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Conception

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Fertility Tests...How did you decide when and how to start?

10 replies

Redstar2015 · 20/10/2022 18:27

I'm entering into cycle 6 but have been ttc since January. For various reasons, we've had to miss a few cycles which has meant more time has passed than I would've liked. My GP has been kind enough to do a few initial tests due to my history, which includes a ruptured ovarian teratoma which was removed but temporarily caused both my fallopian tubes to block as well as family history of early menopause (around age 35 for my mum). I have also had more painful periods and pains throughout my cycle and they discovered a small fibroid in my uterus. My DH has not been tested, but in the past we had one SA which was very poor and indicated we would need ICSI. We got pregnant back then after two cycles following a hycosy to check my tubes again (cleared after some treatment) and so we wrote that off as perhaps a bad sample.

Fast forward five years and I'm now 35 and DH 41. DH thinks I'm mad to say we should hurry up getting our tests and think about our options. I'm not at all believing it's impossible to get pregnant, but I'd rather get more answers while we keep trying. I do think we maybe needed to dtd a bit more some months, but we were always in the window with a shot, at least, based on times I normally ovulate.

I'm kind of at a loss. Don't know if I should just start with NHS and get the ball rolling, or give it a few months and then maybe go private where things would be quicker. I'm also worried if DH gets another bad SA that even though it gives answers he'll get really stressed about it which won't help with ttc. Honestly for me testing stresses me as well so I'm a bit afraid of starting testing too.

OP posts:
catchthedog · 20/10/2022 18:34

I had tests at aged 30 because I was getting on a bit, and wanted to know without wasting years. it didn't cost that much to find out. I certainly would test at 35 and 41.

Redstar2015 · 20/10/2022 18:56

That's my sense but DH thinks I'm giving up too soon. I thought about just going private as I've been frustrated with GP. We wasted months due to recurring infections (first UTI and then yeast infection that kept returning). I've been getting pain anyway as I said in above but no real answers. I had three ultrasounds and it was only the third where a small fibroid was detected and GP didn't even bother to discuss and said it wasn't a concern unless I was in pain (which was the whole reason it was done!).

I'm confused on private testing though. From the clinics I've checked a basic female fertility check will do ultrasound which I've had and some bloods. I also got a general blood panel through my GP to rule out thyroid, etc, which was all clear. I have not had the day 3 and 21 bloods yet, but from my history I would be more keen to check tubes in case that's an issue and I don't see the hycosy listed in these basic tests.

OP posts:
Ldougal92 · 21/10/2022 11:21

Hey, I don't think you are being premature - it is always good to get everything in the pipeline and know if there is a reason to be concerned or not.

My advice would be get the ball rolling with the NHS - my first appointment was 1 year away, and I called and got a cancellation for a few weeks later, and did the same for the fertility consultant. Keep calling the gynae ward as they do get cancellations a lot apparently.

If you find you can't do the above, just having an initial consultation privately - showing all your previous results and yes it does cost a few hundred pounds but at least you know their recommendations and whether it is feasible or not.

As I always say I would rather know my options than wait for it to be too late x

Redstar2015 · 21/10/2022 12:16

Thank you! That's helpful. I felt a little defeated today because I decided to go private and just get some initial answers. I have an appointment with my GP to go NHS route and was told by clinics that private and NHS have same wait times. I will remember to call for cancellations for sure!

OP posts:
whomoon · 21/10/2022 16:33

Hi OP
I felt the same as you and had the same resistance from DP as he was reluctant to test too soon and just ‘see how things go’.
I was okay with that, as I had already done the GP blood tests, everything but day 21 bloods, and all was okay. So that settled my mind for a few months.

then fast forward to 15 cycles in and I decided we should go to a private clinic for assessments, as I didn’t want to wait through the NHS and essentially wanted quick, fast results with a person to talk to face to face.

called local fertility clinic, appointments for both of us within a week, consultation a week later. Done! We had an hour with the consultant to go through our results, asked lots of questions, was talked through every option, and felt much better at the end knowing exactly what was what.
I had a scan and AMH bloods. Nothing wrong other than being on the low side of AMH for my age (35 at the time). All fine for DP.

recommendation was IVF but I didn’t want to go privately due to cost, and so started the NHS route and provided my private tests. DP had another SA, I had new swabs and day 21 (all fine) and now expecting a letter from the fertility clinic referral any day. First GP appointment was end of August, referral done by end of October.

so in summary! Get the private checks done if you can afford to settle your mind. If after a year nothing, go through NHS. Or private if you can afford!

Redstar2015 · 21/10/2022 21:13

@whomoon , that's what I thought too. But it's a long wait even going private in my area at present. I assume this is a backlog from the pandemic or something, as I've read previous threads for the clinics I called and it wasn't such a long wait. Hoping I find a decent clinic soon with a shorter turnaround time.

OP posts:
anotherdayanotherpathlesstravelled · 21/10/2022 21:16

You mention you got pregnant "back then" after 2 cycles? So do you have a child already? If you do you aren't eligible for ivf on the nhs of course so I'd just go straight to a private clinic

Essexgirlupnorth · 21/10/2022 21:21

I found out after waiting a year of trying for a second that after 35 they will see you after six months. Though found the NHS pretty useless as we already had a child plus massive delays because of COVID. Pretty much given up now of having a second.

Redstar2015 · 21/10/2022 21:27

@anotherdayanotherpathlesstravelled Yes, I have a child. I'm not expecting IVF on the NHS. I'm already aware that's out of the question. I just want to get initial checks to see if there is a problem or not and then we can decide what to do from there. I especially want to avoid wasting time when I'm over 35 if there's something simple that could be corrected with the right treatment or medication without actually going the IVF route.

@Essexgirlupnorth , that seems to be the case in my area too. I rang two clinics in my area that do NHS and private appointments and both said 6-7 months wait no matter the route just for initial tests.

OP posts:
polkadotpixie · 21/10/2022 21:51

It was very quick for me, within a week for both mine and DH's tests and then consultation about a week after that. The only thing I had to wait more than a week for was my HyCoSy and that's only because it needed to be done at a specific time in my cycle

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