Just been referred to a fertility specialist - any advice welcomed!

[CL1982]

Hi Everyone,

Just looking for some advice. My GP has just referred me to the fertility specialist. We've been TTC for just under a year with nothing. Two blood tests have been done, i am ovulating, my progesterone levels are great, i have had a scan which shows my uterus looks normal with no cysts and my husband's sperm is great. I'm 34.

Does anyone have any advice for what I should ask for, what i should expect or just advice in general for the first appointment with the specialist?!

If anyone else is starting out on this journey i'd love to also share thoughts and feelings!

Hi CL 1982. I have just had my first appointment with the fertility doctor (or I should say-'we').

I am really really suprised that your doctor has referred you this early. Usually they only refer you after 1 year ttc.
Our specialist told us that If it wasn't for my ovarian reserve result (bearing in mind that DP has a low count, low morphology and low motility) then she would have told us to come back in another year. So if you were going to see my specialist she probably would tell you to go away and keep on trying.

You need to make sure you have information about your cycle dates, that is all I needed to have with me.

I think that you shouldn't worry too much, hopefully there is nothing wrong with you and it's just that it's taking a bit of time. Just keep trying and relax.

I am sure you mean well and thank you For answering but I am not asking for an opinion on whether we should or shouldn't be seeing someone-that is up to us and our GP. I was asking for some non judgemental advice for what to prepare myself for.

I hope all goes well for you.

Hi CL,
I would say the next step is they will want to do a HSG to check your tubes are open. Once this is done and if all clear they will likely tell you to keep trying naturally given it's been less than a year. If they are open it can help improve fertility for a few months as gives them a bit of a clear out! I think the trying time changes when you get to 35 but I'm not sure. Good Luck!!

That is really helpful thanks. We've been trying for one month under a year so yes, technically we're not quite there yet! The GP felt she wanted to have us looked at though as I'd had a PI from my coil a few years ago so if anything IS blocked she can get us onto IVF. She is also slightly concerned I may have scarring from the coil. She is very supportive. I am hoping they won't find anything nasty!

Hello OP, I recently had my first appointment at the hospital which my GP referred me too. They'll take your height weight etc and then they'll ask you what treatments you've had if any, your cycles and then what the next step is
I don't think leanandgreen meant to sound judgemental but he/she are correct in saying GPs are normally very reluctant to refer anyone who's been trying less than a year, in fact its against protocol so your extremely lucky to have an understanding GP.
Don't get your hopes up and expect the consultant to be the same though, she'll no doubt refer you for a hycosy and have your tubes checked and if they are clear, youll (like myself) will be under the unexplained infertility category which will mean they cannot refer you for IVF until you have tried for 2 years. I had my consultation in September and she made me come back in November when it had been exactly 2 years and that was just for 2month.

Good luck OP

Thank you for sharing your experience-I agree we are lucky. Actually once we know everything is clear that will be good. The GP didn't feel there was any point in waiting another month if anything was blocked post PI hence the month early referral. I don't think she felt it was an issue -30 days on my long cycle isn't enough to do a whole other cycle anyway. Does it make a difference for your age? We only have until 37 for IVF in our county...?

I think the rules change a bit if your 35 and over, things get done slightly more quickly, I think only 1 round of ivf is offered if a woman is over 40 but each nhs trust has their own guidelines, it may be worth having a look.

Hi CL1982, we have only been ttc for 8 months and we were referred to the fertility clinic recently but I am 37. I think if you are under 35 they say to try for 12 months and over 35 is 6 months so it sounds about right for you to be referred now. I have no idea what happens next though!

I went to GP as I have symptoms of endometriosis, she did a hormone test which was abnormal so she referred us but I have no idea what to expect so I know how you feel!

Our first appt was 2 weeks ago, we were just asked a few questions and the consultant was lovely. I had day 3 blood tests last week and hubby has his test and then we go back in 10 weeks but not really sure what happens at that appt!

Good luck with your appt

Thank you so much! That is really great-I was starting to feel like I was being told I shouldn't go!! That is great that you are seeing someone. I'm sorry about the edimetriosis and I hope you find out any information about it. I am quite nervous about it. Here is much baby dust coming at you :)

CL: I was on the exact same boat, all results were normal and I'm your age as well. They couldn't figured out why. We've been trying for 5 years. Once you get referred it can go pretty quick depending on where you are (mine did, all happened within two months).

I just had my ET last Wednesday and now waiting for the result. I was very clueless when we started and now have a better idea of what goes into the process so if any questions let me know.

I would start taking Acid Folic and pre-conception pill for your husband as well. They suggest to start 3 months before the procedure (I didn't know and never thought about them so only started mine about a couple of weeks before). Apart from that, just prepare your body and keep a healthy lifestyle as usual. Nothing extra.

My experience is the clinic might not tell you everything you want to know about the process, they would assume we know everything and they only tell us if there's an issue, so prepare the questions beforehand before you go in at each appointment

That is so king thank you! Any help would be great. Would pm work better than this open forum?

CL yes PM is absolutely fine. I don't know how to do it though I'm so new to this forum :)

If you have scarring from the coil it won't be picked up by scan, even the specialists would struggle to see it. I would push very hard to have a hysteroscopy with a camera to inspect the inside of your womb. BUT do not let them treat anything if they find it. It will hopefully put your mind at rest xxx

The reason i recommend this is that I have been ttc for 4 years and 3 MC, I only just had hysteroscopy on Monday and they found strange scarring RH side of uterus. They didn't know what it was and tried to remove it but couldn't.

NHS simply don't know about it

Now I have done my own research and discovered scarring is called Asherman's Syndrome which is rare but causes infertility. It's dangerous to attempt to treat it if you don't know what you are doing and can do more harm than good. Going straight to private specialist on Monday at our own expense as I'm still in pain from their scraping at the scars and I'm worried

If you have light periods and/or unexplained pain these can be signs also

It's treatable for most. But having seen the photographs from my womb I'm not sure mine is going to be good news

Thank you so much for your kind words and I am so sorry that this has affected you :( I will absolutely ask them to check this. I had a PI from the coil which I don't think would cause scarring but of course I just don't know. I will absolutely mention it to the specialist when I speak to him. Thank you again ❤️️