Questions about Fertility Testing

[NavyWife84]

Hi Ladies! I just had an appointment with my doctor and we are getting the ball rolling on fertility testing. While I am terrified, I am excited to either find out that there is nothing wrong...we just haven't been blessed yet OR find the problem and fix it! (Can you tell I am trying to stay positive?)

Anyway...I just had a couple of questions for those of you who are more experienced than me...
My doc wants me to make an appointment for an ultrasound. I was wondering how long this takes. Will I be okay if I just take a half a day from work to have it done (I am a teacher)? Also, the nurse practitioner (sp) said that when they do my ultrasound they will measure my uterine wall and from that determine if I need to be tested for endo. But, I thought you can't be diagnosed with endo without a laproscopy?
I also have to go in on CD3 for "lab work". This is just blood tests, right? Can I do this before work or during my hour planning period? Will there be more tests after this one or is this the only one?

I really don't want to have to take more time from work than necessary and the doctor I go to is military, so calling to ask them a question can be difficult...they aren't specefically ob/gyn. I would appreciate any input.

Thanks ladies!

 

[~Hope~]

I can tell what happened to me if it helps (also more detail in my journal).

CD3 is a blood test that lasts about 5 minutes (depending on whether you need to lie down after or just go straight away).

You should then have another blood test at 7DPO to show that you ovulated.

The ultrasound takes about 5-10 minutes - the one I had was an internal and the FS measured the lining of the uterus. I had mine during my hour planning session.

Oh and after that I had to have an HSG to check that my tubes weren't blocked (twenty minute Xray at the hospital has to be done between CD3 and CD10 but not whilst bleeding). And DH had to have another SA test done to check the stamina of his swimmers.

HTH - and good luck! You're right it's good to have the tests so you know whether there is or isn't something wrong.

 

[scoobydrlp]

I had blood drawn on CD3 and then again on CD20(I think?). Both of those visits only took a few minutes. I didn't have an ultrasound so can't help you there. I did have an HSG, the procedure itself didn't take very long, but I had to wait for quite a while at the hospital before they were ready for me. The dye injection was VERY painful for me, but some others have said it was just uncomfortable. I had the procedure done on an extended lunch break, I think I made it back in under 2 hours. I wasn't uncomfortable afterwards, only during.

Good luck with military health care! My sister was diagnosed with MS last year and has had so much trouble with getting the care she needs from them. Hopefully your experience will be much better.

 

[mazzie1984]

the past 2 months for me, I have had well the first month i went in on cycle day 3 for blood work, which is very fast, in and out and both ultrasounds, you will maybe have a on top ultrasound and one inside the vagina. They always do this on day 3 of your cycle. I have had that both months. then the first month i had to go in for cycle monitoring. Which was around day 10-15 to check follicles. And to see if ovulation occurs. This month I went in day 10, 12, 13 and 14 and had ovulated on day 14. Each time I go there EVERYTIME they take blood. to monitor hormone levels. depending on what day you ovulate they may do day 21 blood, usually if you have a 28 day cycle, ovulating on day 14. I had to go in on the day before my period was due for my progestrone as i ovulated day 15 last month so day 28 then back in on day 29 for a blood pregnancy test. So last month was my first month , I also had a sonohystereogram, where they put a catheter into your cervix and pump saline into the uterus NOT tubes. then use the vaginal ultrasound to look. That took around 15-20 mins. they also so a PCT test where they test your cervical mucus after having intercourse to check see if the sperm is able to penetrate the mucous. I also had a 3D scan done too towards the end of the last cycle.This month I had a HSG which is the dye test, which is SUPER fast. they pump dye into the uterus and tubes and take an x ray picture, which is done at the hospital. It doesn't hurt if you make sure you take motorin or ibupfofen before hand, otherwise you will feel cramps. I took 800 mg lol and didn't feel it a thing hardly. I have had my ultraounds from day 10-14 then I ovulated, on clomid this 50mg this month. I have to go back on day 14 for blood preg test and a review appointment. As I have a uterine septum and lots of scarring on my left side, so if i do not get pregnant this cycle I will have a hysterereoscopy next month to cut it all out. So that is all for now.

OK I just realized you went to the doctors not a fertility clinic, as I have just written all this I will post anyway. BEFORE i was sent to a fertitility specialist. I had bloodwork done. and was sent for a ultrasound, but it took a good 20-30 mins. And they did the vaginal one too. I do not think there is that much more the doctors can test really. I would ask to be referred to a specialist. Good luck x

 

[NavyWife84]

Thanks for the information, Ladies! I go tomorrow for my ultrasound. My principal gave me permission to leave work a half hour early so that I can go to it

At my appointment, they told me that they would do the ultrasound and the bloodwork before determining if a HSG is necessary. They also said that they wouldn't refer me to a fertility specialist until after all of this testing is done and after my DH has done his SA.

I'm not looking forward to the ultrasound tomorrow as I don't drink a lot and I have to drink so much water and not use the bathroom! I know that I will be in pain by the time it is done, especially if there is a long wait to be seen...which there most likely will be considering my appt. is at 4:30 in the afternoon! Ugh. Oh well, I am just glad that we are getting the ball rolling!

Another question...some of my friends told me that I won't know the results from the ultrasound right away...how long does it take to get the results?

Thanks again for the information! What would I do without you lovely gals on bnb?!

 

[mazzie1984]

I would assume you make a doctors appointment and the doctor gives you your results. It can take up to a few days or a week for the results to be sent to the doctors.

 

[NavyWife84]

Well, I had the ultrasound yesterday...boy was I surprised when, after she finished the external one, she told me she was doing an internal one! I was a little afraid when she showed me the probe thing she was going to use! She had trouble seeing my right ovary with the external ultrasound, so spend some extra time toward the right with the internal. She said that I should have the results either tomorrow or Thursday.

Thanks again for answering my questions!

 

[Tnkrbell15]

Hi! New to the site, and to this thread. I have been down the infertility road, through the next town, to another county, state, and country. I have both endometriosis and PCOS, and have endured countless ultrasounds, HSGs, clomid, etc. I have even managed to conceive twice, but didn't make it past the first trimester either time. As people have already posted, the HSG can be painful (dr. didn't tell me to take any meds beforehand)..and probably the next step. As for your question about endo...you are right...to have a definite diagnosis, a laproscopy must be preformed. I also understand the military doctors bit....I was married to a military man for almost 10 years. Be patient with Tricare (I know the doctors can be a pain), and hopefully your time will come. Best of luck to you.

 

[NavyWife84]

Thanks Tnkrbell. The tech said that I would get a call either yesterday or today and I haven't heard anything. I think if I don't hear by tomorrow evening I will call on Monday. I don't think I have PCOS as my cycles are pretty regular (although they are 5 weeks instead of 4 weeks long). Hopefully I will get some answers soon! Good luck to you as well!