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 ahh I kind of expected to have some issues as my cycles have always been all over the place, but had no idea I’d feel like this or the potential extent! Yeah I had a few peaks in a month!
@Endogal what tests have you had all together in that tome? And was it the GP who prescribed Metoformin? I’m thinking I’ll need that as well as clomid, as I’m sure I’m not ovulating! Hope it’s not too long for you!!

@Peonies94 I've had bloods, ultrasound and hysteroscopy! The gynaecologist has asked the GP to prescribe me the metformin as apparently they need to change the dose at the start quite a bit so it's easier for them to manage :) hopefully you'll get some answers soon! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 I'm hoping to be prescribed clomid too if the metformin doesn't help me ovulate in the meantime! Have you been told how long your fertility referral could take? Are you doing private or NHS?

@Endogal ahh okay! Hoping I’ll be referred soon! I’m assuming when my bloods come back a referral will be the next step? Ahh okay that’s good! No I’ve not been told anything! I phoned my GP and mentioned fertility and extremely long cycles and they just told me to go for bloods, that’s it! Yes good luck to you too! Private I am!

@Endogal sorry, no nhs at the moment, but I am considering tests private, but would need to go back to nhs for treatment, so going to just see how it goes for now!

Hey, I think I'm a little behind where you seem to be. I spoke to my GP for the first time in October and am waiting for my first discussion with the Subfertility clinic through NHS (apparently by 3rd Feb). I have no noticeable issues, regular periods, regular ovulation (according to my Natural Cycles app anyway), but no luck at all since I came off the Implant in April 2019. Didn't start properly ttc til 2020, so hoping the stress of the last few years (with the pandemic, furlough etc plus we live in a house share with MIL whilst we're saving for a house) is our main issue, though that seems too optimistic for the length of time we've been trying! Trying to stay abreast of the many many acronyms and tests in the world of infertility, whilst not letting the stress and fear actually destroy my brain!

@Aqualou I’ve only had my first initial bloods so not been referred to fertility yet! It’s so difficult isn’t it! I’m the same no idea what some things mean!

@xoJellyBean I wonder if you could help me! Or anyone else really!
I phoned for my blood results today, it’s been over a week since I had them and I’ve phoned a few times now and gotten no where!
So.. my HP has come back normal and the doctor hasn’t looked at my other results yet, so I can’t have them back. I asked them what else they tested for and the receptionist said thyroid and then I missed the other one but it was something like …. … ‘homone binding…’ so I missed some of the words!🤦🏻‍♀️.. I’m guessing that’s the SHBG? Hopefully I’ll get those 2 results by the end of the week!

@Peonies94 Isn't it odd how the doctors all do things differently? I've had no blood tests at all. My referral was based on a call with my GP that lasted less than 3 minutes in total, with none of the questions I expected. Just leaves you unsure on where you stand really!

@Aqualou it is! I haven’t actually spoken to a gp! I spoke to receptionist who said gp will send for bloods, and for me to book in! So that’s literally what I did last week! Its funny how it can very so much!

@Peonies94 yes that's it. SHBG, sex hormone binding globulin. Mine came back super low!

@xoJellyBean that would have been what she said! Hopefully I’ll have my results Friday! Thank you

Ahh that makes sense @Peonies94 the prices for tests seemed quite reasonable from up the thread which surprised me!! Hopefully it'll be a quick fix for you 🥰

Aww @Aqualou that sounds so frustrating not really having an idea what could be the problem, I hope it's something easy to fix. I think when I first used Mumsnet there was a thread on conception where someone went through all the acronyms maybe it's still kicking about!

The fact stress affects fertility stresses me out so much more because I feel like short of retiring before 30 there's not much I can really do about it! 🤣But then I'm stressed because I'm worried about it affecting conception and it's such a vicious cycle!

Oh my OP why is it so difficult to get your own results!!!! I hope they get them to you properly soon, it sounds so frustrating not being able to get a straight answer about what was even tested!!

@Peonies94 I wonder did they do a full blood profile on you, if so then you'll know what level your androgens are at. I can't believe they wouldn't just give your results to you!

