Can taking a while to conceive be investigated?

[DancerOnIce]

Sorry if this is long. I’ll try to be brief without drip feeding...

I unfortunately had a blighted ovum miscarriage a long time ago (over 10 years). I since met my husband and we started trying to conceive. It took us a year to conceive DC1 and we’d just had fertility tests through the GP which all came back normal.

Just over a year ago we decided to start trying for DC2. I’m now 35 years old. After around 11 months I went to see the gp to request fertility tests again, but conceived before I went to have the blood test done! Unfortunately this resulted in a missed miscarriage which I sadly had to go to hospital for yesterday.

I’m starting to think about if/when we’ll start trying again for DC2. Ideally I’d like to fall pregnant soon (wouldn’t we all!) as DC1 is getting older and the age gap increasing. I hate the thought of waiting a year again. Is there anything that can be investigated? Or any medication that can be taken? Obviously I can fall pregnant so maybe nothing can be done. I just don’t know why it takes us so long. I know when I ovulate.

Interestingly, all 3 times I have conceived in the same month, which resulted in very similar due dates. Could this be more than just coincidence?

Disclaimer: I really really dont want to upset anyone. I know some people would love for it to take only a year for them to conceive and really don’t mean to be insensitive if it comes across that way

As you’re over 35 you can go to the GP after 6 months of trying. So you can definitely go now and request testing. Depending on the NHS trust will depend on how much help you will get.

First the GP will do bloods from you on CD5 and CD21. Your DH will also need to submit a sperm sample for analysis. You may also be sent for a pelvic ultrasound at this stage but this seems to vary by area.

In my area as I’ve already got a DC they will only perform investigations and that’s it. We would have to pay for IVF.

In my friends area they won’t even do the investigations on the NHS as she already has a DC.

In my area they won't even perform investigations if you've already got a DC :-(
It's fairly cheap to have sperm, ovulation and the AMH hormone tests done privately though. The AMH is for egg reserve. We paid £250 for that lot and it was done within a week. If you've got the means to do it then I would go for that. Of course try the NHS first, they may be more generous in your area. I hope they are :-)

How do you find out area by area?

Thanks for your replies! The nhs were sending me for fertility tests when I fell pregnant in November, so it seems they don’t mind I already have a DC. I will see if I can get sent again