Tell me about your first fertility appointment with your GP

[TTCat39]

I'm 39 and my OH and I have been TTC our first for 5 months. This last month I've been getting cramps throughout my cycle, so I'm due to speak to my GP this afternoon about that and hopefully about fertility in general with a view to getting some testing.

I'd really like some insight into how it went with your GP the first time you broached fertility with them. What was asked, and what happened next? I've been charting with OPK/BBT/CM/symptoms for several months, so I have that to hand. Anything else I need to have ready? Am I overthinking this and my GP won't have a clue about any of it?!

Thanks in advance!

You are probably overthinking it! Though I know from experience how easy that is to do 

I had a GP appointment (by telephone) with my GP once I’d been trying for 12 months (32 years old). I had had an ectopic in that time and already had a birth son, so I wasn’t expecting very much by way of assistance.

She asked me a few questions and got me in for two blood tests (one on days 2-4, and one on day 21). Those assessed my hormone levels, progesterone levels and confirmed that I do ovulate. Because all those tests came back normal, she subsequently referred my husband for a semen analysis. I spoke with her at the time about my chances of receiving any fertility treatment on the NHS and she said it was very unlikely given I already had a son, but that they could still do the preliminary checks and work out what was going on. At one point she said she’d have to check whether my ectopic pregnancy would reset the clock (this was the only bit I found challenging, because it was hardly a “successful pregnancy”), but she never mentioned it again after that.

Overall my experience with the GP was positive. They listened, they didn’t challenge me or distrust what I said and they gave bloods/SA almost immediately for us.

I think from 35 you only have to be trying for 6 months so, if you get your period this month, I’d call up right away. Good luck!

Our fertility appointment with GP was about discussing how long we had been trying for, symptoms of ovulation, how frequently we were DTD, lifestyle factors etc and he gave us some statistics on how long it normally takes to conceive.

We had been trying for 13 months with no luck and I knew sake thing wasn't right. They don't usually investigate unless you have been trying for 2 years (unless of course if you have some known medical conditions) so we may have told them it had been 2 years already. I was right though, IVF was our only option so I don't feel guilty for may have getting the length of our TTC slightly wrong as we would have wasted another year :(

Where do you live @Giraffaelina? The NHS should begin investigations after one year, not two.

@Giraffaelina

Our fertility appointment with GP was about discussing how long we had been trying for, symptoms of ovulation, how frequently we were DTD, lifestyle factors etc and he gave us some statistics on how long it normally takes to conceive.

We had been trying for 13 months with no luck and I knew sake thing wasn't right. They don't usually investigate unless you have been trying for 2 years (unless of course if you have some known medical conditions) so we may have told them it had been 2 years already. I was right though, IVF was our only option so I don't feel guilty for may have getting the length of our TTC slightly wrong as we would have wasted another year :(

Oh really?? West Midlands. This was 7 years ago, late 20s and I remember the GP saying that since we had been trying for 2 years, there's no point in suggesting to try for a bit longer so happy to sign off on tests. That made me think I was right about the 2 years mark. Sorry if I confused anyone I'll fact check next time

@Giraffaelina it's one year per the NHS so make sure the GP didn't do you a bamboozle! Lots of them are clueless.

@TTCat39 don't overthink it :) They asked me our age, weight, if my cycles are regular and how long we've been trying for. My GP amended the day 21 bloods per my BBT charting but lots of GPs don't know enough about it to take it into account. Ultimately she sorted out for me to get 21 day bloods, day 3 bloods, and ultrasound done.

Your OH will need to get an SA done but he'll have to organise it himself via his GP.

@EmbarrassingMama

Where do you live *@Giraffaelina*? The NHS should begin investigations after one year, not two.

Sorry, I meant to reply to you with my previous post.

Thanks @EmbarrassingMama Does the 21 day test depend on the length of your cycle? Mine very from 22-26 days, with ovulation usually on CD10/11.

