Dr refusing fertility assistance as I'm still BF

[1940s]

My periods returned when I was EBF my 6 month old (first baby is 26 months old now)

I've had fairly regular cycles 30-41 days long and use OPKs and temperature check every month and see from that data set that I am ovulating.

But after a long time we're still not pregnant.

I breastfeed maybe once a day for a short feed and Dr said that it's definitely that which is stopping me falling pregnant and is refusing to help until I stop breastfeeding.

Surely the fact it looks like I'm ovulating is enough? She also said 'in Africa breastfeeding is a contraception'?! Lots and lots of women get pregnant if breastfeeding and their periods have returned!

Anyone faced similar feedback?

Also - people who are saying you are doing something to stop conception may be TOTALLY wrong!! Have they never heard of secondary infertility?? And unexplained fertility. Your doctor was frankly lazy to label the problem as breastfeeding with absolutely NO proof!

These answers!!!!
Yes, it MIGHT be something else, but this is the MOST likely thing. The OP is doing something that actively reduces the chances of her getting pregnant (yes, even though some people do get pregnant while breastfeeding, even though YOU did...). She should stop that first.
If the OP wanted to do anything, the first and easiest step would be to get her DH tested as the majority of problems are linked to male infertility anyway, and this is something easy to test for.

so I'm hoping my temp charts are a reliable indicator of ovulation.

I hope they are too, but my friend is undergoing fertility treatment at the moment, and I went with her to her initial appointments as her partner couldn't (pre-pandemic). She was told that temping even when combined with positive OPKs does not mean that ovulation is actually taking place, and they'd start by presuming that it was not unless a scan showed that it was.

Breastfeeding would be an early thing to eliminate because it's in your control, and it could very well be what is stopping pregnancy. Then, if her experience is standard, they'd test your partner, as male infertility factors are quite common. After that you'd have a more in-depth conversation about possibilities.

There is now quite a waiting list for scans and treatments here at the moment because of the Coronavirus delay, so that may be another reason that your Dr pushed stopping breastfeeding first - so that you don't wait six months for a consultants appointment for them to tell you to stop breastfeeding for three months and then join the back of the queue - but they could have explained that to you.

Whilst I agree that you have the indications of ovulation (BBT raises due to progesterone which confirms ovulation) I also fully agree with the GP.
I've currently had my own fertility issues TTC baby 1 and if I was BF and struggling for baby 2 then the first thing I would do would be stopping BF if I really desperately wanted a second.

The NHS isn't funded to do tests on people who want to skip the first step, they have to follow their guidelines too, and she will know not to spend the NHS's money on someone who won't do the first step.

Go to a GP whilst hitting yourself in the head with a bat and complain of headaches. They ask you to stop hitting yourself in the head and see if this helps. You tell them "no, I want to keep hitting myself, but I want you to test why my head is hurting as other people can hit themselves and not have headaches" why should they test you for anything when something that is known to cause the pain is continuing.

They know that both your body and your partner's sperm worked within the last few years as you were successful in having a baby, therefore the first step is to stop BF and see if you can conceive naturally. Sorry, but unfortunately that's the case.

OP I mean this nicely but you're being unreasonable. We are in a pandemic, you already have one lovely child - from an outside perspective I'm sure you can see that IVF is very very far down the list.

Breastfeeding isnt a guaranteed contraceptive but it decreases fertility for sure. Why would they throw thousands at a round of IVF when the recipient isnt doing everything they could be doing to make it successful? I think they also ask obese women to lose weight etc so it isn't personal.

If you really want the IVF, just stop breastfeeding. Your 26 month 'baby' is a 2 year old toddler (took me a moment to work that out!) so there is no 'need' for it. Otherwise continue bf and put the IVF off, obviously your decision to make.

But I think you're being a bit demanding.

Good luck whatever you decide.

I really can't be doing with the whole 'if you had experienced the crushing disappointment of infertility you wouldn't say this'. It's arrogance in the extreme to assume that your own experience is the only experience. It's also entitled to think that where funds are limited the first port of call should be spending money on tests rather than the person taking some responsibility and doing everything they can to help first (unless it's a life threatening issue).

