Post by speckledfrog on Dec 30, 2012 20:45:36 GMT -5
I talked to my OB at 8 months about when to start extra testing and she gave me the green light then. It was nice because we had our preliminary tests done and we were ready to make an appointment with an RE at 12 months.
H did a SA and then a follow up SA. I did an HSG. It was mildly painful during and I bled a just a little afterwards.
Post by yellowbrkrd on Dec 30, 2012 20:49:03 GMT -5
I would say after six months of well timed sex is the time to start testing. We waited a year and I wish we would have done it sooner. Testing can take a while and getting into see the RE alone took some time. If you get pregnant during testing, great. If not, hopefully you'll get some answers sooner than later.
ETA: If your DH gets a SA done make sure it's through the OB or RE office....DH originally had his done through our family doctor but they don't test for all of the things our RE does so he had to have another one a few months later.
My ob recommends testing after six months of well timed sex. I would personally go ahead with a sperm analysis at this point since it's so easy
I totally agree.
My DH got an SA after 4 months of timed sex, which many would probably think it way premature, but it turned out to be the best decision we ever made. DH had/has VERY VERY low count, with low motility and zero morph.
We were able to start seeing a Urologist and RE ASAP and had a successful IVF after only "trying" for 10 months.
Post by GailGoldie on Dec 30, 2012 22:28:25 GMT -5
my OB rec's once you are 30 to only wait 6 months... but you are 28?
the next step should always be a SA and an HSG - b/c nothing will get you pg if your tubes are blocked or your dh's sperm has issues, etc --- there should be blood testing for you (day 3, etc)... and will want to test to make sure you are actually O'ing (a +OPK doesn't confirm that you did O, but just signals a surge).
for me we only waited 3 months before going to my OB to get a referral to an RE (which you should do- don't waste testing with an OB- go right to an RE) b/c I was 32 when we started TTC and my cycles were LOOOONG and screwy- so i thought I had PCOS and turned out I did.
best of luck to you - hopefully you'll get KU in the next month or so and not need testing- but it doesnt' hurt to start thinking about the basics... you are not old, but also not YOUNG, so don't feel weird that you are tihnking about testing.
We were trying for 17 months before going to the RE. I had an ultrasound, blood work and I have to get my HSG done this week. MH provided a sample, which showed no swimmers, so he too has to get blood work done and provide a second sample this week. From there, unless it was a fluke, he'll have to go to the urologist to determine our options. I was feeling more hopeful after our initial consult with the RE when she called us pretty boring. That came crashing down after she called MH after dropping off his sample last week. There could still be something wrong with me too, but right now we definitely know we have a MFI problem.
ETA - I used opks and charted on and off, so my RE doesn't think we have an ovulation problem - since I appear to ovulate.
Post by changedname on Dec 31, 2012 7:41:42 GMT -5
My OB Referred me after 7 months because I was charting and using a CBEFM. She told me the 1 year rule is for an average couple who is not charting.
We had a meet and greet with an RE then got bloodwork requistions. After that I had a sonohistogram (SHG), HSG and DH did a SA. We then did one month of cycle monitoring so they could see if I was actually ovulating. They then recommended a course of action. I am unexplained so all those tests found nothing anyway. Good luck and hope you don't get to needing an RE.
I wish I would have listened to the girls on here and on the local... skip the testing/treatment with the OB, and go straight to the RE.
I went to the shady grove office on K st, and it took about 1.5-2mo to get an initial appt. Then, they did all of the testing (SA, HSG, blood work). After testing was done, if I recall correctly, they did one or two very well monitored clomid cycles, and since that didn't work, we moved to iui.
I think my first initial call to them was around April/may, and I was preg by the end of Oct. That was after dicking around with my OB for several months before April. I like my OB for "regular" stuff, but they kinda sucked when it came to RE stuff, and it was very frustrating.
I wish I would have listened to the girls on here and on the local... skip the testing/treatment with the OB, and go straight to the RE.
