Appointment at fertility clinic - what to expect?

[iwantbabies]

I'm going to the fertility clinic for the first time and have no idea what to expect. A lot of the leg work eg various blood tests and ultrasound scan have been done. I get AF about once or twice a year and I don't ovulate.

Can anyone suggest what might happen? Excited and nervous about it.

Anybody?

Hello! I'm faith, ime they looked at all my blood test results and DH's SA results. They took a thorough medical history - general and ttc related - and then ordered more investigations - pelvic ultrasound and HSG for me, repeat SA for him. It is a positive step forward if you've been ttc for a whole because it's something proactive. I would suggest you take a list of your cycle dates and lengths since ttc if you have it.
Did they tell you what the ultrasound or bloods indicated? Given your history I'd say it's likely they diagnose you with PCOS but then I'm no Gynae/fertility expert! good luck, hope it goes well.

You both should attend this initial appt if at all possible. They will want to see the two of you as you will both need to be further tested (they won't likely just go by the tests results you've already have). You need a diagnosis first and foremost. Such appts can also cause considerable nerves; your man can also ask questions and provide moral support.

Write down any questions you want to ask well ahead of time, you do not want to think oh I should have asked about x,y,z after leaving the room.

The initial appt is usually a chat about your medical histories and your menstrual history. If you have AF once or twice a year they'll be looking along the lines of possible PCOS.

Good luck!. You will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

We went for our first appointment a few weeks ago. I was weighed and my height taken on arrival, to check BMI under 30. Then we both went in to see the consultant, he went through a history with both of us. We had both had initial tests, bloods (day 3/day 21) & SA done at the GPs. He wanted to know if either of us had previous children or pregnancies, if we had any previous surgery etc. I took all my previous cycle info with me too.

He ordered repeat bloods for me (day3 FSH, AMH, thyroid etc) plus internal ultra sound scan & HSG, I also had to go for smear and swabs doing. And DH had to repeat his SA and do a urine sample.

He wanted all this doing in 6 weeks so he can see us again to go through all the results. We have done all this now and are just waiting for the next appointment.

Good luck, try not to be nervous as it is good that things are moving in the right direction.

iwantbabies hi there is a thread called TTC 10 plus months part 6, its full of women trying to conceive with different conditions and trying different treatments, its very friendly and supportive so do join us

My first NHS appt last week basically involved the consultant seeing us an hour late then she just flew through filling in lots of forms, we signed lots of forms, she didn't listen to a word I said about the tests I'd had done privately, told me she had no notes from my private consultant and completely ignored me when I suggested she look for them in the big blue folder with my name in big letters on the front that was sat on her desk , the most repsonse we got from her was hurumphing at me because I got a bit flustered at the speed she was rushing us through and couldn't remember if my ruptured ectopic was in 1998 or 1999 [does it matter ffs it was years ago anyway and the result was the same].

Then she referred us to have all previously normal scans, swabs, bloods & SA done yet again, told me I should have an AMH test done which costs £77.50, and to come back in 6 weeks to look at our options, which was what I was expecting at this one tbh

Needless to say, as she told me she only work Mondays, I booked my follow up appt for a Weds .

My advice would be that you both need to be there [if only to sign all the bloody forms ] but not to expect too much in terms of advice, guidance or direction at the first appt, it seems quite an administrative exercise to get you registered into the system iykwim

Gosh...thank you for all your replies. My GP has suggested that I do have PCOS so I'd be very surprised if they say I don't have it. From reading your experiences it seems a bit of a lottery. Great advice, though. I'm trying not to expect too much as the website says I should expect to be there for only 20 mins!! It will take longer to park the flaming car!

Does anyone know how likely it is they will prescribe clomid and if so how quickly? I clearly don't ovulate so there's surely not that many tests they can do!

I may see you over on that thread soon, Lisa! Although hopefully not for too long and with a bit of luck you'll have graduated too