Doctor says ttc for three years before any fertility treatment

[Bucky2008]

I had a miscarriage in September 2006 and have not concieved again since. I went to the doctor with my partner and we were offered tests. Me, Day 21 progesterone test and him sperm test. DPs test is fine, mine was low but they took the bloods on CD22 and AF arrived on CD25 so it was probably too late.

Anyway, I am going back tomorrow for the test again. The doctor informs me that if the results come back fine we will have to carry on ttc until we have been trying for THREE years before he will refer me as this is the guideline. Is this true? I have NEVER heard that before!

Has anyone else had this experience?

If tests results are not so good he will refer me immediatly. Am I supposed to HOPE my results are bad??

I've generally heard if you don't conceive naturally afer a year they will start investigations - and that's what happened in my case. Three years is a ridiculous time to wait Can you see another GP if the tests do come back normal?

Would also say that your GP is wrong. A referral to a gynae normally take place after 12 months of ttc without success.

NICE also has guidelines.

3 Years ? No that is not right. How old are you Bucky ? Becasue it does make a difference. And her's a suggestion. LIE. EXAGGERATE. If you mc in sept 06, it is now - Apr 08 = more thna 18 months. Tell them that you were ACTIVELY trying for atleast a year, prior to mc.
And accept NOTHING LESS than a quick referral. if they try and fob you off, say no, thats not acceptable. Be firm. Its the only way.

Thanks for your responses. I am 36 in May . Obviously time is running out! I went for my test this morning and the nurse suggested I see a different doctor who specialises in fertility issues. I have made an appointment. She did say that the surgery did not prioritise these issues because they are not 'life or death'. Last time I checked they were 'life' issues .

Thanks again though I have been on MN for more than a year and I had NEVER heard that before!

I know someone who was told that. you don't live in divises by any chance?

Also, when she had a mc, the gp told her that she obviously was able to conceive so wouldn't refer her.

There are countries, eg new zealand, where they don't consider it an issue until you've been ttc for two years.

but I would persist.

Wannabe, do you mean Devizes ?
36 Bucky? o.k., yes , be firm.
Do not be fobbed off.

After the age of 35, the recommendation is to check out fertility after six months of TTC.
We had uber-bad results, so I can't give you my experience of that, but I did see a GP who told me not to test, in case the results were bad. What!?!?? There are an awful lot of useless GPs where it comes to fertility issues and it pays to stand your grown. Another option - Could you have private testing?

Also Bucky, if your period arrived on cd25 and your bloods were taken on cd22 you should still have had a decent reading; as long as the bloods are taken after ovulation occurs the readings should be over 30(ish). Did they actually tell you the results?

The guidelines of 3 years are for ivf/fertility treatment for unexplained infertility. One of the 'criteria' for ivf treatment (where we live) is that you've been ttc for 3 yrs if unexplained infertility. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, I think your gp is being very unsypathetic though.

And you should be referred for further investigations at hospital (scan/hsg) before the gynae (not gp) 'diagnoses' unexplained. There are more things that could be wrong than just not ov'ing (which is what blood test shows)

nomoremagnolia is right - all your GP has tested you for is whether your hormones indicate that you're ovulating. There's a lot more to TTC than that! An HSG will check that your uterus is normal and that your Fallopian tubes aren't blocked. An ultrasound scan will check for PCOS, the timing of ovulation and whether the lining of the uterus is thick enough for implantation. Your GP is not a fertility expert and it would really help to find another GP that is more useful. Which is hard when you're stressed out about TTC, I know.
Good luck.

pootieflump My levels were 24. I thought it may be due to the levels dropping pre AF. The doctor said the test was inconclusive because of the short timespan,i.e. it was more than 7 days after ov.

I have had a second test and get the results on the 9th May. The nurse recommended a different doctor in the surgery who specialises in ob-gyn. Wish me luck!

Good luck Bucky.
(Good news that the nurse recommended another GP, by the way - finding a good doctor is half the battle (maybe even more))

Thanks MrsTittleMouse

Bucky, I think since your results were 24 then it's fair to say they were inconclusive. My levels were around 4 and the doctor said it wouldn't matter if the test was done way late or not- there's no way I ov'd with levels that low.

Good luck with your new doctor, you really should expect to be referred straight away for all the tests people have already mentioned here as the referral can take some time.

9th May is a long time to wait for your blood results! I always had mine within 2 days .