Going to Drs

[ChinesechickenZ]

Hi everyone, my partner and I have been trying to conceive for almost 16months now. We are in our late 20s and are reasonably fit and healthy but it just doesn't seem to be happening. (I'm approx 1.5 stone over my ideal weight but i am actively trying to lose the lockdown weight gain!)
I've taken the plunge and contacted my GP to talk about options going forward but I'm terrified about getting fobbed off or being told its because of my weight or generally just not being taken seriously.
Does anyone have any advice or suggestions on how to approach this appointment with the GP. Are there any questions I need to be asking or anything specific I need to ask to be investigated? Thank you

As you've been trying for over a year, they will definitely see you. What are you doing so far? Are you tracking your periods and ovulation?

I've have an almost laughably predictable cycle. 27 days every month, has been this way for several years now. I track my ovulation with both and app and also using ovulation tests, also keep an eye on changes in discharge etc.
I'm taking pre conception vitamins and additional Vitamin D.
We have tried sex every day before during and after ovulation. We've tried having sex every 2/3 days.
Its just so disheartening every month

We were told had to be trying 2 year but this may have changed now (was 4 year ago for me)
I just basically said how long we had been trying with no luck, told her what we done for tracking etc, talked about my periods.
She had us do my bloods for ovulation, DP had to do a sample test.
Whilst nothing was flagged we were refereed due to the length we had been trying.
Don’t let them fob you off with give it another 6 month etc.

Thank you moonshine, that's what I'm so worried about and what has delayed me from making my appointment earlier. I can just imagine them saying "it takes time you need to keep trying". I feel like it's easy for them to fob people off.
I work as a professional within the healthcare sector and have no issue advocating for others but when it comes to me

Just tell them it’s been 2 year!
No harm in it tbh and if you were to be referred that takes a couple of month anyway.

The NHS website definitely states you should get in touch with your doctor if you've been trying for over a year without success. I contacted my GP after about 14 months. She barely asked any questions and just immediately booked me in for day 21 bloods to check my thyroid and progesterone to see if I ovulated. As soon as those results came back clear she referred me to the fertility clinic. Don't worry about contacting them!

Check your local CCG policy but most places nowadays only need you to be trying for 12 months at your age before seeking help.

1,5 stone overweight is relative - what's your BMI? Even then, they'd only care about it if it was over 30 and only at IVF stage. Before then you're entitled to all the investigations regardless.

Get the ball rolling asap as these things take ages on the NHS.

All you have to say is that you've been trying for 16 months with no luck and that you'd like for investigations to start. They'll then ask a few questions about you/your cycle/your OH and then book you in for day 3 bloods, day 21 blood test and usually an ultrasound.

Get your OH to do the same with his GP and request a semen analysis as it's just as likely to be him (especially if your cycle is that regular and no signs of PCOS or anything) and usually they make you request it separately.

Thank you all. Its nice to know that they do start all tests and things quite quickly. I did think that the whole process would take ages.
My BMI is 28.7 at the moment but I am actively working on this!
I tend to worry that everything gets blamed on being overweight as that's a response I've gotten before about other unrelated issues.

@ChinesechickenZ that BMI is absolutely no cause for concern in terms of fertility and you're definitely eligible for investigations. Hope you get answers soon!

I'm with you OP. I came off the pill February 2020 and have been trying properly / tracking cycles (bbt & OPKs) for at least 11 cycles now. I've tried DTD daily, every other day, just on O-1, O day and O+1 and nothing. Not even a hint!
I have irregular cycles (27-41days) and can ovulate anywhere between CD12 and CD19. My LP started at 15 days, increased to 16 days for a while and this month we are now at 17 days. Not sure if a long LP affects anything??
I've got an appointment with My GP next week so am going to ask for day 3, day 21 and thyroid bloods. I've also managed to convince myself I may have PCOS? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️
DP is going to contact his GP got SA.

I thought it's best to get ball rolling in case it takes a while!

