TCC and not happening, head to the GP?

[betterthanmyparents]

Hi Ladies,

I have a few questions. Back in July I went to my GP to talk about TTC, we were trying for six months at that point and she offered I go in for a bloodtest around time of ovulation. Came back "fine" as the receptionist said and did not need to follow up with the GP. But now its nearly October and my DH and I are pretty much one out of three days... you know and nothing... not a sausage and my mc is usually 28-35 days.

I know a lot of women are in my position, I am 29, but want a big family. My DH and I plan on trying to get an appointment with my GP in October. What can the GP really offer me at this stage?

[eurochick]

First steps are usually day 3 and 21 tests for you (it sounds like you have just had the latter as that is the one that tests progesterone, although you say it was around the time of ovulation? - it should be around 7 days after it) and a semen analysis for your husband. Some GPs will repeat these and maybe send you for an ultrasound. Mine didn't and referred us to a gynae after the initial blood tests and SA (which were all normal).

The usual rule is that a GP will refer after 6 months if you are over 35 and after a year if you are younger. You are still under that year but you might get a referral and in any event your GP could run the blood tests and SA late this year so that when you hit a year of trying he/she can refer you then.

There are a lot of empathetic people on this board going through similar things so it's a good place to visit with concerns.

[betterthanmyparents]

thanks eurochick for all the information. Hopefully they will test my husband next time and maybe have a follow up. It is frustrating, but trying not to fear the worse. Thanks again

[dontcarehow]

go to GP asap, they can't refer you until you've had a number of tests, one of these being an ultrasound. I had to wait 3 weeks for my ultrasound scan appointment, then 10 working days for the results, so thats already 5 weeks until you can be referred. In the mean time they'll need to do all sorts of tests on you and partner before they can refer you.

[eurochick]

dontcare it's not as absolute as that. I didn't have an ultrasound until AFTER I had been referred and the gynae requested it, along with a HSG.

It differs from area to area.

[kat2504]

You have been trying for less than a year so I would be surprised if you got any extra investigations at this point. In some areas you would not have even been allowed the blood tests yet unfortunately.

Since you have been trying a while, and your blood test was fine and you have a fairly regular cycle, it may be time to crack open the ovulation testing/fertility awareness methods. I recommend you also have more sex. Every three days is ok, but in your most fertile week (the week leading up to ovulation) you should try to get a bit more than that. Ideally every other day. or more!

there are various options

1. continue without science but ramp up the "activity". Every other day from day 8-18.
   
   
2. Have sex lots as above but get some cheap ovulation tests off the internet. You will get a better idea of your cycle and as soon as you get a positive have sex that night and the next night - but any sex you did in the couple of days before is also in with a chance.
   
   
3. buy a clearblue fertility monitor and have sex lots when it shows you High and Peak days. Every second High day and both Peak days.
   
   As you can see, it is mostly about the shagging, but i have personally found pinpointing ovulation helpful. It is at least reassuring to see that it is happening!
   
   Also perhaps your husband could visit his GP and ask for a semen analysis? This should be the first thing they check before doing painful and invasive tests like HSG on you! If he can't get one yet because you haven't been trying long enough i expect it is a fairly cheap test to get done privately.

[eurochick]

Option 4 is temperature charting to get to know your cycle, but unlike OPKs or a fertility monitor it only tells you when you have ovulated not when you are about to, so if you are irregular it probably won't be helpful but it doesn't sound like that is the case for you.

If you want to try charting, I recommend fertility friend.

[kat2504]

Ah yes I forgot about that, I never got on with the temping malarkey but it works well for lots of people. You can combine the ovulation testing to see when it is coming up, and charting on fertility friend to see when it has happened.

I have a phone app called OvuView that allows you to input all sorts of data (temp, cervical mucus, sex, opk result) and it tries to work out your fertile window. At the end of the month you can look back and see if you think you did enough at the right times!

Lots of people recommend a book called "taking charge of your fertility". I haven't got it but it does get rave reviews on here.