It's been 6 cycles now so I'm going to the GP.......

[Pipbin]

I started spotting today which means the AF is not far away.
As I'm 36 I'm starting to think that I should head to the GP.

So ladies. What kind of appointment do I ask for? What do I say? What should I expect to happen? What question should I ask?
DH is convinced that the problem lies with him. What are they going to need him to do?

As DH and I both work in schools we are both off over the Christmas holidays and therefore this would be the ideal time for us to have an appointment for the both of us.

I would welcome your views and experiences.

I just went to the docs and told them how long we had been trying and nothing had happened. He told me to make another appointment to have an examination and some bloods. So basically just ring the GP and ask for an appointment and they'll guide you from their

*there (I did go to school I promise!)

Over 35 they should start investigations after 6 months.

I don't know what kind of GP appointment you need. I don't think mine has different types of appointment.

Just say you have been ttc for 6 months and are not getting pregnant.

Mine sent me for blood tests at days 3 and 21 (or 7 days post ov, if you know when that is) of my cycle and asked my husband to come in so he could be referred for a semen analysis. Then we were referred to a gynae who wanted a second SA for him and an internal, an internal ultrasound, a HSG and a rubella immunity check. They all came back fine so he diagnosed "unexplained infertility" and referred us for IVF. While we are waiting we are seeing a private gynae who is trying a few other things.

Good luck.

Thank you guys.
Eurochick
I had all the immunity tests done a while ago when I mentioned in passing that I was thinking of TTC. The doctor went into overdrive and just did all the tests there and then.
What are the blood tests on day 3 and 21? Are they to confirm ov?

I feel like going down this route is rather like giving up. I just think I've not been SWI enough.

Pipbin good luck with the GP appointment. If you have had all the initial tests that GP can offer they should refer you for "specialist" investigations. At least it gets the ball rolling.

We are currently in a similar position and had the initial tests, all came back fine. I said we would go back after Christmas if no BFP but now I am thinking of giving it a few more cycles and go after our hols in may. Am just thinking we need to try for a few more cycles before putting ourselves under the additional pressure and stress, of course I am scared of the outcome too.

Hope everything is positive for you guys and you get your BFP very soon.

Well went to the doctors and he was very nice and friendly but said that he didn't think the hospital would be interested when it's not been 12 months even given my age.

However we did manage to talk him into giving Mr Bin the details to give a sample for analysis.
Anyone have experience of doing this? (clearly not directly, but your partners)

Pipbin I think it's fairly standard to be referred after 6 months given your age. For standard, I mean I am pretty certain that it's an official guideline, if you'll excuse the oxymoron. I'd push back on that if that's what you want. It's a personal decision though, but in my experience, and sorry if this is not the cheeriest thought, I either come across people who get pregnant easily in the first few months, or people who take a lot longer. I think the 6 months is a purely mathematical average. So for me I'd get to the doctor again, because it could be something that can be helped relatively easily.

OH has done 2 SA. They need to be done between c2-4 days since last ejaculation (my hospital said 3-7) and ideally within an hour of getting them to the lab, so it might have to be done on site. I've not asked him exactly what goes on, have no real interest in knowing who/what he was looking at to be honest but presume they just put him in a room and told him to get on with it. He was a teenager once so presume he knew what he was doing

Day 3 tests are to test hormone levels (LH and FSH are the most normal, but I didn't get my actual results so not sure what else they did). Day 21 (or rather 7 days post ovulation) is to test progesterone which should indicate that you are ovulating. As euro said I think most trusts say 30+ to confirm ovulation.

Good luck!

NICE Guidelines are to refer after 6 months of trying if you are 35+. I'm sure google will help you track them down. Someone has posted them on here before but months ago so I haven't a hope of finding the thread for you. If you want to move forward, you might have to push for it. Personally, I would crack on with it but it is of course a personal choice. As some tests can only be done on certain cycle days, it takes a while to move forward. I saw my GP in April, had blood tests and husband had the first SA. I saw a gynae in August and then had further tests. I got a diagnosis of "unexplained infertility" and a referral for IVF in November. There is a waiting time of a few months for IVF at that hospital so it will be a year or so from my first GP visit before we get there.

Nelly has answered your questions to me on the tests and I completely agree with her answer.

My husband was referred for one SA by the GP and another a couple of months later by the gynae. We live reasonably close to the hospital so he was able to produce the samples at leisure at home.

Hi All,

I'll be starting my 6th cycle in January, this month we have taken a break from the Clomid due to work committments so hoping January would be a better time to try.

After that, I'm not feeling confident about the next piece of advice that they'll give to me, as I remember that the nurse said that they won't prescribe us anymore tablets after 6months, and I've only been on 50mg all that time. So I don't think it's working for me to be honest. Alot of people on here are falling pregnant by their 3rd Cycle?

I'm 40, husband is 46, I'm ovulating perfectly, always have done, test reveal no problems whatsoever, husband also declared as 'ok' although sperm count was a little low then. We're classified as 'unexplained infertility'.

Anyone my age and going through the same thing? We've been trying for nearly 3years now...

I shouldn't even be on the Clomid but they thought it may help. I did however develop 5 large cysts on the right ovary so had to take a break from the treatment the following month.

Take care all,
Thanks.

In Jan it will be 9 Months of trying for us and i will turn 35 - so i will alsi be making an app.

DP agreed today to have a circumcision (TMI ALERT - as he has phimosis and his swimmers don't make it out much or, er, squirt up. Also urine is a spermicide and there is residue under the skin too - apologies i know that is gross), but i think that's just cos i was crying and he will change his mind AGAIN.

:(

pipbin other ladies have given great advice but if you really think it is because you are slacking on the SWI front I would suggest you think about purchasing a Clearblue Fertility monitor - it takes the guesswork out of when to DTD!!!

When I fell pregnant we also did this: Intercourse on day period ends and then from day 10 of your cycle have intercourse every other day for 10 days. This hopefully ensures that sperm is in your system to catch the egg...... obviously this is if you have roughly 28 day cycles. I think a couple of months of this and I fell as TBH I don't think we were SWI intent enough.....

Good luck!

Hi Pipbin I went to see my GP after 7 months (a month before I turned 35!) Although my GP did arrange for day 3 & day 21 blood tests, she did say in her experience it took some couples up to two years for no apparent reason. My bloods were OK & I had just persuaded my DH to phone the GP & ask for a SA when I found out I was pregnant. It was too late to cancel his SA referral by this stage & he got the letter through for an appt to drop in his sample at the local hospital but the appt was for late January!!
When my bloods did come back OK the GP said she would not refer me to a fertility expert until we had been trying a couple of years - even though I was 35 by this stage. It seems the referal system obviously differs greatly depending on where you live Hope you get the tests you want soon though