When to go to doctors

[intelligentPutty]

Hi,

I hope this is the right place to post and apologies if not.
We have been TTC #2 for nearly 2 years now.
Had an ectopic in July 2016 (lost a tube) and a mmc at 6 weeks in May 2017.
Now have been unable to conceive since the mmc and due to age am going to doctors.

Period started again today (and I think my cycle is getting longer).
What’s the best way to proceed and when should I go to the doctor during cycle.
Advice appreciated. Getting more dispondent due to my age.

I think since it’s been 6 months since your mmc. I’m so sorry for your loss it might be worth asking for some 21 day bloods. Do you temp or actively track your ovulation? I’m not sure how much they would do for you apart from referral to private treatment with you already having a child. X

Hi, it depends on your doctor and your age. They may tell you to keep trying as you've conceived twice in two years. An understanding doctor may help, and if you're over 35 they should help as it's been over 6 months since you last conceived. We knew we needed ivf for our second child, but our doctor did all the tests (day 3 and day 21 bloods), ultrasound scan and sperm test on NHS. After that we took the results to a private ivf clinic. It's not critical which day of your cycle you go to docs, as you'll be booked in for bloods etc on a separate appointment. The first appointment will just be a discussion. Fingers crossed for you x

It will then depend if they find anything wrong and how it would be treated. I believe clomid can be given on NHS for second child (obviously if you have ovulation issues), but IUI and definitely IVF would not be available to you on NHS as you already have a child x

A lot depends on the doctor. Mine was a and wouldn’t refer me despite having tried for 2+ years, aged over 35 and not a single bfp to show for it. However, I know that a lot of GPs are a lot more reasonable and will do tests or refer you quite early on.
If yours is unhelpful, I’d recommend changing GPs.
However, it’s also likely to just have been unlucky rather than have a treatable problem. And with one tube down it’s bound to take longer.
How old are you if you don’t mind me asking?

Hi

Thanks for all the replies.
I am 38. (Thought I put that in original post but didn’t!)
Yes. I thought that was the case about not having ivf for second child. I have private healthcare so may check policy on that.
I was using opk for about 4 months. And generally ov’d on day 14/15 of cycle.
Haven’t this month as the stress all got too much (I know it’s nothing compared to what some go thru).
I’m blessed to have my one daughter.
And I am now sort of resigned to it not happening. The pain of both losses had hardened me to what might never be.

I think I’ll try doctors and see where that goes.

They can do 13th December! Love the nhs. ;)

I am stunned that the wouldn’t refer!

13th of December! It was a bit like that with my awful GP. But since I’ve changed, the waiting time has gone down to under a week.
Don’t get your hopes up about private insurance- generally absolutely nothing is covered.
Is your husband on Proxeed/Profertil + healthy lifestyle? That could speed things up as time to pregnancy is closely correlated with semen quality.

Such a pain waiting for GP appts, but at least you're booked in now.

It doesn't matter when in the month you go (as others have said) as they won't do bloods then. If they offer to do them via GP (which I think is the recommended NICE guidance?), they'll give you the forms to go off and organise at wherever your local blood clinics are. Then you'll go back to the GP to discuss and make a plan of the next step. I had 21 day and 3 day bloods for fertility hormone levels. Not sure if GP did them or fertility clinic or both. It's a while ago now!

Make sure your DH/DP goes and gets his swimmers checked too via his GP.

There's usually very clear advice about when you can get help and when you can't if you look up your local CCG guidelines.
I couldn't tell you about clomid as we weren't offered it as I was ovulating fine.

If you have a child already, you definitely won't qualify for NHS funded IVF. We also had private health insurance and they pretty much universally don't cover anything fertility related. Not even a blood test (though if you have a gynae issue, that just so happens to be related to infertility but is causing you bother in and of itself, you can prob get that bit covered if you say it's for the gynae issue).

Hopefully it won't come to IVF anyway!
Hope your GP appt goes well :)