When do you get help?

[K8eee]

Dh and I haven't been ttc for very long but an trying to keep an eye on my body and cycles.

How long would you wait until seeing your GP as to whether you have conception problems?

NHS advice is 6 months if you're over 35 and 1 year if you are under 35 ( I think)

Yup. What she said. ^ but make sure you've been having sex regularly through your cycle, I.e. every 2-3 days throughout the month, for that duration. If you do end up having problems you want to be able to go to your appt knowing that you can answer that question first

Thanks thora didn't want to jump on the doctors straight away and acting like a hypochondriac

I've been keeping note of all my cycles since ttc on an app ok my iPhone along with when we've been dtd so hopefully that'll help them lady

It can also be worth ovulation testing for at least one cycle - gives you some more detail on your fertile window and also helps the doctor know that you are ovulating if you eventually have to go to the GP.

Would it be worthwhile if I only stopped taking the pill in march?

K8eee although NHS advice is a year, I would definitely advise going to your GP after 10 months and telling a slight porkie pie that you have been trying for a year. We had to wait 7 months from seeing the GP to our first appointment at the fertility clinic (having already waited a year to see the GP). I wish we had started the ball rolling sooner so we had had less of a wait once we knew there was a problem. Especially as I have found the whole process very hard to deal with emotionally. Wishing you the very best of luck, it can be a lovely but also at times incredibly frustrating process X

I only stopped taking the pill beginning of March and get blood tests done already as I suspect I am not even ovulating. I am older than 35 though so it would only be 6 months for me anyway. I have tried OPKs and didn't get a smiley face for 2 months and my GP is very helpful and said we will get cd21 tests done for 3 cycles and if they come back negative she refers me to a fertility clinic. Good luck for you whatever you decide to do! x

OP, I'd definitely see the GP after 6-8 months if only for reassurance and to find out about next steps in your area, though if under 35 you probably won't be referred for tests until you have been trying for a year. It is 6 months for us over 35s.

If you only came off the pill in March, don't be too downhearted yet as for a lot of people it can take a few months for things to settle down and start working properly. Despite what it says on the tin about fertility returning immediately. Also remember that it is normal for even a healthy fertile 20-something to take 5 or 6 months to conceive as we aren't the most efficient species when it comes to reproducing! Sadly a small percentage of us (and I am one) just stubbornly won't get pregnant without medical intervention, but the odds are massively in your favour to conceive within a year or so.

Temping isn't for everyone but I found it much more helpful in understanding my cycles than OPKs. A lot of GPs discourage both temping and OPKs in case it magnifies anxiety by focussing your and DP's mind too closely on trying. OPKs certainly had that effect on me and were profoundly depressing, but I found temping really interesting and it was nice, after being on the pill for so long, to feel I was tuning back into my body.