@&':)@**** gp!

[rogersmellyonthetelly]

Sorry ladies but I just need to rant. Saw my gp today as my cycles are becoming increasingly bizarre and being on the wrong side of 35 I want to get it checked as I don't have all the time in the world.
I asked to be referred (privately) to the local gynae/reproductive medicine unit, he asked the problem. I told him, basically I ovulate very early. He said no, you have a short lp. I said no, I ovulate early. He says women ovulate on day 14, it's the second half of the cycle that can vary. He books me in for a day 21 progesterone test, I ask if I should maybe come a little sooner than day 21 as Actually my period will gave started by then. No he says, it has to be done at day 21. I eventually managed to persuade him that to get an idea of whether I ovulated I need to do the test sooner than day 21. We eventually agreed on Monday, which will be 10dpo which I'll just have to live with.
Is it just me (and ill be happy if I'm wrong, means I can have confidence that my gp has sone idea what he's talking about) but 10 years of charting have taught me that it's the time up to ovulation that varies, and your lp is normally pretty stable.

What would be the point of ovulation tests if we all ovulated on CD14? You are right, he is wrong. Suggest you go and see another GP and get a correct referral. Otherwise you're wasting your time. Sorry to hear you're having such hard times with medical 'experts'. Hope the correct tests bring the right results. Are you having any other tests done? Day 3 bloods?

Ask to see another doctor, he sounds useless and he is also wrong. Very frustrating for you, hope it's sorted soon

He is useless and needs to go back to med school. Can't you just go change the blood test to when you know you will be 7dpo? By 10dpo it is likely your progesterone levels will have started to drop so it might not give a good indicator as to whether you are ovulating or not.

You are right - the LP is generally pretty stable and it is the first part of the cycle that varied.

Gosh he's not in his comfort zone is he...but that is med student stuff. It's tricky when cycles are irregular but progesterone test should be done 7 days before end of your cycle/start next. 28 day cycle = test on day 21 but if 21 day cycle is day 14 to test as u may ovulate on day 7! book the blood test on the correct day for you or take form to hospital phlebotomists if no appt on right day. See someone else. Is he a gp registrar? He clearly has a learning need so you could have a word with his trainer. If fully trained ask the consultant you see to send him their proforma for timing of fertility tests, might help the next lady! Good luck with baby making x

No, he's a gp, about 45 years old, fully qualified, quite senior in the practice. Whats pissing me off is that he is even doing the day 21 test at all. I ovulate every fecking month, I have always ovulated with no problems at all. I always have a + opk, my chart is always biphasic and my period always comes 13-14 days after my +opk giving an lp well within the normal range. My lp isn't the problem I came to see you about! What I want you to test for is to find out why I'm suddenly ovulating at cd7 instead of my normal day 12-14!
Trust me I've been charting and ttc for a total of 10 bloody years, I know my body. I could have screamed at his fecking patronising tone that somehow after misreading his medical text book for 5 mins he somehow knows my body better than me. Look mr gp please just refer me as I know more about this than you, or indeed than I ever wanted to know myself and trust me when I tell you the problem i have is way beyond you if you can't get your head round the mechanics of an irregular cycle. Grr, there I've said it, I feel better now. Thanks for listening girls.

Not all women ovulate on day 14; tsk to this GP far from it. Ovulation is not an exact science and a woman can ovulate earlier, later or not at all in any given cycle.

God only knows what he would have said re my irregular cycles because I could tell him categorically (and I was proved right) that I was not ovulating at all. It is also quite possible to have periods without ovulating so bear that in mind. You may well ovulate earlier but equally you may not be ovulating every single month.

Potential LPD problems are a minefield; some gynaes think its a problem whilst others do not.

If your cycles are becoming increasingly irregular it is certainly in your interests to find out why that is (its usually down to hormonal imbalances. In that regard LH/FSH levels should be thoroughly checked around day 3 as these two kickstart the ovulation process and if LH/FSH are awry then ovulation will be affected). GP should not just focus on progesterone levels.

I would seek a second opinion and insist on a referral now. Would not let GP mess around in ignorance. Consensus seems to be that if you are over 35 and have been ttc for six months then a referral is in order.

It hasn't been 6 months, I'm only on cycle 4 but given I have had problems ttc my other kids and my cycles were a lot more normal then and I'm 6 years older now, no way am I hanging about. If he refuses to refer me when I go in for my day 21 a week on Monday I will call the repro med unit myself and ask them if I can self refer.

Why can't you just self refer?
I have no trust of gps and anything to do with fertility.

Insurers often won't pay for a self-referral, Karbea.