I went to the shady grove office on K st, and it took about 1.5-2mo to get an initial appt. Then, they did all of the testing (SA, HSG, blood work). After testing was done, if I recall correctly, they did one or two very well monitored clomid cycles, and since that didn't work, we moved to iui.
I think my first initial call to them was around April/may, and I was preg by the end of Oct. That was after dicking around with my OB for several months before April. I like my OB for "regular" stuff, but they kinda sucked when it came to RE stuff, and it was very frustrating.
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This was my experience too. I didn't get my period back after going off the pill in October 2008. I went to my OB in January 2009, and she was useless. No testing and did an unmonitored clomid cycle--so risky but I didn't know any better. When that was a BFN, I went to Shady Grove in June 2009, 8 months after starting TTC since still no period. Testing with them took about 1-2 months, and then we did a monitored clomid cycle (BFN), we took a month or two off, did a second clomid cycle+IUI (BFN and clomid thinned my lining too much) and then I was pregnant via IUI+injectables in December 2009.
I can't say enough good things about my RE and Shady Grove.
My situation was a little different because my chart showed an obvious issue. Do you have an annual coming up soon? Do you have a good relationship with your doc? If you do I would just make an appt with all your info and ask her what she thinks. I'm very close to my doctor, so she is really open with me. But yes, next steps will be a SA and then blood work for you. GL
In addition to everyone else's advice I would start to talk to your families about their histories. I always knew the women in my family were irregular but fertile. I learner much later of issues on DHs side with sperm.
Not to rush you into anything... but, the first appt with my Doc at Shady Grove (Dr. Nair) had more of a "consultation" feel to it. They sort of describe what would happen if you do decide to move forward with treatment... and, I felt it was really, really low pressure. In fact, by the time I went to that first appointment, it was a little frustrating because I wanted to get the show on the road ASAP!
So, you could always make the appt now to talk to one of the Docs there... it's not like they will pressure you into any treatment before you're ready.
Post by belovedbride07 on Jan 1, 2013 0:07:18 GMT -5
I'm so glad you asked this, Swizzle. I've been meaning to start a similar post myself. I guess I'll be calling an OB next week, whether I get a BFP or BFN.
Trying for #3; FET 8/18 -- BFN. Leaving things up to chance for now... After three years, three IVFs, and two FETs, we finally have our miracle babIES!
Personally, I'd go ahead and schedule a consult with an RE, skip the OB. This was just me, but my OB was WAY less than helpful, didn't care about my charts. My RE really took the time to listen, answer questions - it felt like as a specialist, he was much more concerned with giving both of us a high level of care and service.
Maybe give it another month or two, then I'd get that scheduled. No need to wait, you have a much better handle on well-timed sex and your cycle than the average woman.
After 5 months I used OPKs and charted and confirmed my cycles were regular and I was ovulating. Around 8 months I mentioned this to my OB and we did bloodwork and DH did a SA. Everything looked good sonar the 1 year mark we went to the RE. The first step was just an u/s.
Also, my insurance required 1 year of trying before being referred to a RE if under 35. Technically they don't know how long you've tried, though, unless you documented it with your OB.
We'd been trying for about 5 cycles before I talked to an RE, but the only reason I jumped the gun a little was because I'd been charting for over a year and had noticed pretty regular cycles, 28-30 days, but I was ovulating around CD 24 all the time, so my LP was only 4-5 days. We went through all the testing, which showed DH was fine but I had very low progesterone causing a short LP.
I also did the HSG (OUCH), and found out I have a slightly T-shaped uterus, which can cause a higher rate of miscarriage in some cases. They said my tubes were open, however, I got PG less than 2 weeks after the test, totally by accident since I thought it wasn't going to happen anytime soon based on my LP. I talked to my RE and later my OB and both said though there is no direct proof HSG can help get PG, they've both seen women get PG right after it many times. Maybe the tubes were just slightly blocked and the fluid cleared them out... After getting Pg I had to take progesterone for the first 12 weeks, since it was still pretty low.
It doesn't hurt to be tested! I was unsure about it too, until this board convinced me to go. GL.