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

@Peonies94 Glad to hear you got your scan quicker than expected! Hope all goes well 🙂

@Aqualou what did you do at the GP before they decided to transfer you to a fertility specialist?
So far my blood test and scans where all organised by my GP, and my Partner got his SA organised by his GP as well.
I've now gotten the letter for my next scan on the 7th of feb and my partner will have to hand in his sample before that, so we should have his results by the time I can call my GP for mine. Then I can hopefully get some help as my GP said to come back in march, but I think I've had my period (it's been way way too light, but it was cycle day 71 already) so there's no chance I'll be pregnant by then because even if I do ovulate it won't happen until the very end of march.

Unfortunately had to cancel my scan due to testing positive for covid, so I’ve been added back to the waiting list! 🤞 it’ll be quickly like last time!
How’s everyone else doing?☺️

@Peonies94 hope you're feeling ok with covid! And fingers crossed you get your next scan date soon :) I'm CD3 - have started metformin and clomid 🤞🏻✨

@xoJellyBean I’ve been rough but not too bad now! I had my peak today so hopefully we can DTD regardless 😢! aww that’s amazing news! Goodluck! Please let me know how that goes for you!

@xoJellyBean how did your husbands SA go? I am waiting on DH results x

@xoJellyBean sorry another question! Do you have an account on instagram you said, where you post about ttc? Would love it give it a follow ☺️

@Peonies94 yay for peak! Good luck!! ✨ my DHs SA came back great🥳 I was so nervous lol yes I've got an insta, it's @pcosandme_21

@xoJellyBean thanks! I’m not sure what to think as previously I’ve had 2-3 peaks, and I know you aren’t suppose to test with pcos, but as I am not yet diagnosed and still unsure, I’m going ahead! My period finally arrived after 90 long days, and now I’ve been a peak, so fingers crossed!! It is only cycle day 17 so though so I really short cycle if it’s to come to anything! Ahh great news! Fab

Hi all, want to follow along. I have been on some amazingly supportive conception threads but having just been referred, I have hopped over to this board. X

@Omgdnswv Absolutely nothing, that's part of my frustration! My GP did no tests, asked me basically nothing except how long I'd been married (which is relevant how?!) and whether AF was regular.
I've been away for a few days, but come back to a hospital appointment in March. Just me though, no mention of hubby. Anyone know if that's normal for the initial questions? I was expecting a note telling me to bring him too, and now I don't know if he needs to make the additional GP call too.

@FlyOnTheWall89 hello, we’ve spoken in other threads I think!

@Aqualou you’ll have seperste tests, providing you’ve both contacted your gp! Myself and DH are registered at different practises, so we made two different calls. You’d have seperate appointments anyways, as usually it’ll be SA department for DP/DH and then bloods/scans and so on for the ladies!

@Peonies94 isn't that mad?! You'd think they'd talk to both people when they don't know which is the issue. Probably should have clarified that with my GP when I first called, but the call was less than 3 minutes so I didn't really get much chance!
Sorry to hear you got struck with Covid. Hope your wait isn't extended too much!

@FlyOnTheWall89 Welcome :)

@Aqualou that really is an odd question to ask, maybe your GP was a time traveller from a century back when getting married meant the immediate start of TTC

If it's initial questions, maybe see if you can just take him along (after all he's probably got questions about his part of investigations too). Worst case he'll have to wait for you in the waiting room. I don't know how normal it is for them not to include him, as I've had obvious things going wrong with my cycle, so my checks were focused on just me up until now.

From what I've read and been told, most likely they'll want to check his sperm just to make sure he's okay before they start treating you, cause it would be a waste of time and resources if they treat you for months and months and then find out he's got a sperm problem.

My partner has done his SA on Friday, so next week, when I have my next scan, he should get his results.

@Aqualou is your appointment with your GP? Or for a certain test to be carried out? It’s been completely different for me! I had a phone appointment the lady just told me to just go for bloods, didn’t even ask questions! Now I am being sent for a scan, and DH for SA!

Hi @Peonies94 yes I recognise your handle too :-).

What a bizarre thing to say @Aqualou!!

I have already had Day 3 and Day 21 bloods done, an internal scan and I paid for AMH bloods privately. This was all via my GP. My partner also had a SA via the GP and now that we have all the boxes ticked, we have been referred onwards - we don't know where to yet and have no timeline. She said expect 3 months, if not longer due to COVID backlog.

@FlyOnTheWall89 you seem to have made good progress! How long have you been being seen regarding this? I made first contacts around 5-6 weeks ago, have my scan coming up in 2 weeks ☺️

@Peonies94 I had a scan in May last year which wasn't fertility specific but it ticked the box and everything was deemed 'normal' (I've checked with the doctor today that this is correct). In the last 6 weeks I've had the bloods taken and my partner had his SA. I also had an AMH blood test on cycle day 2 privately. Whilst everything else my end of deemed 'normal' I have got a 'normal low' result for AMH so I'm pleased I had it done because I am now in the know on that front which is unchangeable, unlike a SA which can vary. The waiting is painful! X

@FlyOnTheWall89 do you mind me asking how you organised and where you went for your AMH? Is this something the gp doesn’t generally do? Thanks

@Peonies94 no the GP won't do it. I used The Path Lab in London. It was £110 - results come the same day. I just called and said I would like my AMH tested - no referral required. They were super friendly. It doesn't include any consultation about your result though which lots of them don't... so I've done lots of googling and reading but they give you a scale so you know what the measurement falls in. They specified it as normal but after some research, it's definitely on the low end of normal. Hopefully the quality tops quantity! X

@FlyOnTheWall89 ahh okay! That seems reasonable and definitely worth it! How old are you if you don’t mind me asking? I’ll look into one near me? Thank you

@Peonies94 defo worth it. I'm nearly 33. I didn't think it would be low tbh as all my other things have been bracketed as normal via GP results. High FSH can be a warning you have low AMH, and mine was fine / a teeny tiny bit high (having done a lot of research). I am expecting someone from a fertility clinic to pick it all apart in greater detail and give me the real results because the GP has zero fertility specific knowledge. My darling partner got a really bad SA result and they couldn't really tell him anything except read the numbers. So infuriating. Pleased we now have a referral tho and as someone said to me earlier, we are no longer wondering why and in limbo.

@FlyOnTheWall89 I know there’s something wrong with me, I have cycles varying sometimes up to 90 + days! The year I’ve been trying And the month or so before that, have only made it to cycle 5, just now! Ahh no, my husband has just had his back, but not really sure what they mean! The GP said they were ‘okay’ but not great! That mixed with my issues, I am not sure we stand much chance!

@FlyOnTheWall89 absolutely! I’m glad you’ve had a referral and can hopefully get the answers you need 🤞! I am waiting for my scan and I imagine then we’ll be referred. My bloods come back normal.

@FlyOnTheWall89 when your DP had his SA back, was he given the actual readings, or just given a piece of paper to read? It’s so confusing 🤦🏻‍♀️