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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Pre-conception doctor's appointment?

17 replies

lxzlxz · 28/05/2018 12:30

Hi all Smile DP & I are planning to start TTC in the not too distant future, and I'm thinking about doctor's appointments. Is this a normal thing to do? I know it's recommended, but I don't know if I would feel strange walking into a doctor's appointment saying I want to start TTC so here I am. DP is registered at a different surgery, so should we go together or separately? Finally, DP is 40 so I also think some advice and tests to check we're healthy would be a good start. Any advice / experience?

OP posts:
Mrsjones17 · 28/05/2018 12:40

I wouldn’t bother. What are u making the appointment for? Most of the information you can find in nhs website. Basic guide is:

  1. have unprotected sex
  2. eat well balanced diet both you and DH
  3. have unprotected sex
  4. exercise regularly
  5. have unprotected sex
  6. consider a tracking app to get to know your cycles
  7. have unprotected sex
  8. consider using ovulation tests if they won’t drive you insane
  9. have unprotected sex
  10. hope and pray!

Seriously wish you lots of luck on your journey but I really would not go to the doctors to tell them you want to start ttc.

They will not do any tests until you have been ttc for over a year (some areas two years!) and they will give the same advice as above.

crayoladreamz · 28/05/2018 12:42

Eh? What a monumental waste of the NHS’s time.

You really definitely should not make that appointment.

Nightmanagerfan · 28/05/2018 12:44

I agree - you can read most info online and the doctor is only going to repeat the NHS advice - unless you have a particular medical condition that you are worried about impacting your fertility? When we were about to start ttc I read quite a few recommendations online re seeing a doctor beforehand, but they were all US-based sites. Maybe things are different there.

Take folic acid and vitamin D, eat healthily. Don’t drink too much. DTD every other day. Best of luck!

MadameJosephine · 28/05/2018 12:46

Unless you have any preexisting medical conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy or are taking any medication that may need to be adjusted prior to pregnancy then I don’t think you need to bother.

Make sure you optimise your health in general and that you’re taking folic acid for at least 12 weeks before conception and then just enjoy trying Smile

How old are you? If you’re over 35 seek advice if you haven’t conceived after 6 months on regular unprotected sex

Good luck!

SerendipityFelix · 28/05/2018 13:00

Please don’t do this with your NHS GP, it’s not what it’s there for, unless you have particular health issues to be considered when planning the pregnancy. They’ll just say take folic acid, be healthy and have sex. And you’ll have taken up a GP appointment that someone else needs.

Private clinics offer this service though.

SoyDora · 28/05/2018 13:02

I’ve never heard that this was recommended. In our surgery the GP doesn’t even want to see you when you are pregnant, you self refer to the midwife.
I’m pregnant with my third and haven’t seen the GP before or after conception with any.

SoyDora · 28/05/2018 13:02

Even with your DP being 40, they won’t run any tests until you’ve been trying to conceive for 6 months.

Celebelly · 28/05/2018 13:14

Pretty sure this is the norm in the US, where women have their own gynaecologists, rather than here. A general practitioner is unlikely to be able to offer anything useful before you've even started trying, unless you have a health issue that makes pregnancy potentially high risk.

Namechange128 · 28/05/2018 13:26

In lots of countries it would be absolutely standard to visit a gp, who would run a blood screen when you say you're trying to conceive - from iron levels to hormone levels and HIV. Its not a bad idea, yes it's cautious but can also avoid a small but meanini number of people trying for a long time before realising that there was an underlying issue, or worse, getting pregnant first and then finding the issue. People on mumsnet can be so sniffy about anything that smacks of being precious or overuse of NHS resources, but seeing from the inside some of the tremendous waste that goes on elsewhere, I'm less bothered by giving extra care to nervous ttcers.

That said, if you are generally very healthy, eat a decent diet, get outdoors in this sun for some vitamin d and one or both of you start taking a vitamin with folate and iodine, you should be fine. Good luck!

Namechange128 · 28/05/2018 13:27

That would be YOU or both of you taking a multivitamin! He can't take your folate and iodine for you 😊

SoyDora · 28/05/2018 13:27

In lots of countries it would be absolutely standard to visit a gp, who would run a blood screen when you say you're trying to conceive - from iron levels to hormone levels and HIV

It’s not standard in this country, however, which is why the posters on this thread are advising against it. Unless the OP isn’t in this country of course.

GlitterGlue · 28/05/2018 13:30

If you’re on medication or have any pre-existing health conditions which could be affected by pregnancy it would be worth getting advice. Also if you’re not sure if you’ve had the rubella vaccination you should check if it’s in your notes. If you haven’t had it you might want to check your immunity before getting pregnant. Oh and make sure your smear is up to date. Otherwise an appointment isn’t really necessary.

SerendipityFelix · 28/05/2018 13:49

In lots of countries it would be absolutely standard to visit a gp, who would run a blood screen when you say you're trying to conceive - from iron levels to hormone levels and HIV.
Yeah - and you’d pay for it. You can pay for the same things in the UK as well. But it’s not an NHS service.

Original poster
lxzlxz · 28/05/2018 15:02

There are some existing health issues, but not any that will be relevant to getting pregnant I don't think. I am not sure I would consider it 'a monumental waste of NHS time', though. I was only asking as several people have mentioned it to me and many websites do recommend it, although I do accept that most of them are US sites. Thank you for all of the replies Smile

OP posts:
lapenguin · 28/05/2018 15:14

Not to sound cynical, but I think it's done a lot in USA because it is paid for. Here they don't do it and a lot of GPs would be surprised you've bothered coming. Get some some vitamins, eat well and be a little bit active. Next time you see the GP for your health related issue then bring it up otherwise no. Doctors here don't want to see you unless you've been trying for some time, so they definitely don't want to see you before you've even attempted unless you need to talk about medication that is not safe while pregnant

lostfrequencies · 28/05/2018 15:16

Absolutely no need to go to the doctors at this point.

Frizzy1986 · 28/05/2018 16:59

I'd say do whatever you want to do. A gp is there for all kinds of medical advice and support. It doesn't matter if you can find the information online, if you want to have a discussion face to face then that's your choice. You book an appointment and chat about it. I doubt a gp would consider it a waste of time. I bet its quite nice to have that sort of chat with someone sometimes.

I went before we started ttc dd as I wanted a full check up. Wanted to make sure I was healthy, that my diet was OK and for them to advise me of anything that would be useful to know. I have a history of MH issues too so it was a useful chat.
The gp was lovely. Really helpful and supportive and even said to come back if I had any other questions.

If you are only going because you think you should then there's no need. Like pp have said, you can find the necessary info but do what feels right. This is a massive journey to embark on so don't fret over things like this x

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