First Fertility Clinic Appointment

[SunshineS1]

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to post for some information/advice really. Me and my partner have been ttc our first for 2 years with no success. We went to see the GP in December and my partner has had a semen analysis. I have had blood tests, an ultrasound and both have had sti checks. All came back good and clear.

We were referred to a fertility clinic by our GP and after a long wait we finally have our first appointment with the fertility clinic in 2 weeks.

I was just wondering if anybody can advice on what usually happens at the first appointment? Is it similar to the first appointment with the GP?

Any info helpful!

Thank you x

@Msrivia thanks, I'll check out HFEA - looks like you have a winner! That's super quick for a scan appointment too - you must be happy to see it all progressing at pace 😊 I'm surprised you've not seen anyone in person yet... Where abouts in the country are you based? I thought everything was back to normal now (as close as it can get to normal 😂)

@emilyhall91 wow, to be honest it doesn't sound like they knew what they were talking about?? A 'day 21' blood test should be taken 7 days before your expected AF, which may or may not be around day 21, depending on your cycles... Having sex on day 12 if you're peaking at day 22 also wouldn't be too successful, I don't think sperm can live that long! I think it's meant to be best if you have sperm there waiting for you to ovulate, so sex before the peak, and day of ovulation is your best bet. You ovulate after your peak in LH hormones as it's the rise that instructs your body to release the egg! How long is your cycle usually?

@Msrivia sorry I should have said, my private appointment is on Friday 12 aug so not too long to wait at all 😊 good luck with vitex. I took it for a while

@RugbyGirl1 I'm in the south east, it's still pretty bad here in terms of health services - my local gp aren't even offering econsults not to mind face to face! My only worry about my scan is that AF is due around that time - I've been googling and apparently that doesn't usually matter but I'm hoping AF can hold off a day or two! Good luck with your private consultation 😊

@emilyhall91 Sounds a bit confusing! Did he misunderstand about when you seem to be ovulating? To be honest I've ended up just going on the NHS advice of every 2-3 days rather than getting too worked up about exactly when I'm ovulating, because it was just causing stress especially for my husband. I do have a short-ish cycle though so that makes it a bit easier! How long are your cycles usually?

@Decaffe How did you get on with your appointment?

@Msrivia @Decaffe @emilyhall91 @SunshineS1 how is everyone doing?

Hi I’ve got a review appointment on Thursday after my progesterone blood test last week

I’m on day 25 and spotting …….. so I’m guessing I’ll be on my period again… getting cramps too

Hi @RugbyGirl1 thanks for asking, all went well at the scan. We then had a consultant consultation who basically says the test results for both of us are absolutely fine - DH’s sperm fantastic (I take the credit for that as per my previous ‘how to’ thread! and my results are fine for my age (Day 3/21 bloods ok, ‘perfect’ HSG, and antral follicle count of ten.)

(A bit of me does wonder if there are any DNA fragmentation issues - because surely there has to be SOME reason I’m not falling pregnant. But this isn’t checked on the NHS and we don’t have any spare cash for a test so I guess we’ll never know.)

So we are going to proceed with mild IVF in autumn. Only reason for the delay is life events already booked in that would have had to be cancelled due to dates falling over ovulation/egg retrieval! So we have two cycles of carrying on as normal in the meantime.

I asked the consultant how often he recommended DTD in the meantime and he said in his experience and through working with embryologists, sperm is at its best after three days. So he said to DTD every three days and to try to work it so that one of these is one or two days before ovulation. So we’ll give it a go!

@emilyhall91 good luck with your appointment - hope it's positive news 😊

@Decaffe it's a bit frustrating when everything is fine, with us I kinda wish they found something so that there would be a reason and a (quick) fix. That's fab news that you're progressing with IVF - how do you feel about it? Is mild IVF with less drugs than full? It's funny, so much online says every other day or every day - every three days makes sense to let the sperm recuperate!

I’ve had my blood test appointment today - she said if the blood test was done on the correct day - day 22. Then the progesterone level was 6 which is low.
The last set of blood tests I had were fine.

she said that at ‘health harmonie’ they just do the testing for my spotting in between periods and cramping. They don’t investigate infertility (although it definitely links and they do ask about it) she says the low progesterone she will write to the doctor about - as I need to be referred to fertility clinic (I already know this won’t happen with a BMI of 36)
She mentioned having a test done on “my
tubes” and if my husband has been tested yet. -No he hasn’t

She is putting me forward for it and says I will need local anaesthetic and to take ibuprofen before I have the camera and it’s not a good idea
to get pregnant if I have polyps. I’m convinced that this reoccurring pain in my left ovary area is something.

How are you all girls x

I’m still waiting to see if this cycle is going to be successful.

we have never had sex so much
where I’ve circled is actually where the clear blue fertility monitor told me was peak fertility.
I’ve done quite a few early tests all negative
my usual cycle length is 28.5 days average this app says.

Hi @emilyhall91 you really have covered all bases! I assume the test you your tubes they mentioned was a HyCoSy or HSG? Have you had it yet? Hope it helps provide some answers in some way.

DH and I agreed to go ahead with a private round of IVF in the New Year but this month I actually got a BFP... I'm cautiously optimistic that this might work out and it's still very early days but here's hoping.... 🤞

Wow that’s brilliant how long had you been trying. Still no AF today yet day 29 here.

I haven’t had my appointment yet. The gp has told me that my referral is rejected for fertility due to my bmi. So can’t sort out my low progesterone…

sending you loads of baby dust.
do you have any children? Did you have any symptoms / did you feel different this cycle.

I need my husband to agree
to go private but he won’t he says it’s not natural?!?! More like he wants me to do all the hard work losing 3 stone when I was high bmi with my first child….

Congratulations @RugbyGirl1 that's amazing! Fingers crossed for you. How are you feeling?

I'm in the anxious waiting bit at the moment too @emilyhall91 ! AF due in 4 days or so, haven't started spotting yet which is a bit of a change for me but after 2 years I don't get too excited any more.

I had my scan a few weeks ago, all seemed fine although she asked me if I had had my AMH levels checked which I ended up getting so paranoid about that I sent off to get it checked! It was 14 which is within normal limits although seems to be a bit low for my age. Turns out I've got a retroverted uterus too but that's not supposed to affect fertility! I've got an appointment with the consultant Monday week so hopefully will get some more info about ivf and timelines etc.

I’m spotting after using the toilet 11 dpo but getting bfn. Day 33. Zzzz

how r u

@emilyhall91 So frustrating isn't it! I'm 13dpo, started very lightly spotting 3 days ago but bit heavier today so I think AF is imminent. My LP is usually around 12 days so I'm a little over for me, but I occasionally get to 14 days so I'm not too excited. Debating whether to do a FRER if it hasn't come by tomorrow, I hate the disappointment but it might shut my head up a bit! We have our consultant phone appointment on Monday anyway so at least there's something to focus on after AF arrives.

Im spotting red when pushing on the toilet and then brown stringy bits but nothing comes on it’s own. I’m 12 dpo today