First visit to the GP

[kidloco1]

Hi all. My husband and I have been trying for a year now with no success. Can anyone tell me what to expect from our first visit to the docs

 

[raf-wife]

hi there my gp wouldnt do anything until id been trying 2 yrs but that was 6yrs ago and i think things are different now im sure someone else will let you know, anyway they will ask how long you have been trying and medical history from you both write a referal to gynocology and arrange blood tests to check your hormone levels

good luck

 

[fluffystar]

Hi Kidloco1,
Are you in the UK? I so and you have a good GP they should be able to send you for blood tests to check you are ovulating and then some other bloods at the start of your cycle to check on other hormone levels. They might also suggest that your OH does a sperm sample to check on the little swimmers.

They should listen to you as you have been trying or a year and send you for these initial tests. If they are all fine then you will probably have to wait until you have been trying for 2 years to be reffered unless you are 35 or over. If they show up anything thenyou may get a referral to a fertility specialist earlier.

I hope that helps

fluffy xx

 

[kidloco1]

Thanks. I'm in Manchester. I'm 31 so looks like I might be in for a wait if the initial tests come back okay. I'm thinking they may be an issue with me ovulating because my cycles have been between 27 and 36 days and I haven't had any CM for the last couple of months when I can usually count 14 days from the day I notice it to the day I get my period. Who knows - there's so many possibilities

If you don't mind me asking where are you up to with things?

 

[missy10]

Hi there, When i first went to the doctors i felt really embarrassed but the lady doctor was really nice and refered me to a hospital in liverpool as i knew i would have to have ivf, just explain your situation.

 

[ami1985]

i had bloods test done about 6 months ago and they refered me to a clinic but the doctor was no help so i lost hope and stopped ttc for a while, im now on my first ttc cycle ina year

 

[kidloco1]

Is there another doc you could see. It's so disheartening each month isn't it! I just want someone to tell me why it's not happening - if only it was that simple! Fingers crossed for you

 

[fluffystar]

Hi Kidloco1,

No I dont mind you asking at all!

I have listed the chronology of when we went for tests etc in my blog (see ticker) but I first went to docs when we had been trying for less than a year and she kept sending me away. I think the fact that I was worried that something was wring and that my cycles were all over the place made me quite stressed and made things worse. I gott my hubby to see his doc to get his swimmers checked and she said it woul dbe better if we both went to see her so she could send me for tests. Totally different to my original doc!!

I then had bloods, which were fine, and hubby had to do a SA which showed morphology issues. He had to repeat them and they came back the same so our GP spoke to the fertility specialist who suggested waiting three months before re-testing. He said if there were still issues then he would be happy to have us referred.

So thats what we did. The FS suggested checking my tubes were clear with an HSG and then on to IUI. Just waiting for initial appointment at fertility clinic now.

This whole journey can be so confusing not knowing what the next steps are. I hope it goes well for you. Feel free to ask anything else if you need.

love fluffy xx

 

[kidloco1]

Thanks fluffy. It's good to talk to other people who understand. Everyone around me seems to be pregnant

 

[fluffystar]

Its a nightmare isnt it?! I went shopping today and swear I saw at least 10 pregnant women!!! I sooooo long to beone of those ladies with a bump!

Have you booked an appointment with your doc? Or are you just thinking about it? I had a hard time trying to convince hubby to go to his doc to ask if he could have his swimmers looked at. I think he saw how upset I was that my gp wasnt listening to me at all and kept fobbing me off. At least if you have initial tests done such as bloods, swabs and his SA you can see if there are any immediate issues and then you can deal with them.

Keep me posted as to how you get on

fluffy xx

 

[Leilani]

I just want to echo what others have said, but getting your DH tested is reallty important, as it is possible they may need to do more than one sample (if the first set of results aren't great) and all this takes time. it takes about 90 days for sperm to grow and mature, so if your DH has to make any lifestyle changes, it will take 3 months for any real difference to be seen.

 

[MarsMaiden]

it seems to depend so much on your pct as to how the timeline runs and when you are likely to get help. I went to the docs after we had been trying for a year (it seems standard that they won't do anything before then), she did day 3 and day 21 blood tests fairly quickly (over the next month or two) and dh got an appointment through for a sperm analysis in about 6 weeks I think. The results from all those came back normal so she then referred us to see the fertility clinic. The appointment for that was about 18 weeks. So from seeing the GP in February, we had tests over the next couple of months and then saw the FS for the first time in August.

I gues ultimately it depends on what the blood tests and SA show as to how they move you forward but that was my story! Hope your appointment goes well!!

 

[kidloco1]

Just an update - been to the docs today and he was really good. Took blood from me there and then as on day 3 of my cycle and to go back on day 21. Hubby has to take a couple of samples to the hospital and he says if all comes back ok he will refer me for more tests at the fertility hospital. If only all docs were as good

 

[fluffystar]

Hey kidloco1, that sounds like a great appointment!

Its always useful when you are on a cd that they can do tests there and then, saves more return trips. Glad he reccommended getting hubby tested too. After all, there are two people in the equation!! he he.

Did he mention what other tests he would send you for if you get the ok from these tests?

love fluffy x

 

[RealRuby]

Hi Kidloco1,

I'm in the same boat. Went to seemy gp few days ago.. Goin for day 21 bloods on the 27th,even though my cycles are normally around 35 days doh!! Keep wondering how long it'll take to be referred to fs. I only have my right tube n follicles on my left ovary.. Gotta see my gp week after for the results,he never mentioned the day 3 test will that be done too does anyone know? Im hoping he sends me for an HSG!!

Best of luck to you.. Hope things move fast for us both x

 

[kidloco1]

Fluffy, He said once we go fertility clinic, it would be tests such as the lap and dye plus others but can't really remember. Hubby was with me so he said it makes sense for him to be checked initially as well before putting me through all the other tests once we are referred to the hospital

Real Ruby, I think you probably will have to have the day 3 test because it's to check your estrogen levels and then the day 21 checks for progesterone plus other stuff such as diabetes. Probably best to ask your doc as it's all new to me

 

[RealRuby]

Thanks i will.. You have all these questions and then just forget and then i'm kickin myself lol!! x