Gynaecology appointment - what to expect

[laurenmay19]

Hi all,

I've got my first gynae appointment at the hospital, following a year of post-pill amenorrhea (no periods at all) + trying to conceive.

Has anybody got any experience of this, who might be able to help with the best questions to ask? In people's experience, were they given something to induce ovulation (such as Clomid), on the day? Or was it a further waiting game?

So eager to progress with this and hate the thought of another appointment months away.

N.B - This is following GP blood tests/ultrasound where nothing unusual was found (no cysts, normal hormones, normal weight, no stress etc). Was given 10 day course of tablets once to induce period, had a v light bleed. Assuming no ovulation taking place as have used the LH strips with no positive results (although know they can be a bit unpredictable!)

Any help or insight would be most appreciated :)

xxx

Hi, I don’t have any advice unfortunately but am hopeful someone can help explain the next steps as I am in the same boat at the moment. Came off the pill in June 2020 and since then absolutely nothing. Had bloods done and an ultrasound which like yours all came back all “normal”. Was referred just before Christmas but heard nothing back yet. The GP mentioned like you say post pill amenorrhea (I had been on the pill ten years) and in her words said “your ovaries have gone to sleep”. Just praying they can give something like Clomid to kick start things like you say.

It really is a frustrating place to be in when you are trying but not feeling like there is any point if not ovulating :(

Hi @Mm17

That's exactly the thing! Sort of feels like a hopeless task without the ability to plan around ovulation or even knowing if you are at all.
Had my initial GP appointment last summer, so it's felt quite a long road to get to this point (appointment not actually until March). Took a few months to get the referral so hopefully you will get a date soon!

Like you, was on the pill for a while (12 years). Sort of wish there was more advice out there in order to come off years before you're even thinking about starting to conceive! Always fed the 'miss a pill and you could get pregnant' line, but never the other side.

Best of luck to you too, and hopefully somebody who has been through similar has some advice / positive tales.

I'm in the same position too! Came off the pill (yasmin) in June last year (was on it for 14 years) and since then no period - literally nothing. Had bloods and ultrasound scans via gynae - all I know is that I have a low ovarian reserve and a thin endometrium. The gynae consultant doesn't think it has anything to do with the pill but i am 100% convinced that it is. I'm feeling really quite stressed with it all, hoping to TTC this year but things really don't look great atm. Really hoping to hear some success stories too!

Hi @Leo2202!

Sorry to hear that, it really sucks. You wish somebody had told you about the pill, after you spend over a decade thinking if you miss one you'll get pregnant it's quite a shock when your body doesn't bounce back like everybody elses seem to!

Not sure about a success story myself, but after a gynae appointment said no cysts this March, I ended up booking a private appointment where they confirmed I did infact have PCOS. This was what I'd expected all along! So felt annoyed two other docs had missed it.

I have been given Provera and currently waiting on a period before I can start my Clomid prescription.

Did the doc say ovulation induction was an option for you? XXX

Hi. Ivf person here so know a little about it. At my first gynae appt at the hospital they did BMI, health questionnaire, internal scan to look at follicles, womb lining etc. They took bloods again, AMH specifically to check ovarian reserve. It was pretty boring and really was just a booking in session. Once they have all your results the next appt should give you a better idea of what to do. As you are not having cycles you might come away with clomid at this appt.

Thanks @Hardchoices
Yes @Leo2202 at my second hospital (general gynae) they couldn't give Clomid at that point, and had to be referred to fertility unit at the same hospital to begin treatment. There was a two month wait between the Gynae appointment (start March) and my upcoming first Fertility appointment (start May).
Would have expected something could have been prescribed at the Gynae appointment but apparently this was not the case and had to be done via Fertility. x

It's so frustrating isn't it! I have been via NHS and private now. My NHS fertility consultant told me I likely had POF but my private cons said absolutely not (FSH 11.1). So i'm in limbo at the moment with it all! I was given cyclogest and that triggered a one day withdrawal bleed 6/52 ago but nothing since. So I think i'll stick to the private route and I believe my next steps will be ovulation induction too! He mentioned letrozole rather than clomid for me, not sure why. Whereas my NHS cons said he didn't think induction would work for me and I will likely need IVF. It's all sooo confusing and very disheartening. But as rubbish it is for you guys too, it's quite nice to know I'm not alone and there are others in the same boat. Especially when all my friends seem to be getting pregnant so easily!
Good luck with you provera challenge and clomid treatment!! Let me know if it works for you...I have every faith it will! x

@Leo2202 @Hardchoices I’m currently in the same boat atm. Did you have positive outcomes?

@EFaud87 sorry you're in the same boat! My progress since I last posted...i finally got my period back in May! Since then i've had a pretty regular period every month so i'm soooo pleased about that. We have been TTC since September without luck yet but bloods and the old LH strips show I am ovulating which is a good thing. My main problem is low ovarian reserve (I have low AMH, a raised FSH and low AFC) so am still considering IVF. I am turning 33 next month so if nothing happens naturally in the next couple months we've decided to go down the IVF route. But generally i'm in a much better place now than I was last April..and feel there is hope, whether that's natural conception or via the powers of IVF!
What's your situation?

Hi! I am in the same position right now, 13 months post contraceptive patch and my first gynae appointment is in 3 weeks. Did anyone have any success or an update as to what happened??