TTC 18 months, what should I do next?

[TheMidnightHour]

...because clearly the shagging (even with ov kits and temping) is not working.

Researching things which could be wrong with me is definitely not good for my mental health, so I'm avoiding Dr Google and asking you for advice!

I'm in a bit of an odd situation - out of the UK, long term but temporarily (next six months, probably) but still tied to the UK (e.g. taxes). As a result, can't easily pop in to see an NHS GP but also don't have the sort of local health insurance which covers fertility issues.

Had a quick check with a private place 8 months into TTC, including an ultrasound, so I do know that I ovulate, that DP's sperms look normal & there weren't any screamingly obvious warning signs.

As far as I can see my options are:

1. Visit GP next time I'm in the UK and try to get some sort of NHS ball rolling
   
2. Visit a private clinic somewhere and demand... something? And then figure out a way to pay for it all, since insurance won't cover even a blood test
   
3. Despair Keep up the futile shagging, and postpone seeking expert advice until I either move back to the UK or the situation here turns permanent - which is likely to be August, but could be next January
   
   What do you think? Any options I've not thought of? Could someone perhaps tell me what I could expect as a next step from either the NHS or a private clinic?

[Bearface]

Hi Midnight

If you go through the NHS then it is possible they'll tell you to come back when it's been two years as this is generally accepted as a reasonable amount of time. Then they'll get you to do blood tests again to check you ov and do OH's sperm analysis. Then, if nothing appears on this (or indeed if it does) they shoudl send you to a fertility clinic of some kind at the local hospital where forom what I can tell they do all the same tests again and then begin looking at your options and possibly some more investigative work. I think this would be quite difficult to do from overseas though. Waiting times for appointments vary from area to area (I've seen some people on MN having to wait 6 months just for a SA).

I'm only at the referral stage so I don't really know too much about what happens ext but I did find the factsheets here www.infertilitynetworkuk.com/information/factsheets/infertility_treatments really useful (better than the ones on the NHS wensite I thought).

Hope this info helps. We've been at it (so to speak) for 19 months now but got a referral from a sympathetic GP because of our ages (both 34). Good luck Midnight.

[TheMidnightHour]

Hello Bearface -- thanks for writing back. I'm working through the factsheets you suggested - they are very useful. It sounds like the NHS would be slow, so I may as well go talk to my GP - if they say to wait until 2 years, or take 6 months to refer me, and I take 6 months to get home, that would tie in well!

Fingers crossed for you.

[buzzybee123]

hi midnight there is a thread which I think you might have. een on the TTC 10 months plus, on the nhs they will redo your fsh, lh tsh and your husband will do an sa, depending on your age and area they will send you to fertility clinic where they will offer the likes of clomid for a few months then possibly some rounds of iui, they might also do a lap and dye or a hysteo. this could all take months to happen. I went to Create in the UK and had a fertility MOT which cost £150 which they do a scan to check blood flow and spto have a look at your afc, an amh ttest was £105 on top, but I had a clearer picture of what was going on, good luck

[Christelle2207]

hi- once i finally got referred to fertility clinc theres was a lot of waiting and to-ing and fro-ing for scans, hcg, and other tests. it would be v difficult to do this from abroad, though if you are returning to the uk you might benefit from getting ball rolling next time you are here.
i got pg on clomid, dead easy. suggest you look into a fertility clinic where you are that could give you that? you should have monitoring scans with it tho so not that straightforward.

[Christelle2207]

i mean once i got clomid it was easy for me but getting to that point was a mare! only works for some though(ps i was ovulating but at wrong time)

[TheMidnightHour]

Hi buzzy and christelle. Thanks for the messages - posting here has helped me get my head straight, as usual, and the What Happens Next lists are very helpful.

buzzy -- yes, I have been on 10 months plus, but I cannot keep up - entirely missed thread 14, bit of a shame.

I did go to somewhere like you did last year - it came up with the cheerful answer that everything was apparently normal - apart from, perhaps, all the things they didn't test. And now, as it's more than 6 months on, they want to retest everything before moving on. Which is probably fair but... sadly I am not well-paid and country hopping is not cheap.

christelle glad to hear clomid worked for you & it sounds like you eventually had a good outcome. I think I might look for a clinic here - my only worry is the money, and then perhaps being stuck as a pre-existing condition if we do stay (health insurance) or some mess with the NHS (if we go back).

I know there's no point in complaining, but I could really do without this! Appreciate the advice from wiser heads.

[AnnaDL]

Don't give up on the shagging. It can be easy to get preoccupied on the medical side of getting pg. we were all lined up to start injections for IVF on the Friday and on the Monday I discovered I was pg. I know it's very different for everyone but it only takes one lucky shot :) good luck!