unhelpful GP

[backonthewagon]

Well that was horrible. I am in the UK and went to my GP for some bloodwork as we have been TTC for over 2 years. I had tests after we had been TTC 10 months but as I wasn't having cycles I did not have them on CD 2 and CD 21. She basically told me not to look things up on the internet and that i was wrong and I didnt need the blood tests I thought I did. She begrudgingly did me a form in the end. She told me I only needed the day 21 progesterone test. She said she had never heard of the day 2 LH and FSH test and if I did have a test for those it could be done on day 21 with the progesterone test.

Don't be fobbed off, and go to a different GP if you have the option. She doesn't know what she's talking about.

I've been there and lost several precious years.

If you've been ttc for over a year you're entitled to be referred to a fertility specialist I think.

Contact your local ccg and ask for copy of the asissted fertility policy. It will detail the protocol for what tests gp should do and when to refer . You can take it with you to the appointment. To be fair to GPS they have to know and deal with so many different things they can't know every test but there's no need to be rude a fob you off. They should be able to look up their local policy while you are in consultation if they are unsure. It just involves effort!

lugo40's suggestion is a very good one.

Also, don't forget getting your partner's semen analysis done as well. It's not necessarily an issue with you, there might be problems with his side of things instead (or as well). Good luck and don't let this lie for too long.

Ask for a referral to the fertility unit at your hospital - if a GP does not understand the basic testing needed before a referral then the hospital will either tell the dr or do it for you. I had to have:
Day 2 and day 21 ( or whenever relevant in cycle so only day 21 in a 28 day cycle) - done twice
Dh had to do two Semen Analysis

then we saw a dr at the hospital who repeated those tests and did more. Then a wait until had a HSG to check if tubes were blocked and so on.

I would still be asking for a referral as you have been ttc for over 2 years now without success. Both of you need to be further evaluated particularly if your DH has not had semen analyses (note plural).

What day in the cycle were those blood tests performed?.

Then you need a hospital referral - as may be another reason such as blocked Fallopian tube ( a HSG checks this). If it is beyond the remit of GP then hospital referral is next step.

DP has got to do sperm analysis Wed then when results are back we can be referred. Those results are from day 2.

Would a blocked fallopian tube cos irregular periods?

No idea, but from my experience the NHS offer an HSG test to rule out such things. Some people have a laparoscopy depending on their symptoms.
i had a HSG before IVF even though it was male issues identified initially.

Why did my picture get taken down? I made sure it did not include my name or address.

Both my tubes are partially blocked due to endo( diagnosed by laparoscopic surgery) and my periods are and always have been regular...

My cycles are 42-56 days. Day 21 falls on a Sunday. Unsure when is best to get my progesterone level checked?

The day 21 test only applies to an "average" cycle of 28 days. If you have a longer or shorter cycle this should be adjusted accordingly...eg if you had a 35 day cycle you would have this test on day 28....

With your cycle lengths you probably won't have ovulated by day 21 ( which is what the test is checking for primarily)...so you need to do your test much later than day 21