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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

First Fertility Clinic Appointment Tomorrow

964 replies

dogmam · 04/01/2021 18:07

Me and my partner have our first appointment with our fertility clinic tomorrow!

We went to the GP after a year of TTC and after 21 day bloods and partners SA, we were referred straight away to the fertility clinic. GP tests were in October/November so it's moved along quite quickly so far.

Feeling slightly nervous but also excited to hopefully get some help! My partners SA showed low motility and morphology so I assume that will be discussed..
What else should i expect from this first appointment? Is there anything I should be asking?

Thanks in advance! I'll update this after the appointment tomorrow as I know there are a few others on here who are in a similar position and might find it useful.

OP posts:
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Flutterby8 · 17/04/2021 14:31

@dogmam
Sorry, I've been off the internet for a while and saw you mention via email.
So, things didn't quite go as I was expecting!
My consult was rebooked for a phone appointment with no set time but due to having a fair bit of overtime owed, my boss was cool with it.
For a few days before the appointment I'd felt quite unwell, but naturally put it down to worry as I am quite an anxious person.
The morning of the appointment I felt awful when I got up and then I brushed my teeth and my gums started bleeding.
Something didnt feel right, but I just felt unwell.
Went to work and my boss sent me home because I looked that crap and told me to do a test, just in case.

So, I did a test and it was a blazing positive!
I'm still honestly in shock. I dont know what to think at the moment. Its been 3 years and the day of our fertility referral I get a positive test.
Of course I'm just keeping things crossed at the moment because its very early days.

I hope everyone is still doing ok. There seems to have been lots of comments on here so I will have a read back through them all to see how everyone is doing.

Iloveoreos · 16/04/2021 22:14

[quote paintfairy]@Iloveoreos I've never seen the consultant in the unit! Only a name on paper. I saw the same nurse for my phone appointment, after my scan and then before my hsg. And I've emailed her a few times too. Yesterday it was a different one though. In haven't had to explain anything really as its all in my notes they do when you are there? Because even the original one wouldn't remember as they see that many people.[/quote]
Atleast u got to see same nurse. Ive had different ones each time. Not a single nurse has been the same one from the previous time.Totally understand that they have to refer back to notes but its like a new person each time!

paintfairy · 16/04/2021 22:03

@Iloveoreos I've never seen the consultant in the unit! Only a name on paper. I saw the same nurse for my phone appointment, after my scan and then before my hsg. And I've emailed her a few times too. Yesterday it was a different one though. In haven't had to explain anything really as its all in my notes they do when you are there? Because even the original one wouldn't remember as they see that many people.

Iloveoreos · 16/04/2021 15:54

Hi Ladies

Can i join
I ha d a question..at ur appointments are you seen by consultant or specialist nurse? Also is it the same one each time? Ive only spoken/seen the nurses and each time there is a different one with me having to explaim things again

paintfairy · 16/04/2021 13:17

@dogmam they have to go along with your cycle. So it hinges on when you ovulate. It'll be day 9 when I go next (usually ovulate day 12 or 13). So it depends what the scan shows. I'm scheduled for another Thursday. But potentially they'll drag me in at any time to do it end of next week. I'm slightly worried i might ovulate earlier with the injections though. Or I'll have over stimulated. In which case nothing will happen at all and we'll have to try again next month! I keep getting random cramps and I can't decide if it's back end of my period (day 5 but it's fine really and I never usually do) or if it's the injections. So many unknowns!

PurpleUnicorn01 · 16/04/2021 12:55

Yes @dogmam 1.5 weeks to go and counting! I hope you're well.

Original poster
dogmam · 16/04/2021 12:49

I know, I did mention it to the clinic when we had the first consultation but they weren't too interested. Like you say, they just go straight to IVF as soon as they see the SA results rather than trying to fix the problem. It's crazy really. I'll bring it up again next week and see what they say.

@purpleunicorn01 hi, how are you doing? Still waiting on your appointment to come around like me!

