Subfertility: how did you get a referral?

See another GP
We had seconary infertility and after trying to conceive for 10 mths we got pg but it ended in MC. After 4 more mths we went to GP and he was great, said DH should be tested first and then sent us to Cons gynecologist who did blood tests on both me and DH. He then put me on clomid which worked on 2nd cycle. PLEASE see a different Dr... yours sounds a complete d*"k h&%d and I am sure they can't all be like that. Good luck

Is it possible to see a different GP? I really wouldn't waste any more time with this one if you can help it.

I'm really at his attitude. It makes me realise just how lucky I was - I went to see my GP when I hadn't had a period 5 months after stopping the pill and he referred me straight to a gynaecologist (NHS) who confirmed the GP's suspected diagnosis of PCOS - fortunately it was treatable and I conceived after a couple of months of medication.

I suppose it helped that my GP had a specific diagnosis in mind, but it's incredibly arrogant (or indecisive? not sure which) of yiours not to refer you to a specialist.

I have been TTC for #2 for 12 months just about. DD is now 3y 3m. She took 30 months of TTC (with an early mc after the first 15 months; another 15 months again afterwards).

I spoke to the nurse at the clinic this wek - there for other reason. She advised me that as I am over 30, that I should go and speak to the GP.I asked about the fact that I know that it is possible for me to get pg - been sp twice. But she said that as I have a history of it taking a long time - longer than average - it is worth talking to him and seeing about some basic checks.

I have an appointment on Friday, and I am scared half to death.

and don't forget that a GP is just that: a General practitioner and they are not, by any stretch of the imagination, an expert on all things medical.

Message withdrawn

I had a GP who talked about how much my ivf treatment was going to cost the tax payer and his practice. (went home feeling guilty and distraught)My husband reported him and we moved practice. There are some right so an so's out there. Maybe its time for a GP move.

actually, the more I think about it the more unreasonable this GP seems, in both refusing to do simple tests and also effectively blocking your path to a second opinion. OK, so the waters are slightly muddy in that you have had spontaneous conceptions, but the fact is that in five years of ttc you have had two miscarriages and one pregnancy - I think that seems completely reasonable grounds for further investigation, quite apart from the fact that they are supposed to respond to patients' own concerns.
I think you should be kicking up a much bigger fuss over this. I'll try to find a link to any referral guidelines if I can.

My GP would have referred me after 6 months, given my age (44). As it was I only went to see him after 12 months and he was happy to refer me - but first of all did some blood tests to check the basics - was I ovulating, whether I was anaemic etc.

He was even prepared to start the process just before ds was conceived, as we had been trying about 6 months then (but as I have a short cycle, that was actually 8 cycles). He only got as far as checking I was ovulating - but then my period never came and the result is ds (4.5)

I also had a miscarriage 2 years ago, and a termination 20+ years ago, so I know I used to be able to conceive - but your body changes.

The hospital appointment came through quite quickly - I think only a couple of months later (that was after taking about 4 weeks to send me a letter saying that the probable wating time for an oppintment was 17 weeks - but one came through about 4 weeks later).

The consultant also talked about other options such as IUI (I think), where the sperm is "washed" and then inserted directly into the uterus, thus avoiding some of the "hostile" bodily fluids. But for the moment, as I am still ovulating (although not neceassarily every cycle) he just has me on Clomid to "improve the quality of my eggs".

Your GP does sound very negative. I like the idea of contacting your local hospital and asking what they would expect the normal criteria for referral to be, and then you can back to him armed with that info. Has he even checked your blood to see if you are ovulating?

Failing that, change GPs.

I started charting after about 6 months of ttc because cycles really erratic - from 28 to 60 days (already have ds). Went to see GP after one month of charting and told her what I'd been doing (she didn't ask for evidence) and she immediately offered to refer me - although this was probably because my charting was indicating that I wasn't ovulating. Anyway NHS waiting list was long so we went private for initial consultation (about £250) but have been treated by same Consultant on the NHS since then (got PCOS btw). I would recommend pushing GP for referral - or at least to get initial bloods done (which GP can arrange) just to give you an idea if its a hormonal thing, otherwise go private if you can. Good luck.

agree with eliott- would go private and pay for a consultation . this is what we did in the end as GP was useless. at least this way you will not have to wait any more time and will have the answers you need.

