Blood tests - some advice please

[Trinpy]

My gp has said he will refer me to a fertility clinic but he needs to get some more bloodwork first. He wants day 5 and day 21 tests done. He said it might be better to do the day 21 test first - does anyone why this is?

I didn't ovulate/have a proper period last month so have been counting the start of this cycle as the first day I had light spotting at the end of last cycle (cd 30), so my gp wants me to wait until after I have had a true period to start the tests. This means it would be another 3 months (since I'm only cd 7 atm)before I can be referred onto the clinic.

From everything I have read online it seems that its common for these test to be repeated several times, and my gp has mentioned that this might well happen. So is there any reason why I can't just ignore my gp save some time and do both tests next cycle or even do the day 21 7 days after I ovulate this cycle?

Obviously wish I had discussed this with gp at the time but I didn't think about this stuff until I got home.

I would seek a second opinion.

You need day 2 tests done; a day 2 will compare your LH level against that of FSH. Usually these two are about the same; an imlanace of LH to FSH may indicate a condition called PCOS. A day 21 test measures progesterone; however, if your Day 2 test is awry then the progesterone level will be affected as well.

Blood tests can actually be done according to calendar days if the cycle is irregular. You do not necessarily therefore have to wait another 3 months to have blood test done.

Spotting between periods should always be checked out but the cause is often not serious.

Some GPs are not up to speed when it comes to potential fertility problems; I would see another GP and ask for a referral now to be made. You will likely end up being referred onto a specialist anyway, the sooner a request is made the better as it can take some considerable time for an appt to be made.

I've read that it can take a long time to get an appt, which is why I'd really like to get on with it, but my doctor said he needs to 'check these boxes' before he is able to refer me. Although he didn't exactly say it, I got the impression that this was something that was required of him to do - which is why I didn't question it!

Tbh, he is the best doctor in my local health centre and the third I've seen about this problem. The first doc had to look up my symptoms on his pc, then asked me what I had found through googling , and finally did some bloodtests to check iron levels, etc; 2nd doc I saw said it was nothing to worry about and would probably settle down before long.

Is there not a GP practice you can join?. It seems that you are still being given the runaround by the health centre.

I've been looking around for over a year for an alternative. Very difficult to find a decent doctor round here. I will pester gp for a referral straight away and if that doesn't work will change over to another practice and see if they are any better.

Thanks for your help Attila.

I'd just get them done this/next cycle in your shoes, so you can get the results and get a referral to someone who knows what they are talking about. There is no reason I know of to have the day 21 test before the other one. Just do whichever one falls next in your cycle first. These tests are mainly designed to show whether you are ovulating and whether this might be due to PCOS. If you already know you are not, then you might just as well go through the motions to get the referral.

Thats what I was thinking Euro. I think they will end up testing again anyway because I've noticed a pattern in my cycles going from long to short to long again. Ovulation is always a bit funny on the long ones and I don't think my progesterone levels are as high on those cycles either.