The start of fertility investigations

[apwilso]

Hi

I've taken the step of booking into the doctors today to start testing my fertility.

Bit of background. 26 years old and boyfriend is 33. Trying over a year. Pregnant after 3 months but lost it at 6 weeks in April 2021 (MMC). A bit overweight but taking the right steps to loose it. Serial symptom checker 🤣

Appointment is next Tuesday. Anyone else starting this journey or can give advice on what I need to expect. I'm very nervous 😟

I am sorry about your loss ❤ for me, after my initial appointment where they just asked questions I was booked in for blood tests to check i was ovulating and I was told my DH would need to make his own appointment to get a semen analysis. I also felt so much better mentally after seeking help. There was a lot of waiting for appointments too so I also focused on losing weight too during this time as i wanted my BMI to be normal so that i wouldnt be refused any treatment. Wishing you lots of luck on this next step of your journey x

Do you not have to try for 2 years before they'll check?

It is 1 year under 35 and 6 months over 35 (in the uk)

@DisneyGirl2387

It is 1 year under 35 and 6 months over 35 (in the uk)

Oh really?! That's changed then, always used to be 2. But great news for me! (39)

@DisneyGirl2387 how did your journey go if I don't mind you asking? How are you doing x

If I get told I have to wait two years I will be standing my ground which I think they might because I'm regular but I'll tell them I want testing anyway

@apwilso
I was so lucky. It took me 3 years but my 16 month old son is napping as we speak. I will never forget the emotions of it all so it really impacts me when I hear about other people going through the same. For me, I was always regular but it turns out i dont ovulate so definitely push for bloods.

@DisneyGirl2387 thank you for sharing. I appreciate it. That could be the issue with me so I'll push for it. Thank you

I'm sure they will do a whole load of blood tests to start with and then send you down whichever route is necessary after that. My GP surgery were really really good with this.
My 19 month old is asleep upstairs :)
It took over two years, surgery, fertility appointments, medication and a miscarriage but we got there in the end x

@apwilso I am a bit ahead of you in the process. They will date your period of trying from your MMC.

Day 3 and day 21 bloods are standard, and a transvaginal scan and a STI check. All boxes have to be ticked before referral to a fertility clinic.

Your partner will have to give a SA.

After this you'll be referred and depending on the results, you'll either be told to go away and try some more, you'll be given meds of some sort or you may be given access to IVF immediately. This may also depend on your area in the country. Not sure if this is everywhere but I have been told your BMI needs to be below 30 for access to IVF and neither of you can smoke now or within the last 6 months.

Additionally, I paid privately for an AMH test (checks ovarian reserve) - London £110. I have been umming and arhing about having a follicle count scan but haven't yet.

We have MFI identified from SA. We are privately seeing a urologist to see what he suggests, but the NHS have offered IVF and the funding has already come through. It all happened really quickly for us - Referral to funding was maybe 6 weeks tops. We could start immediately if we wanted, but we want to try a bit longer naturally alongside super strict 'living' to give us the best chances.

Hope this helps. I wanted to know about everything and all time lines etc when I was in your position so I know how you feel. Good luck x

@squirrelnutkins1 wow. I'm glad you got your happy ending in the end. Did you end up with IVF or just medication? X

@FlyOnTheWall89 thank you for this. So with finding out that from the SA could you technically conceive with that being found? I'm curious if there's something wrong with me what can I do and my partner is worried if it's him then what are the chances of being pregnant naturally.

For me I think it's bad timing unfortunately he works away Monday to Thursday and it means me trying to plan his work local on fertility week (we work together!) but it's very hard!

[quote apwilso]@squirrelnutkins1 wow. I'm glad you got your happy ending in the end. Did you end up with IVF or just medication? X[/quote]
Surprisingly they both happened naturally. The first time I was waiting for my period to start the medication (but ended in mc 💔) and the second time I was having a month off the medication because I couldn't cope with the side effects!

@apwilso absolutely there is a chance of conception but the % chance would be pretty low sadly - I'll ask the urologist just how long when we see him in a few weeks but from all I've read I'd say it's under 3%. Hopefully with changes / supplements, things might improve a bit.