@Endogal I know, so frustrating! Hoping I’ll get them tonorrow! @xoJellyBean what are androgens? I believe they only tested for the 3 things stated, just hope I can get them soon to find out what the next stage is, US etc!

Yes so frustrating and I’m only just starting the process of having investigations! It can only get worse I’m sure!

@Peonies94 they're mostly a male hormone but women have small amounts. Mine were so high which indicated the PCOS and then I went for my ultrasound

@Endogal The stress thing is definitely true! It's just a circle isn't it? The moment you realise that maybe things aren't happening the way you expected, it's like falling down the rabbit hole. Too many potentials and a long process to get any real answers, so by it's very nature the whole process to ttc is just a giant pit of stress. I think it helps to see glimpses into other people's stories though, makes me feel less overwhelmed and alone in it.

@xoJellyBean thank you! @Aqualou @Endogal definitely a very stressful time! It’s so nice to have mumsnet to talk to others as we haven’t told any of our friends or family!

Same for us, it's difficult to know who to tell. I'm usually a pretty private person, but it feels odd to have not told my sister what is going on. But I'm the eldest of four, and both my sister's already have children despite being 2 and 9 years younger than me. I feel like I'm going to get pity, and that is not at all what I need. I think the empathy, and anonymity, of Mumsnet is ideal to be able to discuss without worrying how people will react. Shame you can't get a hug from a computer though, eh? Lol.

We've actually told quite a few people, I've told my mum (and by extension dad and brother) and my grandparents on side of my mum. Also my childhood best friend. My partner talked to his brother, as we know they couldn't and we wanted to ask them if the reason was anything that might be genetical and could possibly affect my partner too and would need checking out.
Since then, whenever all the waiting and repeat disappointments at negative tests and missing periods got too much I tended to pick a different close friend to talk to about it all so I have by now told four more people and my Partner told I believe two of his close friends.

I think because when I told most of my friends I was already complaining of hormone levels and not always ovulating, so they know we have difficulties and can understand that it takes a little while and it's nice to know there are some people that I know that I can unburden to other than my partner. But yes, Mumsnet is a big help too because I'm the first one in my friends group to try for a family (I'm 27) and several of them don't plan to ever have children, so while they empathise, they don't really know what it's like.

@Aqualou I have an older sister, but she’s not got children, and as she’s getting older she worries of her infertility but hasn’t met someone who she wishes to have a family with, so I feel it will worry her more! My parents it would be their first grandchild so I also don’t want to cause any worry! My friends all had children pretty quickly so don’t think they’d understand so I just decided to not tell anyone about ttc, but now we’ve been married a year, people are questioning when we’ll have children, so I’m not sure we’ll keep it quiet forever! Who knows.

@Omgdnswv we all handle it differently I suppose! I made the decision not to tel people I’m a private person generally and I think i would find it difficult, but I can see how it may help in some ways! There’s pros and cons to both isn’t there! Who knows what might happen, with more tests happening I’ll probably begin to tell people I’m sure, as I will have to tell my manager and things so will probably tell others then, but until a diagnosis I think I’ll try keep things quiet!

I phoned up again today to get my bloods- only to be told the doctor still hasn’t read them! I’m really frustrated! I just want my results 🤦🏻‍♀️ This has been the case since Monday now!

Glad to have found this thread, mind if I join? Background: DH and I have been TTC since Nov 2020 with no success, age 28 and 31 so not an obvious issue. I have had my CD21 blood test which came back today as inconclusive so I need to do another one next month on CD23 as my GP thinks maybe the timings are off. My cycles are pretty regular 28-31 days. DH has his SA booked for 27th Jan so hopefully once my second progesterone test comes back and his SA comes back we'll know a bit more about where we stand. We've been referred to the Hewitt centre in the meantime but I've been told to expect a two month wait for that. Does anyone know roughly what a 'good' result is for the CD21 test? Mine was 19.8 which I feel like is low, but if my test was two days early maybe not?! Such a minefield!

@Peonies94 that's shocking. I would keep pushing because you should at least be given the results and if the GP em wants to follow up then they can. 🙄

@bravotango hi, what was the test for? Is that progesterone to confirm ovulation? My DH has his SA on 19 Jan, god love them lol