advice re medical help/tests when TTC

[dreamsofsleep]

Hi All

Just looking for some thoughts on approaching GP for help re TTC. DH and I have been trying for no 2 (already have 2 yr old girl) for 5 months. No luck yet. Not been using ovulation kits or anything like that but have been doing the deed pretty much every 2nd day from around day 9 to day 20ish. My cycle around 28-30 days. Maybe there is a small chance that we are stopping dtd too early but I think we just haven't been lucky yet. DD1 was conceived first time when I wasn't even sure I was ready for a baby! This time I am dying for another, typical!
Anyway, I am 33, I know that it is considered normal for it to take up to a year if you're under 35 and I understand that NHS docs won't do tests etc before this.
But I am worried because if I wait to go to doc till we've been trying for a year we will be lving in the US temporarily where I doubt our medical insurance (employer provided) would cover fertility tests and I am sure we would not be able to afford to go private.
is there any point going to the doc here now/soon and explaining the situation and seeing if they would do some tests earlier than normal, do you think? or has anyone had private tests and can they give a rough indication of costs for basic tests for woman and man?
Thank you so much.
sending love to everyone ttc
xxx

5 months really isn't that long - sorry if I sound dismiss here. I don't mean to be, but it really isn't that long. There's only a 25% chance of pregnancy occurring each month; it can take 'normal' couples up to 2 years to conceive. I know it's not what you want to read, but you totally struck lucky with an instant first pregnancy. Don't compare this to that.

Once those fertility tests start, it can become a spiral that is best avoided, IMHO - particularly for you as the female partner - if necessary. Fertility tests are invasive and I found them to be
psychologically draining. For your partner, the mobility, mutinied and morphology of his sperm needs to be tested. For this, he is just required to produce a semen sample. For both of you, a full fertility and sexual health questionnaire. For you, a host of internal examinations, including a cervical smear test, a trans-vaginal ultrasound scan and a uterine x-ray called an Hysterosalpinogram (HSG) where radio-opaque dye is inserted into the Fallopian tubes and uterine cavity to check all is well there.

If you've been trying for 1y+, this stuff is necessary, just something you have to go through. A means to a much-desired end. But not, not, not something I'd want to put myself through before 1y. Just try to relax. Enjoy sex and do it with the same regularity as you are. The odds are in your favour.

Good luck :)

Sorry, type-o's:

'dismissive' and 'motility' (not 'mutinied' stupid autocorrect)

Have a look at this site, for some more info on prices:

Http:www.conceptfertility.com

Looks like they just do a consultation option.

hi molotov
thanks so much, gosh those tests do sound very heavy duty. i'm due a smear anyway so that covers some things i guess. and i might ask gp if i could have an ovulation test. but of course you are right - it is not very long at all. just you know how it is, when you're trying you seem to be surrounded by people popping them out in quick succession and having no disappointments at all! (and to balance that, i have some close friends who really have had a difficult time so I know that I am still in the lucky group). anyway, thank you for a sensible and encouraging reply. I hope all worked out for you in the end. x
ilovemycats, thanks v much wil look now at that site. x

Just to add, if you have regular cycles, you might want to use opks or charting, even if just for a month or 2 to check when you ovulate. If you ovulate early then you could be missing your fertile window.
Also agree that 5 months isn't a long time at all. I would spend this time learning more about your cycles before you go down the route of more invasive tests.

Will definitely second starting to chart ovulation yourself first. I use the fertilityfriend app on my phone, and it has a wonderful free tutorial on charting.

If you want to just take your temperature, a bbt thermometer is only £2-3 on eBay. They have two decimal digits which you need. You can get cheap opks on eBay too. Or it's easier to use a fancy one like the clearblue fertility monitor.

I really think you should explore these first before going for the heavy guns. You have only been trying for 5 months. And you admit you don't even know when you ovulate!

Thank-you Dreams all turned out well for me - after 2 years and 6 cycles of Clomid, DD2 showed her shiney face. She will be 1yo next month xx

FWIW, DD1 took 9 months to naturally conceive :)