go back now rather than in three months time and ask, well I'd actually insist, on being referred to a gynae at a subfertility unit. You need a diagnosis of the problem first and foremost.

One thing they did not seemingly look for to date is to check whether you have polycystic ovaries, these can also cause a lack of periods and ovulation. This is also a common cause of such problems (along with thyroid imbalance).

Do return to your own GP and insist on a referral. Do not be fobbed off by him trying to say to you, "well come back in three months time". The nature of the problem will not have changed and all that does is just cause you further delay and emotional anguish.

You will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

[shoptilidrop]

OK, thanks for that. I was wondering if maybe the doctors were not allowed to refer people if it hadnt been a year.

I am quite determinded to leave the surgery with a referal now. My Appt is on tomorrow so i want to go armed with the best info i can have.
I did think i was being fobbed off, but its difficult to know what to do about it.

do you know if there are any blood tests etc that will need to be run? or are these done when you get a referal?

thanks

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Some GPs do blood tests whilst others refer without doing tests beforehand. Blood tests anyway often have to be repeated; they are best done under the supervision of the unit. My GP referred me straight away after I had tried for six months without success. I was having a variety of problems prior in that I had both painful and irregular periods, these problems had plagued me for years. Both are good reasons to get an earlier referral. I now have two diagnoses from the subfertility unit.