Start of fertility testing

[Peonies94]

Anyone else at the start of fertility testing? I’ve had my first bloods and had husband is waiting for his SA. My bloods weren’t done on any particular day of the cycle, and I have no idea what rhey were looking for. I phoned for results and have been told the gp hasn’t looked at them yet, but there’s no ‘red’. I’m assuming they won’t be looking at ovulation, which I am pretty certain I’m not ovulating, as I’m only having around 3 periods a month. Currently 3 months since last period. If anyone else is around the same place in the process or could help me with what they may be testing, that would be really helpful! Thank you

@Omgdnswv I had the same! GP said all tests were fine which is why I was so concerned it was blocked tubes or something else sinister but like you, at the fertility clinic he said I wasn’t ovulating and then it made sense . I don’t think most gps really know enough about this type of thing which is why we get referred. Or maybe we do ovulate but very rarely.

They should have bloods month 1 as a minimum to make sure it works , if not they adjust your dose until it does. I started on 5mg and it’s usually 2.5mg I think and it worked for me so I never had mine adjusted. Its a brilliant drug and it it’s so cheap and side affects are minimal for most( hot flushes have been the major one for me but that’s about it) so it’s absolutely worth a try. If it doesn’t work for I won’t have regretted trying it at all.

I think my worry is, I don’t want my potential one and only chance of IVF to be the “ trial run” if that makes sense , I’d rather they try and exhaust all checks before hand. I might try them again and ask if they can monitor at least 1 cycle . I think your right they can check the egg quality and all that good stuff so could be a better option for us and we could always try again privately.

@Omgdnswv That's fab you’re getting some medication. Hopefully it works and you can graduate from this thread! It’s progress, no wonder you’re excited as you feel like you could actually be getting somewhere!

@Loulou2202 I’m sorry it hasn’t worked for you yet. Fingers crossed.

Im still waiting. Thyroid and prolactin have gone down since I’ve been taking thyroxine but I’ve been referred to endocrinologist because of previous results. Consultant at ivf clinic is happy to go ahead when I have ok from endocrinologist.

Was meant to have an appointment last week which was cancelled. It’s been moved to end of the month now so I’m waiting for that. Hopefully they give me the go ahead for IVF and I can get started! Won’t be until Oct/Nov time now though I reckon.

@Lauralozzle thank you. Shame about the cancelled appointment but not too much longer until the end of the month! I hope it goes well for you and you can get started asap

@Aqualou @Loulou2202 @Lauralozzle @Omgdnswv thank you for your well wishes ❤️ unfortunately it ended in a chemical, I came on about a week later.. Was absolutely gutted but I've come to terms with it now.

Was a bit daft and gave up my medication and supplements after, so I'm starting all that again now and hoping I've not completely messed up the somewhat regular cycles I'd started having 😭 praying that since I got them to start once I can again just need to be patient and put the same steps in place, I'm absolutely kicking myself but can't change it now I suppose!

I'm better news I did have an update from fertility clinic... Wait is now 30 weeks (lol) so looking at a phone appt in 8 weeks or so, big waiting list but I suppose it's a positive they're at least updating people.

Sooo glad your Hycosy results were OK @Omgdnswv and you've got some letrozole 🤞🏼🤞🏼 for ovulation soon!!!

@Loulou2202 Hopefully the end of the month comes quickly. I really hope it’s not cancelled again and that they give the go ahead for IVF. Once they do, it’s blood work and consent forms and then we’re good to go!

@Endogal Im so sorry it ended in a chemical. Hopefully you can get your cycles back on track again. Hopefully you get your telephone appointment soon at the fertility clinic.

@Endogal I’m really sorry to hear that, sending hugs . Your absolutely right , you managed to get it on track before and I am sure you will be able to do it again I’m sure of it .

@Lauralozzle il keep my fingers crossed for you , keep us updated if you don’t mind I think il be heading down the same path x

@Endogal sorry to hear that.
don't beat yourself up too much about the supplements you stopped taking, it's a fairly common response to this kind of upset or grief I reckon. You had to come to terms with the feelings and probably didn't feel like going straight back to the usual routine. You might be able to focus on the fact that it shows that you can get pregnant, and hopefully the next one will stick around till the end.

Hi all,

Hope everyone is doing ok. Iv just come across this and thought it might be of use for anyone who’s having investigations / unmonitored treatments or is just curious.

You can get a day 21 progesterone test now from Superdrug online …. It might be common knowledge for some but I posted a comment a while ago saying I was stressed about lack of monitoring on Letrozole and this at home test would have been really helpful to me at the time!.

onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/progesterone-test-kit.html

Theres also an AMH test available.
I haven’t used either so can’t speak to accuracy but thought it worth a mention x

@Endogal Sorry to hear (and for the super late reply). Hope you're doing alright.x

No news here. I am still waiting for results for bloods/ultrasound/swabs that were done in April and May. It took several phone calls chasing updates, but 16 weeks after my last test, I've got a phone appointment with the infertility team....in another 12 weeks (28 weeks for test results?!) . It works out that it'll be over a year since contacting my GP, and over 3.5 since I came off contraception before I've even got initial test results. I feel like smacking my head against a wall, so I've been staying away from Mumsnet and burying my head in the sand.

Thanks for sharing the find @Loulou2202

@Aqualou The waiting is so annoying! Over a year since contacting your GP, it’s rubbish. I know everything is stretched but how long you’ve had to wait really sucks.

I had my endocrinologist appointment last week. I’m now waiting for the letter to confirm I’m ok for IVF to go ahead. Last letter following a consultant appointment was 4 weeks before I received it so hopefully will have that end of September. Then I need to send it to IVF clinic. I reckon it’ll be closer to Nov/Dec now. Maybe even next year before.

Part of me is really irritated that I wasn’t referred to endocrinologist sooner, that I wasn’t put on thyroid meds sooner. All this extra stuff since they said IVF for you and it’s dragging it out massively.

@Aqualou wow that is frustrating , it does seem to take an obscenely long time! I don’t blame you for taking a break from MN especially when things are not moving as quickly as they should.

@Lauralozzle same for you also. Everything just takes so long and there’s stuff that could be done so much sooner whilst waiting for other things. I hope you get the letter soon