Secondary infertility - first GP visit

[Mammabear31]

Hi all

Am coming to terms with the fact that DH & I are going to need help to have DS2. A strange concept as DS1 was a first timer, but I need to prepare myself for the journey ahead.

For those who have been, what should I expect from the first GP appointment? Will they do tests there and then, or will we need to make another? Will we be referred to a specialist straight away? Is there anything I need to take with me or do prior? I will have a print out of all my cycles including periods, ovulation and when we have dtd since we started trying.

Ok so it took us 19 months to conceive dc2. Eventually naturally but we had started the path of fertility treatment tests etc.

Something to be very aware of is that the nhs didn't fund anything beyond basic first line tests because i already had one child.

What were those basic first line tests? What did your GP do for you?

Hi Mamma

There's no set path, but generally the GP will ask you how long you have been trying. If it's more than a year (or 6 months if you're over 35) they will then run some basic tests starting with the "day 3" and "day 21" blood tests (which look at your hormones). They won't do those tests there and then, you'll need to book two separate appointments (which need to be on certain dates in your cycle). A good GP will also refer your DH for a sperm test.

The next steps will depend on the outcome of those tests (i.e. If there are egg problems/sperm problems/no problems etc). There are all sorts of things they can try (medicines, surgery etc) depending on the problem, although you wouldn't be entitled to IVF on the NHS. They may also recommend a few lifestyle changes (e.g. Giving up smoking/drinking, losing weight, changing your diet, taking supplements etc).

Good luck x

Same here, secondary infertility - 19 months so far.

Our GP was pretty useless at the first appointment, just told us to keep trying and to relax (fucking twat).

Saw a different GP later on and she referred DH for a sperm analysis (a 12 week wait!) and myself for the day 3 and 21 bloods (tests for progesterone I believe which indicates ovulation). I also had an ultrasound, external and internal to check my reproductive organs, and also the HSG test which is where they inject dye into your uterus and X-ray it going through you tubes etc to check for blockages.

Then when all tests were done we went back to hospital to see the fertility specialist who told us our results and then kicked us out, as the NHS will not do anything further.

I had day 3 and 21 bloods, sperm test and that was it I think but there was nothing obvious that came out of that.

They wouldn't fund IVF/any further tests to work out what was wrong. They may have funded exploratory work if there had been something obviously wrong with us from those basic tests - but may not have done. Depends on Clinical Commissioning Group Guidelines.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/fertility-tests.aspx

They wouldn't send me for an ultrasound or xray as on here. They then did a couple of generic blood tests that the clinic requested when I went private.