What happens when you to the doctor?

[Happilymarried155]

Hi, I have been ttc for a year now and if I don't get my BFP this month I will be going to see the doctor.

I'm so worried and scared about this and wondered if anyone could tell me what will happen, what tests will they do? I'm afraid they are going to try and turn us away and tell us to keep trying as we are only 27. I just don't really know what to expect and want to prepare myself and dh, thanks :)

I was in your position just last Friday - saw the doc for the first time and got myself completely wound up about it only for it to be a bit of an anti-climax if I'm honest.

He was absolutely lovely, he didn't even mind when I burst into tears (twice) as I explained our history. He took loads of notes, asked some questions to fill in gaps, then explained that there were a lot of ultimate options but that he wasn't going to go into detail until we had the results of some tests. I thought this would involve getting scans etc done, but at this stage it's just day-21 blood tests and semen analysis. He also took my height and weight so calculate my BMI to check if I was within guidelines for my NHS Trust's policy on assisted conception (yay, thank you weight watchers, it would have been a 'no' without you!).

I had the blood taken on Wednesday, DP and I saw the doc together on Tuesday as I had gone on my own on Friday. We're just waiting for a batch of the SA forms to be delivered to the surgery before we can figure out the logistics of that.

The advice I was given in my first appointment was:

• make sure alcohol isn't excessive
• watch your caffeine
• take folic acid tablets
• avoid ibuprofen between AFs, or at least until after ovulation has taken place

I hope this helps to put your mind at ease, I know it's impossible to not worry completely. Good luck x

Useful stuff, thanks from me too Geeklette.
We are currently on cycle 16. We scored dd first time of asking so only a 2 week gap between 'Shall we try?' 'Oh, go on then, we can give it a go' and 'Hmm, there appears to be a blue line on this test....'
So we waited until we were definitely ready for no2 as didn't want them too close. It's faintly ridiculous now and we are starting to think that this time we may need help.
Dh really doesn't want to though - he thinks that as we have the one, if it fails naturally then we should take the hint and leave it there. I know that's a logical way to think of it but I so desperately wanted her to have a silbling. Plus I love the baby phase and I'd like to experience it with a bit more confidence!
So knowing what may happen if we do go to the GP is useful to convince him it wouldn't be that bad!

Thank you that's great to hear, I don't think it helps that I went to the doctor for an ear infection a couple of months ago and explained I was worried in passing and that I understood nothing would be done until we had been ttc for a year and she actually said "well don't bother coming to see me because il make you wait two years" :-( I can't bear the thought of being in exactly the same position next year and not any closer to having a baby.

I just don't know what's wrong I don't drink alcohol anymore, or caffeine, take my folic acid, we have plenty of sex, my periods pretty regular and dh is one of the healthiest people I know! My mum had to take clomid to concieve me and my siblings so I will mention that when I go in case that makes a difference.

Babybythesea, my dh is not keen to go the doctor yet either, I think he would rather wait another couple of months. I think that's because he is terrified there is something wrong as he is as desperate to start a family as I am x

That doesn't sound like a great doctor, happilymarried, any chance of you seeing somebody different?

It sounds like you are doing all the right things, do you chart your temps or anything like that? It might be that you are just missing your best window by accident. I have started doing all of the obsessive things I told myself I wouldn't but that's because I'm a seriously impatient control freak and have to feel I am doing something positive even when there is nothing to be done.

It can be hard for men to admit to someone else, particularly a female doctor, that there is a chance they are not living up to the 'ideal man' image ie that there may be a problem with their little swimmers. They, like us, also get scared.

Good luck with it, but even if the doctor tells you to keep on trying naturally for a few months try not to let it stress you out too much. There are lots of websites that give a breakdown of pregnancy percentages and time taken to conceive and taking over a year doesn't seem to be as uncommon as I had expected it to be. ~hugs~

at two years

my GP sent me for blood tests (day 3 and day 21) after 6 months of trying. She also sent me to get tests/scans for PCOS and thyroid tests as I have family history of ishoos in those areas. And she sent DH for a sperm analysis.

I am 31 so a bit older than you but not that much so don't think that is why I got tests quicker.

I am sure the NHS guidance says do blood tests after a year ttcing - I will try to find the guidance for you so you could take a print out along with you.

here is a link that says do tests after 1 year.

This page is a bit out of date though, will see if I can find something more recent.