OB/GYN vs RE

cls78

When you went in for testing after trying for a year or more where did you go first the OB/GYN or RE? 

I have been calling around to a few RE offices and they are telling me I should start with my ob/gyn first.  I just don't want to waste the little IF yearly coverage I have at the ob/gyn, but I really have no known problems other then not getting KU.  (no long cycles, painful periods or heavy bleeding)  

I called around to SJ Fertility clinic in Marlton, Reproductive Science Center in Toms RIver, and IVF NJ Freehold.  Out of the three SJ fertility center has the lowest out of pocket cost for testing.  (HSG test was $500 there and $1200 at IVF NJ out of pocket, but they bill lower for the insurance companies.)  

I am going to call my ob/gyn to see if I can get cost and see what testing they would do.  Also does anyone know how they usually code when you go in for testing?    

Thanks everyone and sorry for all the questions the last few days!            

ronniesgirl1981

Personally, I went straight to the RE. I had a convo with my ob/gyn at around the 8th month mark and she said when we hit a year, she'd test me to see if I'm ovulating, but regardless of the results, I'd need an RE.

cls78

NariaDreaming said:

Don't waste your time with an OB, and don't waste your time with an RE that says to go to an OB first. 

I'm coming to the realization that I wasted a good 3-4 months because of my OB's overconfidence in her abilities. And she also had me freaking out over nothing, telling me that the HSG was going to be over $2,000. Yeah, no. Even with my RE's physician fee (affiliated with same hospital, so all other factors are the same) it's going to cost less than $900 OOP (I have no IF coverage) 

Just read for yourself the ridiculousness I got to deal with from the OB
https://effyouute.blogspot.com/2013/05/why-you-need-re-not-ob-for-infertility.html

I really don't want to do unmonitored clomid.  My ob/gyn does ultrasounds, but I am not sure if he monitors on clomid.  I know he mentioned during my yearly in Feb that he can give me a medication to make stronger ovulations, but wanted me to continue TTC on my own until the spring/summer.  How do you know if you have weak or strong ovulations? 

AlphaSierra

I agree with PP. My OB would never refer me to an RE even though I have endo, DH has low morph and motility, and we are past the year mark. I finally went on my own and couldn't be more thankful that I did. I am now in the process of finding a new OB...

monimu13

I agree with PPs, don't waste your time with an OB. Find a RE that can do your testing and make a treatment/monitoring plan for you.

katib77

I did my hsg with my OB and she ordered dhs SA at eleven months before the RE referal. I don't know how it was coded.

Allison7

As everyone mentioned, go straight for the RE. If you need the referral for insurance purposes, your OB/GYN shouldn't have a problem giving you one since you have been TTC for at least a year - maybe that is why the offices were saying to start with the OB/GYN first to get that referral. My RE never asked about that, just how long we had been trying and they set up the appointment.

Twinkie0612

 I did most of my basic testing with my OB/GYN, but it was all still coded as IF so I had to pay OOP for all of it (blood work, HSG, SA).  I did one clomid + IUI cycle with my OB/GYN before deciding that if I was going to pay OOP for treatment, that I would rather see a RE.  I actually had more things covered by insurance with my RE than I did with my OB/GYN.

GermanGirl2007

katib77 said:

I did my hsg with my OB and she ordered dhs SA at eleven months before the RE referal. I don't know how it was coded.

This was almost our exact situation. I did bloodwork with my OB and he ordered the SA and HSG. Since it can take several months to get in to an RE, he figured he would order the tests so we were making some progress in the mean time.  Fortunately, I got into the RE quickly, but I came armed with all my test results, 2 years of charts, and we were ready to roll.  For us it worked. 

STBMrsMiller

I did one office visit with our local OB that "specializes in fertility". No testing, offered me unmonitored Clomid or a referral to the only RE around. Guess which one I took?

cls78

Thanks ladies!

Is the first visit usually just a consult and then they start testing later?  We have so much going on right now with our house on the market, so not sure how much we want to spend beyond the $2000 coverage right now.  We do at least want to get tested, so we can see if there is a problem or not.    

ronniesgirl1981

For me, the initial consult was no testing except for vitals. Because CD 1 was the very next day, I was able to get all of my testing done within 2 weeks. That was also my choice. I could have put it off a few cycles. Some of the testing needs to be repeated if you are still undergoing treatment x months later. The infectious disease panel, for instance, so be sure to ask.

FutureMrsW9

DH and I only tried for 6 mos because my OB knew I wasn't ovulating, so we didn't have to wait the whole year.  She ordered my HSG and DH's SA so that I could try Clomid - we tried twice with no luck.  After that she told me that she could keep trying, but really I should go to the RE because they're the specialists.  It's 100% up to you, but I would do my best to get into the RE sooner rather than later.  I'm not sure where you Jersey you are, but we use RMA of NJ in Morristown.  They have offices all over the state, so there might be one close to you.  https://www.rmanj.com/

cls78

FutureMrsW9 said:

DH and I only tried for 6 mos because my OB knew I wasn't ovulating, so we didn't have to wait the whole year.  She ordered my HSG and DH's SA so that I could try Clomid - we tried twice with no luck.  After that she told me that she could keep trying, but really I should go to the RE because they're the specialists.  It's 100% up to you, but I would do my best to get into the RE sooner rather than later.  I'm not sure where you Jersey you are, but we use RMA of NJ in Morristown.  They have offices all over the state, so there might be one close to you.  https://www.rmanj.com/

Hi neighbor!  

I am in Manahawkin! (mainland before LBI)  I looked at RMA, but they are all pretty far for me.

nicole336

I really think everyone's situation is a little different. For me it made sense to go to the OB since he was able to finagle my coding to get things covered- I had to have a lap and he was able to have it covered by not putting IF on it- an RE wouldn't have been covered. That being said, if this doesn't work my OB wants me to go to the RE (he said I could go now if I wanted but I want to give it two- three cycles)