When to get fertility checked? (NHS)

[CatmumTTC]

Hi all

Has anyone had experience of speaking to their GP and getting a fertility assessment done on the NHS? I'm 32 so know we're meant to keep trying for a year but I just have this feeling that something isn't right and that it might be worth investigating sooner. I had a suspected ovarian cyst burst a couple of years ago but have never had an ultrasound or anything to see if there were more cysts. I just don't know if we'll just get turned away by the GP because we've only been trying for five months.

Thanks!

Hi I don’t know if this helps in any way I’m 36 and from 35 if you have been trying 6 months they will do blood test to check your levels and a blood test to see if you ovulated and I had a scan and confirmed pcos for ivf ect your bmi has to be under 35 mine is way off that so depending your situation I would ask them to do blood tests and get things going good luck 😊

Thanks @Tigger1116 Yeah, I am way under that BMI too. It's just so hard to even get through to the receptionist at our GP so I keep falling at the first hurdle and then when I am on hold on the phone and number 20 in the queue I start to doubt if I should even be bothering them because it's potentially too soon to do the tests.

I'm pregnant now through ivf and when I went to GP I had to have been trying for 2 years atleast as I was only 30. 5 months is definitely not long enough for them to start investigating ur fertility unless u had already been told of any issues previously.

Thanks @MotherofDogs3, congrats on your pregnancy! I don't know if my previous cyst counts as a previous issue. I've also had blood tests before that showed high testosterone (which could be related to PCOS) and I've not been able to get a positive ovulation test yet using the strips. Appreciate 5 months is not that long, but feels like ages when you are in it!

When I was 32 my GP ran fertility tests (on the NHS) after I'd been trying for 12 months.

I had bloods, a pevlic ultrasound and a vaginal swab and DH had a sperm analysis.

@CatmumTTC you need to be trying for at least 12 months under 35, most GPs won't do tests under that as it's totally normal to take up to a year to conceive. If you're worried, there's loads of private providers who can do fertility "MOTs" to check things for you. What makes you think something isn't right?
Also, are you tracking your fertile window using opks or bbt?
I know it feels like forever when you're in it, but 5 months really isn't wrong. Keep trying and I hope you get your BFP soon x

Do you have regular periods? If not, you can get an appointment for that.

I had a couple of months without a period and my GP ran standard blood tests, which also looked at fertility hormone levels. You can then ask for a copy and see if they are normal. You can also speak to them if you’re worried about PCOS if you have the symptoms. Although the wait for an ultrasound is probably about 6 months anyway.

Will also get you on the radar if still no luck in a few months.

Thanks @moosey89 I might go for a private fertility check just to put my mind at ease. I've used OPKs but have not been able to get the solid double line, only faint second line. I also have lots of abdominal pains in my luteal phase each month, and a feeling of bladder fullness who could be a cyst.

I think the main thing is I suspect pcos and would like an ultrasound to check for other cysts. I've also had Loop Diathermy so I'm worried there's some scarring around my cervix. And endometriosis runs in my family (my mum really struggled to conceive me). So I guess there's a lot going on and feel like I'm wasting time waiting until the one year mark when I have this intuition that something is wrong.

I'm also holding off changing jobs until after this pregnancy because our notice periods are so long and I'm worried about missing out on maternity pay, but it's such a career pause that I'm finding that a tad frustrating! I really don't like the idea of being in this job for potentially two more years but perhaps that's a discussion for another thread!

In our area the GP only does bloods, assisted conception and gynaecology do the rest. They wont take a referral <1yr trying.

GP did bloods eg hormone panel at approx 8mo but I had more obvious "problems" as I had no period and no cycle! If your cycles are a typical length and regular, you are likely ovulating, even if you aren't catching it on OPKs. At 5mo as you are aware it's likely just time you need.

If you ever go private, lots of places will do all the assessments for approx 1k all in. Semen analysis is the cheapest thing to have done, approx 200£

Thanks @Mushroo wow six month wait for an ultrasound! I think I'm just not very good at waiting for things. I'm pretty time blind (thanks ADHD!) But also used to live in Australia so used to being able to get a lot more tests and a lot faster testing at the GP.

I think I'll go get a private fertility assessment and then go down the suspected pcos route if blood tests show anything as although my period are regular I've had blood tests on the past that have shown high levels of testosterone. I didn't bother investigating at the time because there were no other obvious symptoms of pcos.

@CatmumTTC the job thing is so frustrating - been exactly where you are with that! Then had a missed miscarriage at 11 weeks anyway so it ended up that it didn't matter if I'd left. TTC can be so frustrating. That was back in 2019 with my ex.

This year it took 6 months to conceive with my current partner, and that ended in missed miscarriage at 10 weeks. I'm now in a job that isn't ideal but isn't awful so I'm just staying put in the hope I can get and stay pregnant soon ish!

First stop I'd say would be a day 21 progestogene test - this will show if you have ovulated or not. And fertility MOTs usually have this, general hormone testing and also an internal ultrasound which could help give reassurance about your scarring fears etc.

Ttc isn't for the faint hearted for most of us!

I've been pregnant 3 times (2 children) and each pregnancy was conceived on cycle 8. Aged 29, 30 and 32. It's really normal to conceive further into your year window. I'd give it another 5 months. In all likelihood, you'll be pregnant.