Would you pay for private fertility tests after 7 cycles?

PoleFairy · 2022-02-02T21:25:17+00:00

I turn 31 this month and have been ttc for 7 cycles now. Not sure whether to take £500 out my maternity leave fund to pay for private fertility tests. My period has just shown up and I'm utterly devastated, I can feel it in my bones that there is something wrong with me. Would you pay now for the tests or wait a year like they say?

JammyRascal · 02/02/2022 21:28

I did. Tbh I hadn't even started trying and I had tests done. I suffer a bit from health anxiety and it was playing on mind.

Felt like a weight off my shoulders. Got some real good insight on a few issues I was already semi aware of, and the knowledge has helped me prepare myself.

Also, it's giving us confidence going forward!

Jayjane79 · 03/02/2022 07:16

If you can afford to I would. There may be no problem at all and it's just about keep going until its your month. Or there could be I tiny little problem easily solved picked up during your private tests. This would save lots of time wondering whats not going right. 7 months isnt really a long time to be trying they say but obviously the longer it goes on the more it will play on your mind. Good luck I'm sure it will happen soon.

naevo · 03/02/2022 08:33

I did at 7 months, although my gp did bloods for me first so I could keep initial test prices down. Everything came back absolutely fine but still ttc now at 15 months but feel better knowing I have the support and guidance of my fertility clinic. I'm due to start clomid next month which if I'd have waited for the NHS, I'd be nowhere near this stage yet.

dory0 · 03/02/2022 08:47

Sorry to hear AF showed up, know how you feel! You could start with just a private day 21 progesterone? I did recently (cycle 8) to reassure me that I’m ovulating. I used medichecks, it was £39. You take a finger prick sample and put it in the post, fill in some details about your cycle and a GP provides the results to say if it’s normal. I found it reassuring. Just an idea if you wanted to start a bit smaller than going for the full whack of tests.

PurBal · 03/02/2022 08:51

I was aware I had polycystic ovaries so paid for some tests including and ultrasound before TTC. It was definitely worth it to know that, yes, I have PCO but that I was also still ovulating.

2022HereWeCome · 03/02/2022 08:52

NO - not at age 31 - waste of money. It also depends what sort of tests you are talking about. A lot of them don't actually tell you that much useful information. I have had a lot of testing because I experienced multiple miscarriages and was a lot older than you at the time. They found absolutely nothing to explain my issues ...

Itsnotover · 03/02/2022 08:55

Knowledge is power. And if there was something, the earlier it's picked up, the better. It may not even be you. I know a lady who has just had a successful round of IVF after finding out that her husbands sperm weren't very good at penetrating her eggs.

Juno231 · 03/02/2022 08:55

If you do go ahead with them make sure that includes OH's sperm analysis as that would at least eliminate 50% of potential issues.

MrsToadflax · 03/02/2022 09:02

If you think you'd find it helpful then go for it, but I'd say it's still early days and you're only 31. I know when you're trying, each month is so difficult, but it is very normal for it to take 1year+ because you have such a small chance each cycle. We had all the tests after 12 months and all clear. I finally got BFP after nearly 2 years. My next two pregnancies I got BFPs really quickly.

Original poster

PoleFairy · 03/02/2022 09:10

Hmm. I dont know then. If I dont do the private tests then I'll definitely do the medicheck progesterone test as I have looked at that before. I'm pretty sure I'm ovulating but I think I could have low progesterone. After having an initial show of watery red blood when I wiped last night I've had nothing since which is confusing but it was early for my period as I wasnt due until Saturday. Got cramps this morning though. I feel like I'm on.

DH isnt keen to do tests privately yet. He thinks we should keep trying but hes super relaxed. Maybe I do leave it a little longer and get the private tests after a year rather than get into NHS system. Its so hard.

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Original poster

PoleFairy · 03/02/2022 09:12

@mrsToadflax oh gosh, I'm not sure I could do almost 2 years! That would be so stressful and then I guess I would be 32 and a half and then would struggle to fit in any more before 35.

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MrsToadflax · 03/02/2022 09:32

[quote PoleFairy]@mrsToadflax oh gosh, I'm not sure I could do almost 2 years! That would be so stressful and then I guess I would be 32 and a half and then would struggle to fit in any more before 35.[/quote]
It was tough going, but it takes as long as it takes. We knew there wasn't anything medically wrong, so just kept going. I hate the phrase 'just relax' but for us it did work. After months of cycle tracking, ovulation tests, taking my temperature etc, we went on a 2 week holiday and didn't even think about fertility. It was the most relaxing break ever and I came home pregnant. Maybe it was just our time, but I do think taking the stress out of mind and body helped.

MrsToadflax · 03/02/2022 09:38

[quote PoleFairy]@mrsToadflax oh gosh, I'm not sure I could do almost 2 years! That would be so stressful and then I guess I would be 32 and a half and then would struggle to fit in any more before 35.[/quote]
Oh and also don't worry about timings and 'fitting them in.' They come when they come. I had my last in my late 30's with no issues. Most of my friends have had babies after 35 and several after 40. I know it's cliched, but trust the timing of your life. It's always worked for me.

EL1984 · 03/02/2022 09:43

If you want more than one child then I would go ahead with the testing at an early stage. Friends of mine were trying for 6 months and booked in private fertility testing rather than wait. Turns out her husband had some kind of tube blockage so had a small operation and within 3 months of that they were pregnant and now have a little boy.

Good luck xxx

Ikeatears · 03/02/2022 10:10

@PoleFairy

Hmm. I dont know then. If I dont do the private tests then I'll definitely do the medicheck progesterone test as I have looked at that before. I'm pretty sure I'm ovulating but I think I could have low progesterone. After having an initial show of watery red blood when I wiped last night I've had nothing since which is confusing but it was early for my period as I wasnt due until Saturday. Got cramps this morning though. I feel like I'm on.

DH isnt keen to do tests privately yet. He thinks we should keep trying but hes super relaxed. Maybe I do leave it a little longer and get the private tests after a year rather than get into NHS system. Its so hard.

I don't want to give false hope but there's a chance that could have been an implantation bleed. If there are no more signs of AF by next week, I'd do a test 🤞🏻

Original poster

PoleFairy · 03/02/2022 12:06

@MrsToadflax I've heard a lot about the whole relax thing so that is what we started with. I came off the pill end of July/early August and we did nothing but continue to exist as normal apart from taking folic acid everyday. I would note down when to expect my period each month so I knew if I was late but I didnt track anything or plan conceiving. AF just kept turning up as normal so last month and this month we tried ovulation tests. They peaked where I would expect them to and we dtd at the "right" time those months. I guess the first 5 months we could have missed the window because we weren't "trying" I've found that more frustrating now as by relaxing and letting it happen I'm worried we actually wasted 5 cycles. The week before I'm due on I do think about it a lot because I know my period is coming but I wouldnt say I stress any other time. I dont temp or make any changes to my diet. I still drink, exercise, eat as normal. This month I had a smear and a polyp removed from my cervix the first week after ovulation and they asked if I could be pregnant and I did think oh sh*t I could be as it's only when I spot in my diary that my period is due in a few days that i start to think about it

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RuthW · 03/02/2022 12:08

No, I would see my go after a year and then possibly go privately