1 year of trying...GP appointment Monday...what to ask?

[shelbelle100]

I am looking for some advice for my GP appointment on Monday from you lovely lot! DH and I have now been trying for a year - the first 5 months we were more relaxed then since Jan we have stepped it up - ov testing, temping etc. I have had one ectopic pregnancy earlier this year and aside from that nothing.

I have made an appointment with my GP for monday to try to start the reams of fertility tests that we have to have before assisted conception. I am just wondering if someone who has been through this could guide me on what to ask for/expect?

Just wanted to say hi and that zita west's book was brilliant for me. Lots of sense. We have 2 kids now. After 6 months of ttc without success I went to my gp who referred me to the fertility guy. Gp did all the day 3/21 tests and the sperm analysis etc. Reports went to fertility guy though who started me off on a round of clomid (well 3 rounds but we succeeded on first cycle!!). I don't know whether it was because of the trying or whether it was the clomid or the fact that I was doing something active about it that helped (I apparently have only 1 ovary).

Good luck everyone. The book may be expensive to buy (a friend bought it for me) but it makes good sense. Try amazon or green metropolis - they may have them at low prices.

farfallarocks do you mind me asking what blood tests your GP has agreed to do?

I'm 30 in 16 days buggerlugs so I'll pootle over after my birthday! :)

Sure piemistress
Thyroid
Iron
Follicle Stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) levels on day 3
Day 21 progesterone

Antiphospholipid antibodies
Antinuclear antibodies
Thrombophilias
Also one on her computer that said Anti Sperm? Not sure what that was about
She also added a few more that were not on my list
Will bring the form in tomorrow and post it up.

She could not have been nicer, I was really suprised she agreed to it. She confessed she was desperate to become a grandmother so maybe that was why :)

Thanks farfallarocks I have an appt with my GP this Friday so it's good to go armed with a nice list and hope she is sympathetic! She has done a CD21 test before but that's it!

I will bring it in tomorrow, she defintiely added a few more on for good measure!

As promised:
FBC&Diff
Antisperm antibodies
serum folate
ferritin
bone profile
prolactin level
Gonadotrophins (LH/FSH) level
Thyroid profile
Testosterone level
Progesterone level
Liver profile

Good luck!

farfallarocks did they manage to test those from just one blood test?

I have not been yet, waiting for 7 days post ovulation so that they can do everything bar the day 3 one in one go.
It won't be done at my GPs but at one of four hospitals/clinics you can just walk into. It might vary by area, I am in SW London.
I imagine they will take 4/5 vials to test for various things, it may be I have to go back more than once. I am only on CD11 though so will let you know in a week or so!

Thanks, I have a feeling that she won't do them though (except CD21) and refer me to the fertility clinc instead for them to do them (3 month waiting list). Will see what she says on Friday! As long as I can manage not to cry (yet again!)

I thought the same. In fact I had already looked up a private clinic to go to if she refused.

I did stress that I was keen to find out if I had polycytic ovaries as I have some of the symptoms and I am aways knackered (iron levels/thyroid).
So perhaps stress other things other than just TTC?

Its a shame it seems to be such a lottery. Good luck!

There are no private clinics within a 2.5hrs drive of where I am, only the NHS one attached to the hospital. I kept stressing last time how concerned I was about my age (39 next week) and she didn't seem to think it was an issue . I will take your list and ask if she can do any of them, thanks again.

PieMistress, you should definitely hold your ground, insist and if she refuses, go to another GP if that is possible.

You should go to another GP if possible if she doesn't 'think' it's a problem. I was v thankful when I first rang through for an appointment that I got one of the partners of the practice. And we have known each other since I started going there, and I think he's sussed out that I'm pretty switched on (hahahah) and so didn't mess about when I requested for a check.

Well had my GP appt this morning and I showed her your list :) and she has agreed to do most of them (not Antiphospholipid antibodies, Antinuclear antibodies an antisperm as she said the fertility clinic would do those?) but i'm happy with what she is going to do and will get them all done on CD21 (except the CD3 tests). And, she is going to refer me to the clinic (3 month wait).

Thanks for the advice on tests - I would have been clueless otherwise! x

Oh good!!!!

I know how a dilemma, I ovulated on day 14 I think so I need to have the test on day 21 which is a Sunday!
So do i do Friday or Monday??

Will they book you in for two blood tests? Then they will catch the spike either on the way up or way down.

My GP said if it's a Saturday to have bloods on the Friday, and if it's a Sunday to go for the Monday

Just been for all the tests this morning, except for day 3.
7-10 day wait now!
GP has agreed to do another progesterone test next month to double check because of the way the weekend fell.
Was a bit bleak actually as I had the blood tests in hospital and I walked in I realised that today was meant to be the day of my 12 week scan :(

Hope your results come back ok farfallarocks, I know what you mean about due dates for scans :(

piemistress so sorry you are in the same situation, fingers crossed we both get some good results or at least a result that is easily fixable if there is a problem!