Fertility Specialists?

[Kwee]

There are no fertility specialist in my area, the closest one is like 4 hours away and I just can't do that right now. Will my gyno do the tests I need or will she just try to refer me? I've been trying for over a year now and it's just not happening and I'm not exactly sure why.

 

[siempre]

Some OBs can do parts of the testing. Depending on where you live, some of the testing may not be available.
I'm a physician (i don't do OB or infertility medicine), and I'd recommend making the 4 hour trip. Specialists are specialists for a reason, they have extra education that makes a LOT of difference. It's easy to get led down the wrong path on complicated matters like fertility. While your OB is probably perfectly good at general gyn and obstetrics, he/she does not regularly deal with complex infertility. I'd start with that person, but plan on getting the referral.
Where are you in Texas? I am in Dallas.

 

[Jrepp]

I agree with seimpre. I was also referred to a fertility specialist because of the inability to sustain a pregnancy. My doc won't do any testing because she doesn't know exactly what the specialist will want to do.

 

[Curligurl]

Definitely see a specialist. I had to drive about 80 miles to see mine and it was worth it! My OB was very honest with me after the 3rd miscarriage. He said that he would work with my specialist to get the necessary tests performed but as far as interpretation/treatment, it would be left up to the RE. So maybe you can get an intial consultation with the specialist and have him give you orders to have blood work done at your OB. Then have the results faxed to the RE. That's what I did. So I actually only visited the specialist twice (once for the initial consultation and the other for the ultrasound once I got pregnant). After the RE determined that the pregnancy was viable, I was referred back to my OB.

 

[popchick75]

I agree with what everyone else says. This is something that will be worth the trip. The RE will be a lot more knowledgeable about what your options are going to be. They will probably ask you to come in on a certain day of your cycle so you can do the initial cd 3 bloodwork and baseline ultrasound. Then they can just send the orders in to a local lab for you to get your cd 21 bloodwork done and send them the results. If the RE wants you to do a HSG, you will probably have to go back.

 

[Kwee]

@ seimpre, I'm in Abilene. About 3 1/2 hours from you. Are there any good fertility specialist there?

Thanks everyone! I guess I'll have to schedule an appointment if this stuff I'm doing now doesn't work. I want to do this as natural as possible but if it's not gonna happen like that then I'll definitely try it anyway I can get it.

 

[siempre]

I work at UTSW. I know several fellow employees here who have used their fertility clinic with good luck.
I have a close relationship with some of the physicians there, so it's a bit uncomfortable for me to be a patient there, so I'm looking into the Dallas Presby group in central Dallas, associated with Presby's main hospital.
There is also Sher institute that is in North Dallas, I have heard they take "tough" cases, but I do not know many details on them.

 

[babyvaughan]

You could try going to the fertility doctor every so many months, and meanwhile doing testing and everything with OB have them work together on it!

My OB has been taking care of my infertility issues, she did an HSG was able to find a blockage and performed surgery, she also has ran other testing on me. She has been great! Just explore your option's!