@kitekat81 how are you? Is it your consultation soon with create?

@flutterby8 how are you? Dis you get your appointment sorted as there was a mix up with it all wasn't there?

@kay00 hi, were you ever referred by your GP or did you go private?

OP posts:
PurpleUnicorn01 · 16/04/2021 12:16

Hi Guys, i hope you're all well. Just catching up. Smile

Juno231 · 16/04/2021 11:43

@dogmam see I don't get why don't check that stuff before shoving you straight in line for ivf? Might not be worth doing now but definitely something to look into if you want a second child and potentially could avoid the ivf route then?

Original poster
dogmam · 16/04/2021 11:20

'Bent pecker' hahah

My partner actually had torsion reversed and a varicocele removed when he was a child. A few year ago, before TTC he went to see a urologist as he was having pain and they found he has a small varicocele and a spermatocele cyst but they weren't concerned and he was discharged. I'm now thinking that this surely must be having an impact on our situation. Not sure if its worth going back to the GP for another referral to the urologist to see if they would recommend anything now that we are ttc? But I also don't want anything to effect anything in terms of delaying ivf.

OP posts:
Juno231 · 16/04/2021 10:39

@dogmam I think protein shakes are a definite no no?

@thislittlebird hahaha about the duffers! Has OH had anything else in the past that could have affected it? Eg I know one of my friends is petrified as her OH has had mumps TWICE and that's really meant to impact fertility - another one has an OH with varicoceles which affect it as well. Doesn't sound like a bent pecker would affect it though, just from a plumbing point of view lol

Original poster
dogmam · 16/04/2021 10:02

@paintfairy Nothing straight forward is there! Saying that, we also had low morphology aswell so even with the huge count I'm not sure what to think!!
Omg how exciting for you! I don't really know too much about IUI, so at the next scan if they think everything is looking good could they do what they need to do there and then? Then is it a TWW? Can't believe it's all happening for you! You could be the first BFF on this very infertile thread!

OP posts:
paintfairy · 16/04/2021 08:50

@dogmam yes we've got high count too, with low motility. So potentially you could still have more motile sperm than someone with a low count but brilliant motility. Never simple. 🤣
5 days for injections. Next scan on the 6th day and then they'll decide if I need to do any more that day or beyond.

Original poster
dogmam · 15/04/2021 23:41

Hi ladies!

@tillybabs welcome! Wow your GP must be fab! So good that's you've been referred already
Keep us updated a do look through the thread so you can see what to expect in the next few appointments x

@paintfairy how exciting, it's went so quickly I can't believe you've started the drugs for IUI! How long do you have to take injections for? Very exciting!

@thislittlebird yeah we've also got a high count but super low motility but clinging onto the fact the count is high! There's a calculation you can do which takes all the individual results into account which gives an overall figure about the sperm quality, I'll try and find the article I was reading, it was really interesting but it's basically getting at what we are saying about high count almost cancelling out low motility to some degree.

I have no ideas about what to ask.. my other half wants to ask about protine shakes though ha I'm a veggie and he doesn't eat much meat so is hoping he can drink protine shakes as he's now back at the gym.. but yeah I also want to ask if we would be considered for ICSI, more info on waiting times, if I can get Hycosy done whilst waiting for ivf (just so it feels like something is happening whilst waiting) and also if there is anything else we can do/try (drugs of some sort maybe) whilst waiting for ivf. Also, they keep saying 'it can still happen naturally so keep trying', I want to know what is the actual chances of this happening? I know it only takes one sperm but with such a low motility, how likley is it that is would happen naturally.