@TTCat39 the NICE guidelines say that test needs to be done 7 days before AF shows. Basically your peak progesterone levels are at 6-9dpo so try and aim for it then. I went at 8 or 9 dpo I think as the weekend got in the way of the blood test.

@Juno231 Crikey, I'm dreading OH asking his GP for anything! We went on a holiday that needed jabs a few years ago and his request to see the travel clinic was met with utter confusion! Took him 4 months to get that sorted.

@Giraffaelina Thanks for sharing too. I hope your IVF was successful?

@Giraffaelina interesting, I wonder if it has changed more recently.

@TTCat39 yes the test I had on day 21 was specific to my cycle length. Yours might be earlier than that.

[quote TTCat39]@Giraffaelina Thanks for sharing too. I hope your IVF was successful? [/quote]
Yes, thank you! I have a toddler wreaking havoc in the kitchen right now 😇

Re your DH, we did have a joint appointment as we have the same GP so it was a bit easier not having to explain anything to him myself. BUT!!! you may not even have to go down this route, or anywhere near it, so try not to focus too much on it. I've got my fingers crossed for you :)

Well everyone, I was convinced all these years that I lied to my GP 🙊 May just have been a total miscommunication...ooops...

@Giraffaelina ha I think it sounds like miscommunication! They can refer you straight to IVF at the 2 year mark but for initial investigations they can start at the one year mark (6 months if over 35). So e.g. I did all my tests at the one year mark and need IVF but now need to wait until it's been 2 years for them to actually action it :)

[quote Juno231]@Giraffaelina ha I think it sounds like miscommunication! They can refer you straight to IVF at the 2 year mark but for initial investigations they can start at the one year mark (6 months if over 35). So e.g. I did all my tests at the one year mark and need IVF but now need to wait until it's been 2 years for them to actually action it :)[/quote]
Yeah, our IVF referral came once the initial tests were completed, and there was a lot of messing about 🤦🏼‍♀️ But once the results were in, there was no question really as it was DH related so we needed IVF with ICSI. Unfortunately no matter how long we would have waited, it just wouldn't have happened for us.

Hope you get your appointment very very soon!! 🤞

I went to my GP after 6 months of trying and was referred to a fertility clinic for ivf straight away, no testing. But I was told I was unable to have children naturally at 21 so they said there was no point in making me try any longer. I'd not actually used contraception for 6 years by the time I started actually purposefully trying.

Do you have any reason to suspect you may need help to conceive? Because 5 months isn't long to try for, although believe me I know it feels like a lifetime so not trying to downplay your feelings. The average is a year so it certainly doesn't mean there is a problem.

@rainbowrainfall This is going to sound a bit strange, but to be completely honest, we are just not lucky people and have been dealt so many tough blows these past few years that I have convinced myself that this will be another one. Also, my husband is 51 and although I know that fertility doesn't decline as early as with women, this does concern me.

@TTCat39 don't worry - they recommend reaching out for tests at the 6 month mark for a reason! You don't have the luxury of wasting time - why wait until the one year to be told something you could have known about and sorted out 6 months prior. The other thing is that all this nhs stuff can take a while so you'll probably hit the one year mark before you get seen by a fertility clinic so you might as well get the ball rolling whilst you carry on trying.

My GP organised day 21 bloods, a pelvic and transvaginal scan for me and a semen analysis for my OH.
Initial progesterone bloods were low so was advised to repeat in 1 month, which I did.
This time I was told by a receptionist that they were all normal.
I asked for a copy of them only to find the repeat bloods were still low. After another chat with the GP to point out this mistake, we got referred for a fertility appointment (still waiting as was cancelled).

I think the GP will do the very basic tests. And then refer you on. Mine said nothing about any form of treatment etc.
From being on other threads about fertility referrals, I have seen that alot of GP's have brushed things off as they're not specialist in this field unfortunately.
Ask for a copy of your results when you have tests done for your own records and peace of mind.
Ive learnt alot from reading posts on here, and everyone has been very helpful!