Pelvic scans ordered after blood test

[Charlieedale]

Hi all, first time posting but ive spent more time scanning these boards during the 2 week wait than is healthy!
Me and my partner have been trying since january and so far no dice (appologies i dont know the abbreviations for everything) thankfully my doctor is proactive and said if nothing happened after 6 months to go back and we have started investigations, went for a ‘day 2 of cycle’ blood test yesterday combined with the general check bloods. A couple of hours later i got a txt saying i had been referred for another appointment, after calling the doctors reception and checking that was correct i called to make my mystery appointment and found out its for a pelvic ultrasound (inside and out) ive been given no context as to what in the bloodwork is cause for concern and googling pelvic ultrasound gives me a whole host of scary mainly ovarian cancer based options. Help. What else could they be checking for? Is this normal? Im pretty pissed off that ive been given no context for this and i have to wait until friday to have a phone consult with the doctor to actually say why the scan has been requested! Thanks for letting me vent

Hi @Charlieedale

We have also been trying since January with no BFP yet!

I have had the same bloods done plus a few more related to Polycystic ovarian syndrome. I've had the scan also.

They have diagnosed me with PCOS now due to my high androgen levels - I had the pelvic ultrasound to check for cysts on my ovaries.

Just to put your mind at rest cycle day 2 bloods wouldn't show anything scary like cancer etc. They check your progesterone levels, at cd 1-4 the level should be low and then just after ovulation on days 19-21 (if regular cycle length) it should be raised. This will indicate whether ovulation has occurred or not.

I'm having my day 21 blood test on Friday so I'm really hoping I am ovulating myself.

Are your cycles regular?

It's great news that your doctor is being proactive with this for you as some I've spoken with have advised 12-18 months before investigating at all. Mine did as I had over symptoms related to PCOS but if I hadn't I would probably have had to wait at least a year.

Good luck and baby dust to you xx

Hi just wanted to post on here just to reassure you , I was diagnosed with polysystic ovaries , I went into herbal tablets called Angus castus to help regulate my cycle a bit better. I was pregnant after 3 months. It's scary but do t think that you can't have kids. It just means that tracking cycles are harder that's all. Wait to see what they say and all will be well. Xx

Totally unrelated to bloods and is standard practice in investigations. Bit crap this wasn't explained but it's standard practice. Your next step after these initial tests is likely a minor surgery to check your tubal patency and/or referral to an infertility clinic.

Cd 1-4 tests for lh, fsh and maybe oestrogen. These will indicate ovarian reserve.

'Day 21' is for progesterone to check you've ovulated. It's called day 21 but should be taken 7 days after ovulation which could be a different cycle day.

Your partner should also be getting a sperm analysis as there is not a huge point in testing you up the wazoo when his side can be found out with a simple, non-invasive test.

Is there a reason you're going for tests so early? 80% of couples without issues will fall pregnant in a year. 90% in two years. Are you 35 or older?

Honestly, it seems most people are diagnosed as 'unexplained' infertility which is not a diagnosis at all. You would then have to wait several more years for help on the nhs after this initial testing. Infertility is such a mind fuck, I'd avoid getting medical about it for as long as possible. At this point, you're still far more likely to fall pregnant than not. Having unexplained infertility is the worst thing that ever happened to me in my life (I've not always had the easiest life with an alcoholic narcissist for a mother) - there was no rhyme nor reason for it. There was nothing thing to fix (not that they looked very hard to find a problem) and yet I was broken.

Thankyou all for replying, i know i was probrably overreacting, googleing for medical advice is not always smart!

Im pushing to get this testing underway as my partner 8 years older than me and while i know its not as much of an issue biologically i want him to be young enough to be able to enjoy small children! Ive also been in contact with some pretty nasty chemicals in my career and when i was younger i just didnt know how damaging they can be, im good at putting on masks etc now but in the back if my mind im always convinced ive done something horrible to my insides. Ive suspected for a long time i have some endo as although im regular my periods have always been painful and quite heavy, joy oh joy!

Good luck to everyone and thankyou for taking the time to explain its routine procedure! Xxx