GP investigations

[pizzaobsessed]

Hi all,

I'm about to book an appt with my GP as we've been TTC for a year now with not even a hint of a BFP. I'm 34 with no children, other half is 43 with 3 kids from a previous marriage.

If you've been through the process, can you tell me the rough timeline please? Did they do bloods at the first appt or book you for another one? Did they refer you elsewhere for any tests. Just thought it would be useful to know if I should anticipate a bit of a wait.

Thanks vey much.

They should refer you to the fertility clinic. Then, you wait again. The fertility clinic will do all the tests. They usually start with semen analysis cause its fastest. GP might do bloods, usually would have to arrange another appt for that.

In my CCG in SE London the GP ran two sets of tests (semen analysis for DH and hormones for me) and then they referred us to gynaecology on the back of those test results being suboptimal (low progesterone in my case). Gynaecology then refer on to the fertility clinic if you meet the criteria for IVF. If you don’t meet the criteria (unexplained) they might send you for more tests or tell you to wait longer. It took 3 months from second GP test results/referral to Gynaecology and then another month or two from Gynaecology (or Urology if you only have male issues) to fertility clinic if you need help of the assisted conception variety. Maybe six months ish all in realistically. But that’s in this area, check your CCG guidance and see what their criteria are for help @pizzaobsessed. There’s very little consistency across CCGs from my experience of talking to people on here.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to say IVF up there 👆, I was thinking of my own situation and I’ve got IVF on the brain. Gynaecology will refer you on if you need help from the fertility clinic specifically is that I should say. That might be for tests or ovulation drugs and so on. Hope that makes sense!

Thanks both, that's really useful to know, as I wasn't sure how much the GPS do and how much is referred out.

They would request bloods from you (day 3 and day 21 of your cycle) and a SA for your partner. Borderline results might mean a repeat test too before a referral can take place. I also have spotting for up to a week before my periods so my GP also requested a transvaginal scan and he sent the results for all three tests to the fertility clinic.

My docs done my blood test and DPs sperm test before referring.
Once at the clinic I had several bloods done, DP sperm again, internal scans and hycosy test. We were down as unexplained and went ahead with IVF.
From first docs app to first clinic app I'd say 5/6 month.
As your other half already has children you'd need to pay for treatment.

@pizzaobsessed yeah, the GP will usually run day 21 and day 3 bloods and semen analysis, they do the initial stuff most of the time. Best of luck with your GP tests when you do them!

I don’t think my gp did any bloods or was very helpful to be honest. I eventually got referred to a fertility clinic and that’s when various tests started happening. It was quite a difficult time as everyone I knew of child baring age suddenly started having children. It felt like it would never happen but it did in the end and after having ivf for my first child I got pg naturally with a second. I hope it works out ok for you op

Check your local policy before getting your hopes up. Some trusts have a cap on the amount of intervention offered if one of you has children already, even if the other is childless

My doctor referred me to the fertility consultant at our local hospital who arranged for sperm analysis for my husband, blood tests for myself as well as an ultrasound to check for PCOS and a hysteroscopy.

Thanks everyone. I'm keeping my fingers crossed any issues are minimal then, if we're unlikely to meet the criteria for funded IVF 🙁