OP posts:
Tillybabs · 15/04/2021 21:39

@thislittlebird thank you and will do! Yes I was surprised how fast I got an appointment too

thislittlebird · 15/04/2021 19:41

I just saw an old thread about sperm count problems and someone else with a high count but low motility husband said it might balance out but “I imagine the duffers get in the way” and now I can’t stop laughing.

thislittlebird · 15/04/2021 19:35

@paintfairy I had to google to remember the name, it’s called Peyronie’s Disease. I have yet to see it linked to sperm count in the results. He’s ok now, just with an additional bend he never used to have. But when we first met he’d only just had it happen and found it all more uncomfortable and saw a urologist who didn’t do much beyond offer surgery which he was not keen on.

I have to keep reminding myself people get pregnant with low sperm counts all the time, it’s not impossible.

I’m absolutely bricking it that he’ll do another test and we’ll be down to like...5% motility. I can’t take the stress of it all.

paintfairy · 15/04/2021 19:25

@thislittlebird that made me laugh. But I think that is actually a condition? I can't remember what it's called. But it shouldn't really make a difference? I hope the supplements work for him! 35% isn't dire but I just wish it was better! Issue probably isn't even him. 🤣

thislittlebird · 15/04/2021 19:20

Welcome @Tillybabs, let us know how it goes with the doctor! That’s fast though!

@Juno231 my husband is on impryl now, I think notyetamumbuttrying’s was on either well man or proxeed but I can’t recall. I think I’ll give him the three full months on impryl and then maybe swap it for proxeed???? Maybe what works for one won’t for another? His second bad SA was 6 weeks into taking impryl so I know it hasn’t been 3 months like they suggest but it makes me anxious that he went from 14% down to 9% motility on it. I don’t understand how bad it is in the scheme of these things because everyone seems to talk about “low” sperm count and his is high but with very low motility. I tried posting a thread about it and got zero responses 😂

He had an injury when we first met....I can’t help think this is the cause of his problems. He didn’t break his penis as such, but he did something to it not long before we met where he woke up one morning and it was bent. I’m making this sound weird Confused

@dogmam what sort of questions are you thinking of? All I can think of asking so far is will be we need ICSI and needing ICSI really annoys me because it’s yet more cost. Hmm

@paintfairy 35% isn’t too bad though, feels hopeful!

Juno231 · 15/04/2021 15:59

@paintfairy hahaha at least it meant he got more inclined to take wellman! Mine still doesn't take anything unless I physically hand it to him and tbh I don't give him much of anything anymore as it was clearly not helping anyway lol.

paintfairy · 15/04/2021 15:56

@Juno231 I tried to convince DH to buy what's in it (cheaper) and diy it. But he was too lazy to deal with it and ordered wellman again, because he was paying. 🤣 I've paid for them all up to now.

Juno231 · 15/04/2021 15:37

@paintfairy I think it can fluctuate a bit although @thislittlebird 's OH has had two bad ones now I think so not just a fluctuation. But yes proxeed is a popular one!

paintfairy · 15/04/2021 15:02

I had my scan today and started my injections for iui this month. Feels surreal.....
@Juno231 I tried to persuade DH to try impryl but he was not impressed with the cost. 🤣 My friends DH was told to try proxeed by the private clinic (after the first ivf failed mind) which looks maybe better? Still costly though. I do wonder how much an SA fluctuates naturally though anyway? My DHs did and nothing had changed really. I have another friend who went through iui and then ivf (ivf successful) and her OHs SAs - some were ok and some not. Another minefield! 🙈

Tillybabs · 15/04/2021 13:39

@Juno231 thank you. I definitely won’t. My GP was really good with referring me quickly so hoping it’s the same at the clinic

Juno231 · 15/04/2021 13:12

@thislittlebird I think some of the ladies on the infertile donkey thread had OHs with MFI who used impryl and saw big improvements? Incl notyetamumbuttrying whose OH went from MFI to no MFI at all whilst taking the supplements. I think the doctors only ever suggested things they could be buying/doing on their own and it wasn't an NHS recommendation as such - so will really depend on the doctor?

@Tillybabs welcome! looking forward to hearing what the fertility clinic tells you - make sure they don't mess you about timeline wise if you're already 40 though!