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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.

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Original poster

Blood tests

12 replies

Ilovemarmite79 · 19/04/2011 08:38

Me and OH went to the doctors yesterday as we have not managed to conceive. The doctor was very helpful but hard to understand so I came aay a little confused.
He has requested both OH and I have 'random' blood tests (which we're having today) but what are they testing? I think the 'random' bit means that it s not specific to a day in my cycle.
OH has also been booked in for sperm tests. As apparently this is the first step. He thinks this means there is a higher chance of the problem being with him - I suggested it is probably just the cheaper/more straightforward test to carry out.
Can anyone tell me what they will test our blood for?

OP posts:

NinjaChipmunk · 19/04/2011 08:47

the only tests I know of are day 21 progesterone tests (which should be able to tell if you've ovulated that month) and day 3 tests. for the day 3 tests i had LH, FSH, TCH, Rubella immunity and prolactin. Try reading this to see if it can explain more for you. I believe sperm counts can be done at any time. I would certainly check with whoever is taking the bloods what they are checking for.
good luck, come join us on the feck off with babydust thread if you like. how long have you been trying for?

Original poster

Ilovemarmite79 · 19/04/2011 08:49

We have been trying for 14 months. Getting cheesed off now! Do you know what the male blood tests are for?

Thanks for the link x

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NinjaChipmunk · 19/04/2011 09:01

if you scroll down the link there is a section for male hormone tests so guessing it could be them? deffo ask your nurse who takes the bloods though.

Its an absolute bugger isn't it. we've been trying just over a year for dc2, ds was conceived first month of trying. all my bloods have come back fine, dp's sperm came back ok, we've just been referred to sub fertility unit for more tests. who knows why it doesn't happen?

Original poster

Ilovemarmite79 · 19/04/2011 09:11

True. Hoping it will eventually one way or another.
Thanks for the link that is really useful. Far too many things tested in females!

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NinjaChipmunk · 19/04/2011 09:29

might be a good idea to ask your surgery if any of the doctors are more specialist in fertility. The doctor i saw first told one of his colleagues was more knowledgable than him and recommended i saw her for the next appt and he was right, she is much better. Get armed with knowledge and go ask questions!

Original poster

Ilovemarmite79 · 19/04/2011 09:34

Your probably right ninja. I think we will wait for the results of these tests and then see if we can see someone who is knowledgeable. My doctor may know exactly what he is doing but from what I have read on the net I expected far more questions, maybe a pelvic examination and then day 3 and 21 bloods. But he just asked if I had any illnesses, how regular my periods are, how heavy I am and took my blood pressure.

OP posts:

joycep · 19/04/2011 10:42

I have had a bunch of random of tests done and my GP didn't really explain to me what she was doing. Just went to pick them up as I am going to take them to a private gynae. Lh/fsh was done on about day 14 so not the usual day 3. But she has checked thyroid, vit D, potassium, b12, folate, prolactin, tsh , progesterone 7dpo, liver function. I asked for the progesterone test myself as I thought this would be key. 50% chance that if there is a problem then it is with the man and so that's why they rule him out first. I think if your bloods are fine, they may send you off for a scan. I had this done last week.
I am not sure what happens after this on the nhs if everything seems fine.
I feel for you- we are trying for our first and it ain't happening!

joycep · 19/04/2011 10:47

Oh and I think it can be a bit drawn out going through GP and nhs because the vast majority do conceive in the first 2 years. And so they do these random blood tests and it happens slowly slowly when really what we want is proactivity and a quick answer if there is a prob!

stillstanding · 19/04/2011 10:50

We struggled to conceive no. 2 and when I went to my GP she told me to get random blood tests. Which I dutifully did. When I went back to get the results she pulled up something on the computer (a google for doctors, I think), looked at the results and then said she thought they were fine but let's get another set. So off I went again and we repeated the process. TOTAL WASTE OF TIME.

After a year of ttc, we went to a private fertility clinic and then it was all done properly. The tests were done at a particular time of the month (can't remember when that was ... perhaps first day or soon thereafter of cycle?), at consistent times and - shock, horror - the woman knew what she was looking for and what levels it should be. I know that there was also something they tested for (sorry, can't remember for the life of me what that was) that the NHS won't screen for but which is important.

I really would be careful with this as most GPs are not clued up on fertility issues (nor should they be) and you could waste a lot of valuable time if your doctor isn't really sure what to look for. I know we certainly did.

eurochick · 19/04/2011 10:59

That does sound rather pointless. I knew from these boards and others I look at that the standard first round tests are Day 3 and Day 21 (i.e. 7 days after ovulation, if you know when that is) and a semen test for your partner. I went to the GP yesterday and that is exactly what he ordered.

The Day 3 tests are for Glucose (presumably because I have PCOS), LH, FSH, Prolactin, Testosterone and a few others. The Day 21 test is for Progesterone.

Original poster

Ilovemarmite79 · 19/04/2011 17:02

well just got back from nurse. She asked where I was in cycle as they would only look at bloods taken on day 21. (Despite what doctor said) I am on day 20 so that is fine. But I am on day 20 of a 23 day cycle. I ovulate today so my hormones on my day 21 would be very different to others day 21. Not sure if it will cause a problem with the results

OP posts:

NinjaChipmunk · 20/04/2011 13:06

i would ask if you can be booked in for day 3 tests too if you can. i think the lh and fsh they test then could be important if you have a wierd cycle?

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