LunarSea,

Would agree with Elliott's counsel to seek out a second opinion from one of the sources suggested.

You can and should be investigated further to determine the nature of the problem. Both of you should be tested in tandem, male factor subfertility needs to be either confirmed or ruled out.

The underlying causes behind your irregular cycles (I was hazard a guess here and say that hormonal imbalances are responsible) need to be checked out thoroughly. You have been fobbed off to date.

Zinc supplements and the like will do no harm at all but would say that generally speaking many drugs have been tried to improve such counts without much success. Count is not the only factor involved, motility is as well. Sperms are complicated things and there is much about sperm and sperm production that is not yet fully understood.

I wish you well

Your GP seems extremely unsympathetic. how ridiculous not even to agree to basic tests like sperm count. Have you tried all the others in the practice? What about moving practices?
Or, how about phoning your local fertility specialists directly and finding out how you can get a referral?
Or, what about getting a private consultation - an initial consultation will be around £200 I would think - then once you are 'in the system' you may find taht you can have investigations on the NHS. It is true though that you won't get treatment on the NHS since you already have a child.

When I was ttc number 1, I had basic tests done at my GP after about 10 months and was referred so that I could be seen by one years' ttc. Obviously for no 2 I was referred straight away since I'd never had a spontaneous conception.

lunar, I only had to wait 6 months b4 I was referred for a gyno apt, then had to wait 6 months to actually see the gyno, I've had one prev M/C, but have had other hormone problems from a child. and only one overy, initially my Dr seemed a bit reluctant to do anything so I did push to go on the waiting list at least. but he seemed to pick up a bit once i'd had two completely different blood tests showing my hormones.

My other friend on the other hand was told by two different Dr's she'd had to try for at least a year b4 they would even think about refering her, (she went to 3 male dr's who told her this) then she saw a female one after 6 months who refered her straight away. my advise get a second opnion.

we're currently going through this lunar. We have one DS and have been ttc #2 for over a year. GP have been ok about it actually and happily referred us for tests after 10 months, we've actually decided to go private because the waiting list for the diagnostic tests is 4 months and if we do have to have treatment we'd have to go private anyway as we already have one.

Your GP sounds like he doesn't know what he's talking about. If it is a sperm problem there are procedures that can help your chances. Can you see another GP?

different to the thread but I was looking to be an egg donor to help couples that couldnt concieve. I had contacted our local fertility clinic who said they would et back to me, i called them around 6-8 more times and still nothing was done. I found this awful as I wanted to help someone with the most prcious gift in life-children, and these people simply couldnt be arsed to call me back.

I enquired soon after having my twins(who are now 17 months) but now I am unable to donate as I had to have a hysterectomy, a waste of eggs really and some lady could have had them

totally agree with Twiglett get stroppy I went to see docs after trying for 6 months for second and was refered to specialists... had some tests which showed some issues and at that point I went private as my hormones would not allow me to wait for appointment got DD on second treatment... I was over 30 but friend who is 28 has just been to see specialist but only after she put lot of pressure on doc... we both had secondary infertility and I don;t think NHS see it is a priority at all -- you need to push for what is your right to tests etc

Don't know whether this will help but

when we had difficulties conceiving we were told by Dr that they couldn't do anything about it cos we had a child

I had a friend at a local hospital who got me in touch with the assisted conception unit manager who told me that was ridiculous .. fine the NHS couldn't fund IVF but they could do all the initial tests to check what was happening

went back to dr and told him what to write on referral letter and who to direct it to

turns out I had a short post-luteal phase (your hormones after pregnancy settle back any which way and whilst I'd had no problems conceiving DS I would never have conceived again without doing something about it) .. they gave me clomid (about 70p a packet) and I conceived DD first cycle

so my advice would be DO NOT GIVE UP and GET STROPPY AND DETERMINED