LemonDrizzle44 I know exactly how you feel, you go down a rabbit hole and manage to self diagnose yourself with all kinds of problems!!
Thingymaboob it's good to know about the BMI thing!! The NHS website suggested that you wouldn't qualify for investigation if your BMI was out of range

Hi OP, I agree with what others have said about getting testing if you've been trying for over a year and you're under 30. If you haven't already, ask what tests they offer to check various bloods, maybe an ultrasound of your ovaries & uterus and get those booked in. They should offer you some basics bloods and refer for ultrasound, that's what I've had done with my GP and further testing is through a specialist.

It's tough when you feel like you're not listened to but all you can do is insist that you'd like some testing done.

Are you sure you're ovulating? You could try taking your basal body temperature as that gives you a better insight into your cycle than OPK strips which don't tell you if you have ovulated. What is your luteal phase? A short one might be an issue.

@ChinesechickenZ

Me and my husband had been trying for a year and a bit when we went to our GP (were in bucks) and i got scans and bloods straight away and then my husband had a sleek analysis.

We are awaiting now seeing a fertility clinic but the wait is long so looking at other options but it was a very quick and smooth process, don’t fret and go speak to them!

Also my BMI is 27.4 and they said as long as it’s below 30 it’s fine now feel free to ask me any questions!

Hi all, thank you so much! We have been referred to the fertility clinic. I'm so pleased. My GP took my concerns really seriously and for once I actually felt listened to. Awaiting to hear about my initial blood tests and my partners sperm sample but hopefully that's our first step made in our fertility journey. I never thought I'd be in this position but I suppose nobody does

My GP wrote up my referral mid March but the earliest I can be seen is 29th July. Wondering if it will be just a consultation or whether they will also carry out tests the same day or whether they can only be carried out certain days of your cycle?
I’m anxious by how long the process takes especially as i’m 42 which is the cut off and i’ll be 43 in Oct.

When I was TTC and couldn’t I had bloods done and found it was my thyroid. So do go and get started at the GP’s, it could be something simple.

@Ladybug06 the first appointment most likely will just be an intro one. Mine was over the phone. She went through all the basic tests I'll be doing. Most tests have to be done at certain times in your cycle so it will take some time. They said between the first and next follow up appointment is about 3 months normally but with covid she said to add another month. I haven't received a date for my next one yet (first one was in May).

@DinosaurDiana Hi, I did the initial blood tests Dec/Jan to check thyroid & progesterone & hubby did a sample in Feb. Just such a long process, especially with covid.
@choccrumpet Wow a 3 month wait to get things moving, didn’t realise it would take as long as that. Now thinking I should look into paying privately for the AMH blood test and scan. The thought of IVF is pretty mind boggling, especially the eye watering fees & no guarantees. Who knew TTC would be so difficult.

@Ladybug06 that's been my experience in Berkshire anyways, other areas could be different! You can ask them to give you an indication of how long they expect things to take. They give about 3 months + in my case so we've got enough time to get all the tests done, it could be different or the same for you. And yep, I did not know ttc would be this difficult

@Ladybug06 They make you redo a fair bit of tests after the first fertility clinic appt. So repeat SA, repeat day 3 bloods to include AMH and rubella testing. I also had to have a repeat Ultrasound and an HSG (others might get a hycosy). Saying that, we had our first clinic appt in early Feb and had finished all the extra tests by end of March so it wasn't too bad.

@choccrumpet hope all goes well for you. I think due to my age & the lengthy process, i likely won’t meet NHS criteria as the cut off is 42 & I’ll be 43 in October but I will definitely ask them about timescales.

@Juno231 thanks for the heads up about the re-testing. What stage are you at now, now that tests have been completed?
Also I realise you recommended Create last month when I asked about clinics on a different thread (sorry I lost track of that thread) so I’m currently looking into clinics and signed up to Create’s webinar next week to find out info, as I don’t want to waste anymore time due to my age

Thank you @Ladybug06 I actually had a positive test recently but am waiting to see how things pan out as I've had quite a few chemicals before. I hope you figure out how best to proceed and that things work out for you 💕

@choccrumpet Wow that’s fantastic news you received a positive result. Wishing you all the very best 💗xx