Blood testing for fertility

[poppymango]

I've started the process of fertility testing. My doctor booked me in for a blood test on day 6 of my cycle, which I had a few days ago. I phoned up today to book the next one, not knowing which cycle day it was supposed to be because I hadn't been told. The poor receptionist was very confused but was eventually able to tell me it's supposed to be on cycle day 21.

Unfortunately I'm away that week. I'm slightly annoyed that the doctor didn't specify the days during my initial appointment so I could book them both in at the same time (and make sure I'm actually here), but hey ho.

My question is, do both blood tests have to be within the same cycle? Or can I do day 6 of one and day 21 of the next? That's probably a stupid question but I'd like to avoid having an unnecessary third blood test if I can!

I've also had to chase them for my ultrasound scan thingy. I was promised faithfully that I would have a letter with appointment details through my door, but that was over a month ago and nothing has arrived. Phoned just now and the next available appointment is the middle of June, which feels like ages away.

I'm half tempted to go private just to get it all over with but that's probably crazy expensive. I've heard there are tests you an do by post, but surely they're not as accurate as a proper blood test and scan? I don't mind spending a bit of money if it's worth it.

Being on hold to the GP surgery and then the hospital for half the morning, and then realising that one test I will probably have to start all over again and the other isn't for two months... it's pretty demoralising. Any advice is welcome. It's all taking so much time that I feel like I don't have.

They don't need to be done in the same cycle necessarily but if you're measuring LH, FSH, oestrogen, testosterone etc the test is usually done on more like cycle day 3, not day 6. Day 21 testing is for progesterone. It needs to be done around 7 days after you've ovulated so it might be worth tracking your LH surge if you aren't already, to have a sense of whether day 21 is the correct day for you to be doing it (ie. It is going to be the wrong day for anyone with a very short or long cycle).

You can get private blood tests and a scan for a few hundred quid - you'll see options if you google your location.

Yes echoing this, the blood tests at the start of your cycle should be days 2-5. And then progesterone 6/7 days after ovulation. You can do medichecks or Hertility blood tests at home, I did hertility and it was about 180 quid. Superdrug also do a progesterone at home blood test for about £40.

I took private blood tests to NHS fertility appointment, many of them are valid for a year. NHS gp also won't test your AMH, a fertility clinic probably will though.

The scan will tell you things a blood tests can't e.g. your follicle count and if things are looking OK there but the at home bloods are accurate and pretty thorough so if you're happy to pay, I think they're worth doing - they'll also test your thyroid which my GP took some convincing to do and can be important for fertility!