First appointment fertility clinic

[Donttellmetorelax]

Hi,

I'm 36 and ttc since last January. I got a referral to the fertility clinic in 4 weeks. Due to pcos and irregular periods, my gp said there's no point for him to make day 21 blood test and sent me and my partner to the clinic.

So, what should I expect from the first visit? Are they going to take us any test, or that doesn't happen on the first day?

Hi Dont
Sorry I have no idea, I have mine next week so I'm curious to know too, hope you don't mind me crashing your post!

I have different issues to you, OP, but what happened for me was that my GP sent me for all the blood tests at the same time as referring me - having the tests at the clinic would have cost me a lot of money, whereas through the GP they're free. (I also have PCOS)

For me; my first visit included a chat with the Consultant - I knew exactly what I wanted, treatment-wise, and had researched, so we just talked it through. I then had a trans-vaginal ultrasound scan. I wasn't expecting that, but it wasn't a big deal for me.

The Consultant then let me know what would happen next, and that he was going to write a letter to my GP to explain what we had discussed.

Thanks ladies for the replies!

What worries me is that, for what I can see, everybody has the blood tests done by the gp first.

Keeponjuggling Did your GP ordered blood tests beforehand? I f you don't mind I'd like to hear how your appointment goes next week.

BlueKarou I got a referral to a NHS hospital, will I have to pay to get tests done?

Hi Ladies,

I went to the doctors as I have PCOS and was having irregular periods (two a month sometimes). Doctor refererred me to the hospital (this was September 2013).
I had a scan of my ovaries, 21 day blood test, a HCG test and partner had a sperm test.

I have my consultation appointment in September where they will discuss results and give treatment hopefully.

It has been a whole year since I first went to the doctors so it has been an extremely long and frustrating process.

If you would like any info regarding what the tests were like then please ask. :)

Oooh, probably not, then if you're NHS. Sorry - I had to go private (that's a grumble for another time) and didn't think to ask.

I can echo what lassye has said about it being long and frustrating.

Did they do a sperm test?

Yes, I've had day 3 & day 21 bloods and swabs, and DH had SA. The hospital wouldn't accept our referral without those tests and results. But it may different where you are, it seems each district has different practices/policies.

The appointment came through asking us both to go to the appointment, in fact saying it was essential. I have heard of people having to re-do all the tests once at the hospital stage though, so I'm half expecting that to happen. We are also NHS referred. Hope that helps a bit. Its taken us 10 months to get to this stage, so its a long road ahead I think.

Hi, just been referred last week. We needed all the tests done before GP would refer us. Had day 3/21 bloods, thyroid and iron. Both of us needed sti screens for hiv, hep, chlamydia etc. And I had to have an internal ultrasound. Dh had to have sperm analysis too. Finally after 7 months our filled out forms have gone to the clinic. I called them today to find out what happens next. The consultant looks through our notes and sees if we are missing any tests (i reckon I need a hsg... And dh another Sa) and then we'll get a date to actually see someone face to face! We are hoping to be nhs funded.

I don't have any known issues, hubby has poor sperm :-(

Hi Dont. I think your experience at the fertility clinic will completely depend on where you are as it seems to differ so much by region. At my first FC appointment we didn't even get to see the consultant. It was literally just a nurse checking that she had received all the correct tests from the GP (3 x cd21, FSH, rubella immunity, screened for chlamydia, full blood count and SA for DP). Then she asked a million questions about my cycle and our health/diet/lifestyle in general. She also weighed and measured me. We then didn't get to see the consultant for another 3 months!

I see, so every region is different, but probably we'll see the nurse. I'm just worried by the fact that we had been referred without any previous test .

I got the feeling that my Gp just got rid off me by sending me straight away to the fc, and the fc will send me back to the GP to get tests done ...

The fertility clinic we went to re-ran all of our tests. The GP ones were filed but not used for diagnosis or prescription.
If I were you I would call the clinic and see if they expect you to bring any test results with you. At least then you won't be going round in circles.
Absolute best of luck

Hi, we had our first app this week and like someone else also said it was actually with the nurse - despite the letter naming our consultant! I had more bloods taken then and there, and they want to re-do my day 1-5 bloods and a whole battery of others too. Also have a scan booked for day 6-11. Once they have all the test results we go back for a consultation to discuss our options. Sadly things don't look good for us at the moment

Our GP did some blood tests and a sperm sample for DH, then referred us to the NHS Assisted Conception Unit at our local hospital where all the tests were repeated again anyway, so i wouldn't worry too much that your GP didn't do them.

I think the first appointment at the NHS clinic was with a nurse to take vital stats, medical history etc....

My experience was a bit different so yes I think it depends on area and on the individual hospital - it will have its own processes to follow. On my first appt I saw a junior doctor from the gynaecology department, I had a named consultant on my appt letter but I didn't see him, I saw one of his team (who was fab I should add!). She looked through all my GP blood tests - seemed happy with them and asked loads of questions. She has referred me for a HSG. What I didn't expect on my first appointment was an internal examination(!) - done by the lovely junior doc with a nurse alongside. Once I have HSG results I have a follow up appt with a consultant (again, that is who is on the appt letter whether I see him on the day I don't know) at the assisted conception unit.

Hi donttell,

I could have written your post (36, probable pcos, irregular AF and ttc for 13 months). I got referred to the ACU, had an initial nurse consultation and was instructed to have a day 2/3 blood test, a HSG and DH has to have another SA. Once all complete I have to wait 2 weeks, then call the nurse and schedule an appointment with the consultant.

I've previously had a day 2/3 and day 21 blood test and DH has already had a SA. All these hoops but it's (hopefully) worth it!

Well, tomorrow is the day. I have another silly question.

If I take a printed report of my cycles since I started TTC will it be helpful for them or will they think I'm a crazy person?

hope it went well today Don't? sorry I didn't reply in time, but for what its worth I didn't take anything and they asked so many questions it didn't really feel necessary. Let us know how it went.

Thanks so much everybody.

It went well, as you said I saw the nurse, asked us a lot of questions and ordered tests for us.

I had a transvaginal ultrasound too. My ovaries are not as bad as I thought, one is clear with a nice size follicle for being on cd 16 and the other one slightly cystic, but she said it wasn't too bad.

If we donn't succeed this current cycle, we are not allowed to TTC next one so they can do an HSG test.

What left me slightly worried was that she found my cervix very closed, pinhole cervix I think she called. Anybody has heard any of this?

Anyhoo... How are you doing ladies, any good news?

Hi all
I have my first fc appointment on the 24th. Do I need to take my other halfs SA results with me, even if he got the all clear?