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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Rubbish GP is it worth going private for fertility checks?

29 replies

Confuzzled09 · 11/12/2009 12:22

HI everyone,

MY GP is pretty crap and I'm worried that I'm getting a bit fobbed off by them (have seen 2 so far). Does anyone know if you can refer yourself privately to have tests done to check that all is in working order. I really can't bear to have to wait for a whole 6 months more before my GP will even start listening to me & helping find out if DH and I have any problems.
Any thoughts/recommendations would be lovely

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 11/12/2009 12:24

yes and if it is worrying you and you can afford it, I would

life is too short to spend being fobbed off!

Original poster
Confuzzled09 · 11/12/2009 12:30

Do you know where you even start looking for a good clinic. I'm really worried about paying out cash and not getting a reliable opinion?
There is so much to this TTC lark that you don't even know about until you start trying !!

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 11/12/2009 12:44

no, sorry - I imagine you would need to start another thread in TTC (trying to conceive or whatever the topic is called) asking about clinics in your area

I think you can look up success rates (for fertility clinics) but ultimately, I would think you want a personal recommendation I guess.

Didn't want to leave your post unanswered as I had a tricky gynae issue where the GP totally fobbed me off and I left it for a while then went to a private gynae and was completely gobsmacked at the wonderful level of service I got (and how easy it was to resolve). I think it's also having someone listen and take you seriously and then actually CONSIDERING what you've said which gives you the level of comfort that you need with issues that are quite personal and you often can't get from a GP who isn't an expert in the area and simply doesn't have the time tbh.

EldonAve · 11/12/2009 12:50

why do you think it is not all in working order?

Original poster
Confuzzled09 · 11/12/2009 13:16

THansk Fox, will do a bit of research

All not in working order as came off the pill in July and periods have still not got back to normal - had nothing but a bit of spotting through July - Sept then looked like I had started a regular cycle (albeit much lighter) as had bleeding end Sept and October but got bleeding again 9th November for 5 days so there just doesn;t seem to be a pattern & is so frustrating.
I also had PID about 7 years ago and am stressing myself out that I have buggered up my chances of getting PG now that I have a wonderful DH

OP posts:
drkgpink · 12/12/2009 21:44

Technically your GP is no fobbing you off as it can take 6 months to a year for periods to coe back after being on the pill, which is known as post pill amenorrhoea. Also national guidelines say not to refer to secondary care until a couple have been trying for 12 months. Having said that if you have a history of PID i would investigate earlier as could be a problem. Personally i would do baseline bloods on anyone who hadn't had a period for 6 months, things like LH/FSH, thyroid function tests and a couple of other hormones. rather than asking your gp for investigation of not conceiving why not go down the why am i not having periods tact first and see what that shows??

drkgpink · 12/12/2009 21:47

and do you think we could all stop dissing GP's we have to have knowledge in many areas and most of us have spent 6 months studying and working in obstetrics and gynaecology. WE get 10 minutes per patient and do our best do provide a free, good service. I personally try and listen and empathise to all my patients even those who sometimes don't give me the respect i deserve.

Hulababy · 12/12/2009 21:48

Hmmm...not sure. 6 months is not that long. Most doctors recommend 12 months of TTC before checks are done, so you have sme history.

Have you done some record kleeping - taking temps, checking CM, OPKs, etc and recording them month on month to see what is going on. This is what the first steps of fertility checks are likely to be TBH.

I did all this before I saw my GP about secondary fertility, and it did help them take me seriously. I also felt that it gave me a purpose, made me feel a bit more in control.

drkgpink · 12/12/2009 21:49

if you think you've had periods but they are irregular were they before?? YOu could also ask along the uss route as PCOS can cause irregualr periods. I would investigate your lack of/irregular periods first. Good luck

rasputin · 12/12/2009 21:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

drkgpink · 12/12/2009 21:57

probably should add i wouldn't do checks on someone who had only been TTC for 6 months but on someone who had previosuly had normal periods and then not had one for 6 months

Hulababy · 12/12/2009 22:02

drkgpink - wish I'd had you as my GP. After DD I went well over a year with no periods at all, after one at about 2 months. That was regardless of being on pill or not! Still not right after 7 years since having DD, 5 years of TTC and being off pill, two treatments for Ashermans Syndrome, etc. My GP at the time was not interested. Fortunately new GP is fantastic, just can't perfom miracles sadly.

foxinsocks · 13/12/2009 09:34

drkgpink, err you've just confirmed exactly what I said in my post. You only get 10 mins per patient and aren't gynae experts (you're not expected to be I know) - it's not a criticism, it's a fact. I'm not dissing GPs, this is my experience and that of many others. I'm sure it's very difficult to get all the info out of the patient in that time and even harder if it proves to be a complicated issue. And believe me, there are so many GPs who are completely disinterested in gynae issues. When I had my problem, I saw 4 GPs in my surgery and was basically told to 'get on with it'. When I asked for a referral, I was laughed out of the surgery! My GPs now refuse to prescribe me the pill I need (Yasmin) because as far as they are concerned, I can have the cheap pill that costs them the least to prescribe or I need a medical reason to get Yasmin (so the fact that I have reactions to the others isn't reason enough) so I have to see a private gynae and pay for Yasmin myself.

