Private investigations

[Kath2021]

Hello,

Just looking for any previous experience - we have decided to go for some private investigations as have now been trying 14 months with no successful pregnancies. 2 early losses and that's it. I have been diagnosed with pcos by my gp but they refuse to do any testing until we have been trying for two years. I am approaching 35 and feeling anxious and frustrated. My husband has a child from a previous marriage so I know they issue if any will be me.

Has anyone else gone private? What is the process usually? We have booked an initial consultation with a consultant.

X

@Kath2021 it's our 15th cycle TTC and we decided to go private last month. Honestly, everything has moved so fast and I'm glad we did it as we don't want to waste any time. I'm 36. I had my initial consultation, had bloods for AMH and had my HSG last week. Follow up appointment is on Thursday this week to discuss all the results and where to go from there. If you already have a diagnosis, I don't know why GP wouldn't help. Have you had an ultrasound done to confirm PCOS?

Thanks for replying @Tinkerbell098 this all sounds really positive I hope your appointment on Thursday is helpful 🙏🙏🙏

So the GP says that the medication I'm on for pcos (metformin) should help me ovulate more regularly and pcos doesn't stop you conceiving it just makes it harder. I have had scans for it as well as the other tests so I think they believe they don't need to do any more til we hit two years 😤

I get people telling us to be patient but I'd rather know if there are issues instead of getting my hopes up every month - it's torturous! Keep me posted on how you get on xxxx

@Kath2021 yes having PCOS shouldn't prevent you from conceiving. Are you having much luck with OPKs or are do you DTD often to cover the entire cycle? I think for me, as everything came back normal with regards to bloods, I wanted to find out what's wrong and wanted to have a plan as I know I can't go on this way for much longer as TTC can me mentally and physically draining. Hope you find your first appointment helpful. Is it this month?

Sorry forgot to say yes it is really frustrating when they say wait 2 years as when I checked the NHS site, it said to get in touch with GP if you've been TTC for 6 months if you are over 36 and 12 months if you're under. Where does it say wait 2 years? From what I've read, 2 years is only applicable when you want IVF, so I don't know where the GPs are getting 2 years from, as that is what my GP said too.

@Tinkerbell098 I'm exactly the same it's all taking its toll on me and I'd just rather know if it's never going to happen!

OPK's have been pointless because with the pcos your body attempts to ovulate serval times. I've been temping which has told me that I've not ovulated every month but the GP has pretty much dismissed that as though I'm performing witch craft or something 🤣🙈 we defo dtd enough so I can't see that is the issue which makes me worry.

Our consultation is in 2 weeks so keeping positive and hopefully he will take us seriously.

2 years baffles me also as it doesn't correspond with guidance like you said. Especially for us as I know we won't be given free ivf because of my husbands child (don't get me started on that!!!!)

How are you feeling about your app? X

@Kath2021 my GP's knowledge is also very limited with regards to TTC, I do feel I know more than her to be honest. Hope you get help from your private appointment, they may prescribe clomid/letrozole for about 3 cycles, which should help with ovulation. Hope it's an easy fix for you.

Oh I didn't know you wouldn't be able to have IVF as your husband's already got a child. I thought they only look at children together in one partnership. That's really shit and doesn't make sense!

I'm a little nervous about the appointment, as when I had the HSG last week, the doctor said "there's nothing of major concern, but I need to analyse your left tube more", which to me meant something is wrong with my left tube. My ultrasound also showed really thin lining, which explains why I have very light periods and have done for as long as I can remember. Also they found a fibroid (although it's on the outside and shouldn't impact on TTC, so they say). So I have a ton of questions for the consultant, and also depending on my results, she may refer me to IVF. It scares me of the possibility of having to go through IVF, but we are ready if we need to go down that route, and feel like we don't have much time to waste. I've spent all morning today going through IVF protocols, IVF clinics, statistics, etc, sort of preparing myself for it. Really hope we don't have to though.