Home fertility testing

[positive0thoughts]

I've just got back from the doctors and I'm feeling very emotional.

I've been ttc for 13 months but the GP told me that they now wait 2 years before beginning any investigations so we just need to keep trying. I'm feeling so disheartened that I actually couldn't stop myself crying in front of her. I was feeling quite positive before my appointment as I was being proactive. What a crappy day!

I can't face another 11 months of disappointment. I've been looking into home blood tests. Does anyone have any experience of using these and have any feedback or recommendations?

Where abouts are you? I would demand to see another doctor as NHS guidelines clearly say 12 months or more to see the doctor to start investigations. That’s total crap that they have fobbed you off. I would be wary of home testing as I’ve heard that they can give inaccurate results.

I can empathise with you it’s such a tough time ttc. We are on cycle 16 and have just started investigations. Do your research at home regarding NHS and CQC guidelines and go back to doctors armed with facts and don’t leave until they back down. Good luck x

If it helps my first appointment with doctor I went with every bit of information I could get. Both about NHS and my cycles. Cycle dates period length type and colour, when we had sex how often cervical mucus and any other ‘symptoms’ probably looked like a mad woman but showed that I meant business. Wishing you all the best

That's bonkers, I got put on clomid after one month of failing to ovulate by my GP. Can't believe they'd make you wait two years!

@mrsjones17 Thank you so much for responding. I left feeling totally fobbed of so I'm glad you agree. She was a junior doctor and as lovely as she was, I could tell that she didn't really know much about ttc.

I had never heard of anyone having to wait 2 years so I was just really surprised. DH said that I should demand to see another doctor too. Agh I hate conflict!

Good luck with your investigations x

@gearandloathing Thank you for letting me know what happened with you. I'm going to have to ask to see another GP.

I do think what happened to me was unusual... I had the ovulation test, failed it and then got put on clomid straight away - three months later became pregnant.

But just goes to show how different doctors can be.

I know it’s tricky about conflict but ttc is such an emotional rollercoaster and you have to look after your own mental health and after 13 months of disappointment it’s your right to have at least some help towards finding some answers. My friend did home fertility testing but for sperm analysis and it can back that there was a problem. She was in a right state. Went to doctors had it done on NHS and it all turned out fine. The home one had given a false result and caused a lot of unecessary worry. That’s why I would stay clear of them. Honestly it’s not conflict, just be firm that you want help. Take your DH/partner with you for a bit of moral support too if that helps. At the very least they should start to offer blood tests at day 2-5 and day 21. Make sure you know your cycles to know exactly when day 21 (or 7 days before your period is due) is for you as this could affect results. For example my cycle is 30 days long so ‘day 21’ is actually cycle day 23 for me. Hope that helps!

@gearandloathing You were so lucky to get a good doctor. Or I was unlucky - it is Friday 13th after all!

What's bothering me is that there could be something wrong that could just be really easily fixed, like it was for you. TTC is the worst.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and thanks for sharing your story.

@mrsjones17 I'm glad you mentioned mental health as I didn't want to sound melodramatic but TTC is really taking it's toll and I feel as though I'll be on antidepressants by the 2 year point.

Thanks for sharing your friends experience. That does sound needlessly stressful so I'll leave the home testing and demand that it's all done the proper way through my GP.

It was a long time ago! The pregnancy is now a four year old little minx!

Good luck trying to find the answers and hope it all works out for you xx

Thank you so much

Argh sounds like me! Keeping everything crossed and like previous poster says go armed in again with all the information x

Hi Owl
I've NC recently but I've spoken to you on the buses before. Sorry to see that you're still TTC.
Have you been to the GP now? I remember you were putting it off. What did they say?

I've just ordered all the home testing kits which have been dispatched today. I'll let you know how I get on if you like? I ordered both the female and the male ones so should have a wide range of experience!

@lakehouse Ooh yes please do! Which company did you go with?

Letsgetchecked They has lots of good trust pilot reviews. I've only been trying for my second for 5 months but I'm old so thought I'd do these tests before I can see a clinic. Sort of hoping by spending the money I'll be pregnant before I do the tests 🤣

Haha I like your thinking! I hope your master plan works!

@positive it’s a huge impact on mental health and doctors need to recognise that!!!!

Ask the receptionist at your surgery who the family planning doctor is. Your surgery should have someone who has more experience in that area.

When I was struggling with my pill, I swapped to see the family planning doctor and my quality of care increased so dramatically I could hardly believe it. Definitely don’t think it should be a 2 year wait xx

I don't know what or where they are but can you find the NHS guidelines in your area. They might not be wrong. I've had two friends recently conceive naturally after 3 years.

Try reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility

My gp told me to wait two years. This was because I had two chemical pregnancies in the first year of ttc. I went back, saw two other gps who essentially told me the same thing. Wait another year. It honestly made me feel suicidal.

That was over a year ago now! But I survived because I was somehow able to self-refer to the local fertility clinic. They said I had done the right thing when I went to see them at 16 months ttc.

A couple of months ago I went back to the gp (the fourth I'd seen about this) and she actually cried when I told her what the other assholes (one in particular who said 'have some more miscarriages if you want tests done' while I was going through the second chemical!!!!!!).

Going to the gp won't make you get pregnant, and help and tests are no guarantee of success. I've had tests which haven't found anything that would explain this. I know it feels better when you're being proactive and giving control to someone who can fix the problem. I'm probably not expressing myself very well...

Counselling really really helped me. So did antidepressants.

I honestly wish you good luck. Go back. But not to ASK for help. Tell them what you need doing and take the guidance with you, preferably from your ccg.

@positive0thoughts finally done all the testing. Some had to be done day 3 and some day 21 so it can take a while to work your way through! The tests were easy to do at home- as long as you're not squeamish. Results were available really quickly and well explained. Mine all came back normal so no reason for my continued infertility. Worth doing though as when I do see a clinic I'll have all my info already. Hope you're already pregnant and, if not, good luck!