Fertility tests - advice please

[2boysnamedR]

Hi, Not sure if this is the correct forum for this? I am 36 and have two kids. I would like one more before it?s too late. I have been trying for just under 2 years with no luck and my second child also took a year to conceive. I would like to stop TTCing at some point but I also want one more baby. I have had my day 21 tests done a few times at the GP. Each time I bring this up he keeps on sending me back for day 21 tests!(which so far have been really good). I think he looks at me and wonders why I want another. Meanwhile I am getting older and so are my kids. Any advice on what to ask him next? Should I have day 1-4 bloods? My thyroid results have been 5.1 and 3 but he says this will not affect my fertility. I just want to either get PG or give up on this dream of DC3. I don't want to be still trying at 40. Any ideas? Thanks

I think you need to tell your GP that you want a referral for secondary infertility & get some proper tests carried out. Insist if neccessary. You need specialist help after 2 years TTC - I don't think your GP is going to be able to help further. If it's any help, I found they took me much more seriously when we made the appointment in DP's name & both went to the appointment together. Which is a crap situation, but there you go.

Good luck!

The first thing you should do is have your AFC checked. This is a simple scan where they count how many eggs you have in your ovaries. The number of eggs will indicate how much time you have left. Also, the higher the number of eggs (to a point) the better the quality of the eggs. Ideally, you want an AFC of 16-30. Any less, you may have problems conceiving, any more, you may have PCOS.

Just to add to Mommymeyhems post, AFC stands for Antral Follicle Count and tells you how many follicles you have at the start of any given cycle. One or maybe two of these will develop further during your cycle and will form egges to be released at ovulation. If you only have a small number of follicles it can indicate diminished ovarian reserve, hence it can be more difficult to get pregnant. The number of follicles present at the start of each of your cycles can vary anyway from month to month anyway.

There is another test called AMH, which is a blood test that can be done at any time of the month, and the result of this tells you about your ovarian reserve. Again, a poor ovarian reserve can indicate that you may struggle to get pregnant.

In my experience, when you have a referral for secondary infertility, the consultant will order a range of tests which may include the above tests, and based on this they will be able to discuss you options with you.

...also FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) is a good test to have. You want this to be as low as possible. If you are worried, you should maybe consider paying for these tests privately. It may seem a lot of money, but it is a pittance when you compare it to the cost of IVF, believe me!