When should I schedule Preconception visit?

[Lesly]

Hi Everyone,
I am 38 years old and have been TTC on my own for 3 months. The only thing I have tried is tracking BBT for one month and using OPK's which I always seem to get positive readings. My cycle is usually 28 days with normal periods every month. I was previously on Birth control for over 20 years before starting TTC. My question is that I was reading online that if you are over 35 years you should wait for at least 6 months before scheduling a preconception visit. However, when I went to this new doctor she said I should try to to get in right away based on my age, I am a little bit concerned about this because I thought it was best to wait for 6 months. If someone could clarify what the best thing to do is? Thanks

 

[Indigo77]

If you are over 35 years you should TTC for at least 6 months before scheduling a fertility check visit. Preconception visits should be scheduled right away. Where did you read this?

 

[NorthStar]

Are preconception visits an American thing?

Because here in the UK we don't seem to do them at all, last time I went to docs and mentioned TTC all she said was take folic acid. When I went overseas I got blood tested for stuff like rubella immunity so I already knew I had a clean bill of health, but UK docs seem to be pretty casual about this stuff, none of the UK ladies on the forum have ever really mentioned this.

 

[manuiti]

I'd read about preconception visits so went to see my GP in the UK before we started trying. He told me to try for a year, not to stress, that I was still young and besides my DH and I weren't married yet. Humfp! That was it. Basically a big F-Off tablet. And now we've emigrated I need to get myself sorted out and get myself some insurance sorted out.

 

[Indigo77]

A preconception visit is pretty much a 'pay me $200 so I can tell you to take folic acid' visit. I skipped it.

 

[cebethel]

I should have had one sooner...........blast me for being slower than a one legged dog stuck in concrete

 

[Indigo77]

I should add that I don't really have any known medical issues, am not on any Rx meds and I have an annual gynecological exam.

 

[NorthStar]

I'd read about preconception visits so went to see my GP in the UK before we started trying. He told me to try for a year, not to stress, that I was still young and besides my DH and I weren't married yet. Humfp! That was it. Basically a big F-Off tablet. And now we've emigrated I need to get myself sorted out and get myself some insurance sorted out.

Yep, I'd already had the blood test for rubella, measles and all that overseas, but that wasn't even asked or mentioned by my UK doc.

 

[manuiti]

Yep, I'd already had the blood test for rubella, measles and all that overseas, but that wasn't even asked or mentioned by my UK doc.

Nope, mine didn't even hint at that sort of thing either. I remember my sister having measles when we were kids and that I didn't and I know we both had mumps but that makes me think that we never had anything like an MMR so I'd like to get those checks done.

 

[NorthStar]

You probably DID have your MMR jag but would have to ask your mum, there are signs up at my docs saying that people who are not sure should get the jab now, due to a measles epidemic in Europe.

I had mine but I still caught rubella as a kid, so I'm now super-immune to it as well.

The other thing they test for overseas is immunity to chickenpox which can be bad if caught during pregnancy, again I'd caught it as a child so was still immune - o/s doctor advised that if I wasn't he'd recommend getting that done prior to TTC.

 

[dachsundmom]

I've never had the chicken pox, but since I didn't get them when DD did, my doc thinks I am immune.

 

[manuiti]

Thanks hun. Now I do remember having chickenpox... I've still got a scar from it. Ugh, another thing to do. I guess it's a good thing this TTC business is taking so long... there's time to get all these things done. lol

 

[NorthStar]

Actually I didn't need anything done really, the blood tests confirmed all was ok, and if hundreds of thousands of Brit women manage to breed successfully without them then maybe they are really not all that essential.

(Assuming none of us have pre-existing medical conditions or health probs)

 

[LancyLass]

Are preconception visits an American thing?

Because here in the UK we don't seem to do them at all, last time I went to docs and mentioned TTC all she said was take folic acid. When I went overseas I got blood tested for stuff like rubella immunity so I already knew I had a clean bill of health, but UK docs seem to be pretty casual about this stuff, none of the UK ladies on the forum have ever really mentioned this.