And your service is not free! Why do you think we all pay taxes!

emeraldgirl1 · 13/12/2009 10:14

drkgpink - Just felt I had to add my tuppence worth here. I'm sure you're a great GP - you sound as though you really care and try your very best - and I know that many, GPs are the same. I've had some great ones over the years, worth their weight in gold. That said, you can't just assume that every GP is as committed and thoughtful as you, and there really are some rotten ones out there, the same as there are in any profession. If a patient feels they are being fobbed off, then just maybe it's not because the patient is a whiny complaining hypochondriac - maybe they really ARE being fobbed off!

I was fobbed off by one GP for two years over issues relating to my periods until I switched to a (great) GP who has helped find the cause - a problem with my pituitary gland, so yes, it WAS something that I shouldn't have been fobbed off about. And the same GP was equally dismissive of my horrible long-term headaches, didn't want to listen and simply tried to prescribe me with tricyclic antidepressants, which I was adamant that i did not want. Turned out it was all just due to neck strain, and easily solved with physio and changing my workstation, but if it had been up to him I would have been popping pills I did not want or need. He did not listen to a word I said and it was quite clear he just wanted me to shut up and go away. I can tell the difference between that and my new GP who listens and obviously tries to get a full history, even if she does not have all the answers herself.

And I have to also add that yes, the service is free at the point of delivery but we all pay our taxes to ensure that we have that service, so it is a little inaccurate to describe it as 'free'!!!

Confuzzled, if it would put your mind at rest and you can afford private check then why not go and have them done? Good luck!

teletubby7777 · 13/12/2009 10:39

Confuzzled -- If you can afford it then definitely go private. I did and never looked back. What would have taken over a year on the NHS, took me three weeks (from investigations to diagnosis) and I am now pregnant. So it really can be worth it.

I saw a private gyne (who was amazing) that performed all the hormone tests and scans I needed. Where are you based?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/12/2009 11:07

I would also concur that some GPs are extremely ignorant when it comes to gynae issues. This is fact and not a criticism, they are generalists. I had a GP tell me that endometriosis is not common, I had to reply to him that it is the second most common gynae problem seen in women after fibroids. Wrong information given to women can do a lot of damage.

Not all GPs are bad at all and there are many good ones (my own registered GP is great and referred me after I was trying to conceive for six months without success. He was aware too of my long history of very irregular and painful periods so referred me to a gynae without him doing any tests beforehand.

Hulababy · 13/12/2009 11:08

Cobfuzzled - how old are you? Your age can also make a difference to how quickly you are referred.

Original poster
Confuzzled09 · 15/12/2009 10:10

THanks for all your comments ladies - very helpful.

I'm 28 so don't think I'll get rushed through on the age factor yet

Teletubby - I'm based in Surrey, any recommendations for private would be great. THanks

OP posts:
morningpaper · 15/12/2009 10:14

Confuzzled: The average time to conceive is around a year

However, if you are worried, ask for a referral to a gynaecologist. Explain that you are really worried and that this would put your mind at rest. Don't leave until you have got a referral.

This book is the definitive guide really to understanding your cycles. Read this and start charting. Several months worth of charting will teach you a huge amount and will provide an enormous amount of information for any gynaecologist in the future - much much more than they are going to get from an hour's consultation.

Good luck!

morningpaper · 15/12/2009 10:16

Actually my figures might be bollocks, I have just checked and some sources say around 6 months is average

Bear in mind that there is an ENORMOUS variation in that!

teletubby7777 · 17/12/2009 21:38

Confuzzeled -- just saw your post sorry for the delay!

I went to see Dr. Michael Dooley who was absolutely amazing. I cannot recommend him highly enough. From start to finish, he was incredibly thorough, listened to every concern I had, and I felt reassured and supported throughout the entire testing process.

He is a gynaecologist/fertility specialist and practices at both the Lister Hospital and 132 Harley Street.

He was very good about not sending either my husband nor I for unecessary/expensive tests and because of my age, once the tests showed all was fine -- he was very good about making lifestyle and alternative therapy recommendations before proposing aggressive treatments. He had a very strong hunch that I would fall pregnant naturally and he ended up being right.

I hope that helps!!

Georgimama · 17/12/2009 21:43

You don't just want a gynae though, you want a consultant who specialises in fertility issues. My GP fobbed me off in the nicest possible way - he was quite up front - PHC trust and NICE guidelines told him he had to. I was 26 and had "only" been trying to conceive for a year. There was no reason why I shouldn't be able to conceive. Of course, if I had done things their way I would no doubt eventually have got to the point where I was too old for IVF (30 in our trust).

I did some research and asked some friends for a recommendation and got a private referral to a fertility specialist - who wasn't only interested in my bits but DH's too. Our DS "cost" us £500. Money well spent in my opinion.

Hulababy · 17/12/2009 21:47

A fertility doctor should always check both partners.

I do think OP needs to investigate the problems re periods first though,

TeaOneSugar · 17/12/2009 21:51

You can always change GP practices if you're not happy.

teletubby7777 · 17/12/2009 22:23

Yes Georgimama is right, you don't want just a gyne. Dooley is the medical director of the Winterbourne IVF unit as well as the Director of the Poundbury Clinic in Dorchester (a clinic that takes an integrated approach to women's health and fertility issues).

And fully agree with Hulababy -- partner should always be tested. My husband was sent straight away to produce a sample!