Sorry to hear the 🧙♀️ got you @Sparklingwine1 and @Aries491! Got my fingers crossed for your next cycles!
Congratulations @Lalala1985! How exciting! 😊
@Eli707 I totally know how you feel! I’m 36 (37 in 2 months) and this was our 6th month of trying. I had 2 CPs but nothing was sticking so was getting really anxious and fed up.
I actually contacted the GP at the beginning of our 4th cycle, even though they say 6 months after 35, because I was so anxious and impatient given my age, and they were really helpful! They said they were happy to order blood tests straight away so I had bloods taken at day 3 and 21 of my cycle (they did a full blood count, tested LH and FSH, prolactin, testosterone and my thyroid on day 3, then tested progesterone on day 21 … there may have been others but those are what I remember!)
Then when those results all came back normal the GP told me to get dh to get a semen analysis through his GP, and I was sent for an ultrasound. They took aaaages to come through so I only had my ultrasound 3 days after I actually conceived last month (which I didn’t know at the time) and dh got his referral through last week!
I was actually on the verge of going private so we could find out things more quickly, and still have the money set aside in case it’s needed, though I’m praying it’s not! 🙏
We didn’t get a referral yet though I guess that might have been next once those results were back, and didn’t have an in-person appointment, which may have been due to Covid. In fact nobody asked anything at all and it was all sorted via me sending an econsult form saying we were struggling to get pregnant, and them emailing back saying, “Sure, have some tests, here’s a form and a link to book them” but I’m sure it’s different in different places and also when Covid isn’t disturbing everything!
As dh kept telling me though when I was crying because we hadn’t got pregnant yet, it takes the average couple 6 months and over 80% of couples will get pregnant within a year, so (although it’s incredibly upsetting and frustrating!!) it doesn’t mean you’ll need all the tests or there’s anything wrong if it’s taken a while.
I would definitely say it’s worth getting some tests done though if you’re feeling worried, as if there was any problem a lot of them seem to be very easy to sort to increase your chances of getting pregnant naturally, and the first tests (blood tests, ultrasound, semen analysis) are quite non-invasive. I also get really anxious when I don’t know what is going to happen, so having tests made me feel more in control and that I was taking action, even when in reality I didn’t really have much control!
Also, I’ve mentioned it before so ignore me if you’ve seen this, but have you tried Ubiquinol? I started reading the book It Starts with an Egg which is all about improving egg quality especially over 35 (as people kept recommending it to me) and it recommends Ubiquinol to anyone over 35 as it’s supposed to improve egg quality. Also does your partner take any supplements? I started taking Ubiquinol and my partner started taking supplements just before we conceived, which might be a huge coincidence (and obviously I’m only 6 weeks so still early days) but thought I’d suggest it.
Hope you’re feeling ok and good luck with speaking to your GP. Hopefully it will put your mind at ease and help you feel a bit better about things!