Have people had before going in for some type of checkup? I know that they won't really start testing until 1 year but I am wondering if there is anything they can do before that.
I am also wondering for those ladies who's husband had a SA if that was at a year or if it can be done earlier.
I am trying to remain positive but proactive and just want to see what else I can do. I don't think I will continue the acupuncture, I don't truly believe in it but tried it weekly this cycle to see if it would help.
I was 33 years old when I went for an appointment. We were on our 10th cycle. My OB/GYN said this was fine and it took 2 months to get into the RE. Plus they were able to order the SA for my husband and my day 3 and day 21 bloodwork so it was nice to have all of that in before I went to the RE so we didn't have to waste anymore time. After that all came back good my OB/GYN also schedule my HSG.
Post by kellsbelles on Aug 14, 2014 6:37:41 GMT -5
I just went after 11/12 cycles. They did an ultrasound and ordered bloodwork. Those things aren't really invasive and a good place to start. How many cycles are you going on now? You could make an appt w your OB to chat about fertility and not having success and see what they say the next step would be.
I'm sorry you're feeling frustrated I know how difficult it can be. Hugs to you and good vibes going your way.
PS I stopped acupuncture very quickly as well. I wasn't really seeing a benefit and it was very uncomfortable for me.
I have my annual scheduled for December, which will be our 12th cycle. I think I'd be tempted to call now if I didn't already have the appointment scheduled. I just turned 31 though, so I know I'm not supposed to worry until a year has gone by.
I spoke with my PCP at my annual about it, but she was not much help. Then she referred me to a OBGYN who specializes in prenatal care, so I met with her at 8 months to talk about my concerns and fears. She said we were young and healthy and to wait until a year. I scheduled an appointment for October with the RE as that will be one year of TTC. I wish we could be seen sooner, I really just want to know if something is wrong and what next steps are.
Post by oneslybookworm on Aug 14, 2014 7:49:25 GMT -5
I saw my gyn for my annual in March of this year. May would have been a year, and she said to wait a few months and then, if nothing, make an appointment with an OBGYN for some testing. I never did, as DH and I weren't at that stage yet, emotionally. It's now been 17 cycles for us, and I think if nothing happens by Christmas we'll pull the trigger on tests and follow ups.
Post by HoneySpider on Aug 14, 2014 7:52:48 GMT -5
After 9 full cycles I made an appt to see my ob/gyn but on the 10th cycle, while waiting for the appt, I got pregnant. They didn't blink at eye at the fact that I hadn't been trying a full year yet (I had just turned 31).
After the loss we only waited about 5-6 months before going back (different doctor). I had bloodwork & DH had his SA and the doctor was ready to move forward with clomid, IUI, things like that but ultimately WE weren't ready (had some other stuff going on). I think a lot of doctors are more open to being proactive than people think as long as you have been charting and such and really know what's going on/not going on with your body.
Thanks everyone for your feedback. I am not overly concerned quite yet but I am also not NOT concerned if you know what I mean. I might ask DH his thoughts on getting an SA and then wait until fall to make an appointment for me if nothing happens. I am 29 so my age isn't too much of a factor just yet so we still have time.
Post by Chrysanthemum on Aug 14, 2014 8:28:15 GMT -5
At my annual 6 months in, the ObGyn ordered CD3 and 7DPO b/w and an SA for H. Everything came back normal. Then, I met with an RE after 11 months trying. I had been charting for months and had good timing during all of those cycles. I was 31 at the time. At that point, he reviewed my charts, ordered some more b/w and an HSG. He found that everything looked good and to try for a few more cycles. I waited 3 more cycles and then started on Clomid and now IUIs. For me, i have to balance being in a hurry and being pro-active with being patient.
I asked my pcp about it when I was there for something else at the 10 month mark. She just said to schedule an appointment once we hit the year mark, and then we'd talk and schedule my testing. Testing for H would be done at a different office, but she wouldn't make the referral til 12 months, even though I told her we'd been temping and OPKs. Got to the end of the 12th cycle and H got cold feet with asking for medical help.
I could schedule an appt with her, but I would really like H there with me, so we had a few conversations about it. He thinks we "just need to try harder", but has agreed that if nothing happens on our own between now and Christmas we're making that appointment. We are currently on cycle 16 (?) I think.
We tried for 9 cycles and decided to start making appointments. DH actually had his SA done last week (we were already pregnant but didn't know yet) and it came back normal. I had an appointment with my OB/GYN for next week but I had to change that now that we know. I think they will see you before the 12 months.
I'm thinking I might be one of the few who was told to wait.
When DH and I were trying last time, I was told by the nurse (over the phone) they wouldn't see us until 12 months. We had been trying about 6 months when I called. BUT, when I told my doc at my annual (January) that we were starting a TTC break, she told me that once we started trying again, to call her if we weren't successful after 2 months. Now, I don't know if the nurses there were told to be kind of a "buffer" on these requests and I happened to be right in front of my doctor when she told me this....OR if it had to do with the fact that she thinks I might have slight endometriosis.
For me, it was 7 months when I asked about help TTC, and it was at my annual appointment; I simply asked for a little extra time to be scheduled to discuss TTTC. It was a little bit early for my age (29 at the time). However, DH had a vasectomy reversal several months before and his postop SA showed low morphology and motility. So I knew we had MFI before the official diagnosis. My OB also knew I had irregular cycles already, she had put me on bcp years earlier to regulate them. By the time I went to the appointment, I had 9 months (I started charting before we started TTC) of charts that showed irregular ovulation or anovulation, so we knew that I had issues too. I brought the SA results as well. I had good timing for every ovulatory cycle, because I had kept track, but with the MFI, it wasn't enough. I started clomid the next cycle, and IUIs two cycles later. We met with the RE right at the 12 month mark.
We're on our 10th cycle and DH will be making an appointment with a urologist next month when we switch to PPO insurance. And I think I want to find a new OB/GYN since I currently see a P.A. So once we switch insurance, I plan on making an appointment and talking to them about our next steps.
I'm one of the oddballs here. I only waited 6 months but that's because I'm 36. The first day she did cd21 bloodwork because the appointment was timed just right during my cycle. Since then I've had an HSG done and now I'm on my 2nd round of clomid. I this month is a bust I have one more month of clomid before I get referred to an RE.
I'm one of the oddballs here. I only waited 6 months but that's because I'm 36. The first day she did cd21 bloodwork because the appointment was timed just right during my cycle. Since then I've had an HSG done and now I'm on my 2nd round of clomid. I this month is a bust I have one more month of clomid before I get referred to an RE.
We are pretty much twins - except I'm 38. I saw an obgyn right at the 6 month mark (had made the appt 2 months in advance just in case). She did an HSG later that week and got Day 21 bloodwork. The plan was to try me on 3 cycles of Clomid after I had Day 3 bloodwork, then refer me to RE. Ended up getting pregnant that cycle but had a CP and was away so I couldn't get Day 3 work done. Got it the next cycle and started Clomid, H got an SA before I started the second cycle of Clomid. I preemptively made an RE appt and saw her right after I started my 3rd Clomid cycle, she recommended IVF but my insurance requires 2 IUI's first, so I am just starting my first IUI cycle. So I got a lot done all in under a year! Our one year anniversary is in October.
So my experience was that the doctors were very proactive with me, but they had to be because of my age. The one thing I wish I had done differently was see an obgyn before TTC - I always had my paps done by my PCP because I had no issues. I think a gyn may have at least ordered Day 3 tests on me based on my age and they would have known that I have diminishing ovarian reserve and maybe we could have moved along a little faster.