I didn't realise insurers paid for any fertility treatment.

I think it depends. For example a friend of mine had 2 laps for endo privately, paid for by insurance, when ttc because the endo was a problem in itself and she had a cooperative GP who would refer her without mentioning the ttc. She was in considerable pain every month and I guess they thought that was enough.

I just have to join in on this... went to see my GP yesterday after having blood tests etc before TTC. Aparently I'me very slightly anaemic. He asked about periods, I told hom they're heavy because I have a copper coil. He was shocked as 'nobody really uses those these days' and started telling me how the mirena is much better blah de blah de blah. I told him I'm quite happy to have the copper coil due to past (vast) experience with the pill etc and just don't want hormonal contraception.
He then starts going n about the mirena and said - and I quote - "So once you've had the baby (I'm not even TTC yet?!) I'll be putting you on the mirena" Oh will you now?! I don't think so - I'll just carry on going to the lovely family planning people who actually listen, care about my opinion and support every decision I make. Thanks all the same.
Who do they think they are?! Go get a second opinion. Or better go to a family planning clinic.

I ovulate around day 19 and so had the same test done on day 25. everyone ovulates on day 14 - pfffft!

Please see someone else and get the proper bloods you want! You are absolutely right, lp doesn't vary and of course everyone doesn't ovulate on day 14. I am horrified (but not overly surprised) that you are being told this. In fact a GP registrar might be a better bet as they usually try harder and it hasn't been a billion years since they read a medical textbook. Good luck OP!

Do ask to see a different GP - who will hopefully be more knowledgeable and more sympathetic! in my own experience, my GP was really helpful but admitted to knowing little about the specifics of assisted conception. i even had some blood tests done by a nurse at the surgery, she was a bit confused about the pre-conception ones, the wrong test was done so i ended up having them repeated at a private clinic. Dont be afraid to push for what you need and the very best of luck to you.

It's incredible how some GPs are truly clueless. I ov on cd 10/11 btw. I am having the cd21 test next week (on cd17 - don't tell your gp ) but like you I think it's pointless as I chart. What I really wanted was the cd3 test but my GP said he'd never heard of it and that it wasn't on offer unless I go to see a fertility expert

My cycles can be as long as 77 days - I clearly do not ov on day 14 otherwise I would have a 63 day LP

A lot of male GPs know very little about the inner workings of the female body (i have been told this from my male GP) It's a specialist area and I think absolutely ludicrous that your GP is being so unreasonable and very insensitive about this!

I agree with what people have been saying, I would definitely go and see another doctor, maybe a female one if at all possible.

Sorry you are having a hard time. As you know day 21 progesterone should be done 7 days before predicted start of next period. It is useful to have these and day 3 bloods done before referral as then they can have the results. I would be really surprised if private consulatant did not want them. If they (private cons ) requests them then you should pay for them so maybe see another gp if poss and get them done. go for test when you think it is correct. As for the referral odd they will not refer I know they have to agree to the referral but as you have had probs in past ttc best to get seen quicker and no point waiting the 6 months, some places do accept self referral.
Good luck

What an arrogant knobber! If I were you OP i'd be tempted to go back armed with 10 yrs of charts and a copy of TCOYF and take him v e r y s l o w l y through what he obviously wasn't listening to in med school. He's probably had lots of women wasting months of their lives as the result of his shit knowledge and you'd be doing them all a favour.

LP can vary too. Some women have a problem with short LPs, but yes he should know that ovulation often varies - the TV tells us often enough!

I had a consultant tell me once that LP was always always always 14 days no matter what, but that's simply not true. He just laughed when I tried to argue it.

ok well I got my results yesterday. Guess what. My oestradiol was quite a lot over the upper limit (250 against an upper range of 175 for luteal phase) which was exactly as I expected from my symptoms and the cbfm results (which gave me a high reading throughout the whole cycle last month), and my progesterone showed I did ovulate, which again, I could have told him, but it was on the low side, which again, I expected given that it was done on 11dpo rather than 7dpo. I was like "ok so I could have told you those results last week, now will you please refer me?" I think he took one look at my death stare and eyebrow raise and agreed. So at least that was a result in my favour, I now have an appt to see prof at leeds reproductive medicine unit on monday next week :0)
Not sure what he will say, I know I am ovulating early again this cycle, currently on cd7, I have every indication (sex drive, boob-ometer, cm and opks) that I will ovulate cd9 or cd10 but at least thats better than last months cd7!

great news that you have got the appointment. And even better that you have some results to go to the appointment with so much more helpful than having nothing. Good luck