Need experienced advice about docs appt

[Just_married]

Hey girls,
My hubby and I went to our first docs appt re ttc today as I'm 40 and it's bn over 6 months.
She was really nice and arranged for me to have a '19th day blood test' nd thyroid & blood counts for me (I have been on thyroxine since I was 17).

She also referred me to a hospital clinic....not sure if ob or gyn or what.

she said I would get an appt out in a few weeks and my blood test results would be on nhs intranet so hospital could view them easily.,

Do those of you who have already went through docs referral have any advice about what to expect and what tests I should be getting and questions I should be asking?

I'm new to this and have fallen pregnant within 3-4 months three times in my life, so have no idea what to expect/ask/etc and as time is precious at my age I'm looking for advice from you guys.

Thank you for any advice!

 

[LiSa2010]

there!

I see that you're not in the states and they usually do things differently here...

did you get the FSH and Estrogen test done? you usally get this done on cd3.

Im sorry Im not much help I hope you get answers soon

 

[Just_married]

Hi Lisa,
Havent been offered FSH yet, not sure what the 19th day one is - Doc says it will let them know if I have ovulated.

What stage are you at, if you dont mind me asking?

Also just wondering if you know of any UK members who might know about NHS methods?

Thanks!
JM xxx

 

[choccielover]

Hi

You'll get your first appt at the clinic and they'll do a quick internal on you and then arrange for bloods to be taken and an appt for your OH to do his Semen Analysis. The first appt is normally a chat with your consultant about how long you've been trying etc, etc.

xx

 

[Milty]

I'm sure the 19th day test is a progestrone test. It will tell if you O'd and if the corpus lutem is producing enough progestrone to provide a good linning for it. So it can answer 2 questions really ...did you O and do you produce enough progestrone to support an baby in the early stages.

It's an easy test you just give a vile of blood. I found out the next day what my levels were. I think they like to do the test on CD21 but my fell on the weekend I did mine on CD22.

 

[truly_blessed]

I went in Feb as I'd turned 41 in Dec. The GP just said she would refer me and didn't say what tests would be done. I went to the GP just before Christmas and my appointment for the fertility specialist came through for Feb. At the first appointment they took bloods as I was around CD21 I think and asked DF to provide a sample. They explained what tests they would do and basically put it down as 'everything'.

They gave me the bag and forms for more blood to be drawn and told me to get it done locally around CD3. They also said to ring them on CD1 of my cycle to book in for a hycosy where they inject a dye and look at the uterus and tubes to check for blockages.

It took me 2 cycles to get booked in for the hycosy as they were booked up the first time but it can only be done in a very specific time period in your cycle, which is why you need to ring at CD1 to book.

Anyway, on the day I had the hycosy, they already had the results back from my bloods and DFs sperm analysis and gave them to us there and then. No issues, slight mobility issue for DF and recommended zinc and selenium. I think that appointment was April and we got a BFP in May The FS had recommended IVF sooner rather than later but we weren't ready mentally for that so said we would wait 6 months then review it.

From what I can remember, the CD3 test was for FSH levels and the CD21 for progesterone. You can get AMH tests but they don't do them on the NHS and you would need to go private for them.

 

[truly_blessed]

P.S. The NICE guidelines for fertility are knocking around on the internet which NHS trusts are recommended to follow for patients who consult the NHS for fertility issues.

Try this thread as well, the ladies here really have been through it all and will be able to answer most questions

https://www.babyandbump.com/ttc-groups/355138-ttc-40-plus-lets-share-ups-downs-447.html

 

[velo]

The basics are:
- semen analysis for your partner
- confirmation you are ovulating (usually by a day 21 progesterone test, this assumes a textbook cycle of course)
- HSG test to check your tubes are open

If you aren't ovulating there's then a bunch more tests they will do. If you've been charting bring your charts with you.