Not that I should need to say this but it appears that posters are only allowed an opinion if they've experienced infertility, I'm an infertile woman who has never managed to get pregnant.

It would do no harm to do blood tests to see if you have actually ovulated and what other hormone levels are doing err it’s costs an overstretched free system

Have they never heard of secondary infertility?? And unexplained fertility. Your doctor was frankly lazy to label the problem as breastfeeding with absolutely NO proof! the proof would be if op stops breastfeeding FIRST

@OnlyFoolsnMothers the NHS is NOT too overstretched to do a blood test that is a ridiculous argument! Would you say the same to someone who goes to their GP saying they feel constantly tired and asks for a blood test for anaemia and B12 for the Gp to say go take some floridix first? Despite the fact the tiredness could be many different things? This GP was lazy! My own GP was happy to do bloods after my mc's despite the fact I have children and was breastfeeding - should she have refused me too?

It's NOT for the Op to prove anything! She's asked for help and the very least the GP could do is signpost her to someone willing to offer more informed advice!

And the NHS @OnlyFoolsnMothers is NOT free!! For gods sake I wish people wouldn't repeat that rhetoric!! It is PAID for by every single tax payer!! Some of it is free at the point of use! But it is NOT free!!!

onlyreadingneverposting8 I have zero issue with the nhs investigating infertility if someone who already has children- not sure why you’re implying I do. As for the question should they investigate whilst you are breastfeeding, IMO no they shouldn’t. Or do you think we should run thyroid checks on everyone overweight who takes zero exercise and eats takeaways all day everyday?

As for the nhs being free, I’m well aware of how it’s funded but whether you pay no tax as a UK resident, or higher tax your treatment is the same.

I actually agree somewhat with @OnlyFoolsnMothers - it IS a waste of NHS resources if the OP has these tests done whilst she is still Breastfeeding. But then a morbidly obese person would be entitled to the tests too even though it's medically well known that obesity negatively affects fertility. 🤷‍♀️

I suffered terrible secondary infertility - I knew that I wouldn't get IVF on the NHS anymore so I went private - why waste the NHS/doctors time
When they wouldn't be able to provide a treatment/cure anyway? Most of these tests wouldn't be done by an IVF clinic as they aren't relevant to them. Doesn't matter if a woman doesn't ovulate as they give you the medication to bring it on

Update

I called through to the GP today and I spoke to my usual Dr. She was much more sympathetic and actually apologised and said her colleague hadn't followed usual process for the practice. She has dealt with many others with secondary infertility and isn't rushing me to finish breastfeeding. She has ordered blood tests and she said she can look for prolactin levels in the test to see if it's a concern. As my cycles have on very rare occasions stretched to 41 days she is also sending me for a ultrasound to see if there are any indicators of PCOS. She said she's happy to re-run blood tests if the prolactin levels are an issue to track their progress going down to ensure if infertility remains despite lack of prolactin then they can look for further issues.
She maintained that there are some fertility drugs that can be used whilst breastfeeding but as I am nearing the end of my BF journey we may not need to consider this.
I may at some point transfer to private for more extensive tests and or IVF but for now I'm really pleased my GP has listened to my concerns and has put together a plan.

@1940s great news! Good luck!

@1940s that’s exactly what you needed - a pragmatic approach to your issues. Really pleased for you.

Thank you. I feel like I've been listened to and not fobbed off. I was able to explain more about my circumstances and was asked questions such as my weight, lifestyle and smoking habits.

That's really great news @1940s. I didn't think you'd find an NHS GP that would take the time and investigate purely cause I know from looking on these boards that a lot of the time people get turned away/aren't high enough priority if your sort of situation.

But this is fantastic and I hope they're able to pinpoint any issues / point you in the right direction.

Good luck with everything.

We tried for 18 months to have our second child. I was still breastfeeding but was having regular periods. We went for investigations and I stopped breastfeeding and then I got pregnant. I also found out that I was ovulating much later than I thought I was. We actually got pregnant on that cycle so I saw the little egg on the scan that turned into DD.

Anyway bit of a ramble. Good luck OP