Glad you asked that, I was wondering what they were going on about! I have been to my GP pre-6 months because of my short LP and the first doc I saw just gave me a print out of all the usual "things to do when trying to conceive" info - take folic acid, eat healthily etc etc. I guess that counted as the preconception visit!

...and besides my DH and I weren't married yet.

Bloody cheek, that's shocking!!

You probably DID have your MMR jag but would have to ask your mum, there are signs up at my docs saying that people who are not sure should get the jab now, due to a measles epidemic in Europe.

I had mine but I still caught rubella as a kid, so I'm now super-immune to it as well.

The other thing they test for overseas is immunity to chickenpox which can be bad if caught during pregnancy, again I'd caught it as a child so was still immune - o/s doctor advised that if I wasn't he'd recommend getting that done prior to TTC.

Yep, I'd already had the blood test for rubella, measles and all that overseas, but that wasn't even asked or mentioned by my UK doc.

Nope, mine didn't even hint at that sort of thing either. I remember my sister having measles when we were kids and that I didn't and I know we both had mumps but that makes me think that we never had anything like an MMR so I'd like to get those checks done.

I thought MMR didn't exist when we were young? It used to be Mumps and Whooping Cough jabs done at the same time as a baby and poss measles too. I had the Rubella jab when I was about 12. They did it at school - they did all the girls, it was the national policy - unless your parents opted you out. So if you're about the same age as me (37) chances are you had that done if you were at a state school in the UK. But if you've had tests for rubella and measles (what are the tests? Do they test to check you're immune?) and you know you've had mumps then you should be OK on those.

If you're not immune there's not a heck of a lot they can do anyway once you're an adult, is there? I know I haven't had mumps and I wasn't immunised against it as a baby because there's epilepsy in the family and it's a risk factor for the jab. So I guess "keep away from sick people" is all I can do?!

 

[manuiti]

I'll need to ask my mum as we left the UK for the States when I was 9 so I'd have missed out on the rubella jabs at school. I've not had any immunity tests done so once I've got some health insurance sorted out here, I may as well get them done.

 

[NorthStar]

The jabs are no big deal, so you prob don't need to wait until you have health insurance, they were done by our school nurse, or at least the skin test was (rubella) actually I don't 100% remember what shots I've had BUT when I asked my mum she said I had everything, and certainly when I did the preconception blood tests I had immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox and whooping cough.

The other thing I was recommend by the o/s doctor was to get the annual fluvax as flu is dangerous to the baby if contracted during pregnancy - so that might be worth considering, again that's just a nurse/clinic visit no major medical treatment involved.

 

[dachsundmom]

For my UK ladies...weren't all of these vaccines done prior to starting elementary school or is that just a US thing?

 

[hockey24]

I did a preconception visit and didn't get much out of it other than take vitamins, check rebella and do genetic testing.

I went back after 3 months of trying and asked for clomid and the HSG test. It wasn't until after 6 months that I was eligible for a fertility specialist and was able to find out alot more information and get alot more testing.

Seems ridiculous that they make you wait so long for some tests when you could eliminate some problems before you even get started and not waste any more precious time that we over 35 don't have!

 

[NorthStar]

For my UK ladies...weren't all of these vaccines done prior to starting elementary school or is that just a US thing?

There are certain shots you have as a toddler before you start school, yes, and there are further booster shots you get once a bit older AND all the girls get the rubella patch test and a rubella booster once hmm maybe 12 or so?

 

[LancyLass]

For my UK ladies...weren't all of these vaccines done prior to starting elementary school or is that just a US thing?

There are certain shots you have as a toddler before you start school, yes, and there are further booster shots you get once a bit older AND all the girls get the rubella patch test and a rubella booster once hmm maybe 12 or so?

Plus I'm sure some of the vaccines didn't exist when we were kids (back in the dark ages!) Such as measles and chicken pox.