I blame Wondfo's...

Wine&Cupcakes

Was irrationally excited to receive my shipment of OPKs and tests today in anticipation of The Big Goalie Pull.

Needless to say, 1) they showed up in a bag, and not neat little anal-retentive boxes for easy organization/storage amongst my bathroom toiletries. This was oddly disappointing to me.

But...2) they threw in this little gem in the instructions (good thing I read them because I was totally gonna use this shit backwards if I hadn't)...."many factors can affect your ability to become pregnant. Often you may need to use the test kit for 3-4 months. You and your partner should consult your physician if pregnancy is not achieved after 3-4 months."

What the what?! You'd think a company selling these products would actually have a working knowledge of what they fuck they're talking about.

notthefather

The last batch I bought a couple months ago was a brand even cheaper than wondfos but I've never received any instructions from any purchases. Like bibliothecary said, they were just in a ziploc bag. Without this board I would have been so confused. 

ETA: point being, I'm surprised they came with any instructions at all. I guess no instructions is better than instructions with bad information.

Belle0720

I just ordered some Wondfos for the first time the other day and they're supposed to arrive on Tuesday, now I'm interested to see if I get them in a Ziploc bag with random THC tests!

beckynsean11

Mine always come just bundled up with a rubber band, sans instructions. My last order came with a bunch of plastic cups to tinkle in.

RN1175

And this is why I pretend I am a high roller with my CB digital OPK tests every month. Plus the fact that I'm a little lazy when it comes to interpreting lines. The THC strips may come in handy in a few years for DD #1 though. Hmmmmm... (Totally kidding, she's 11) .

Wine&Cupcakes

oursecretelopement said:

Wine&Cupcakes said:

Was irrationally excited to receive my shipment of OPKs and tests today in anticipation of The Big Goalie Pull.

Needless to say, 1) they showed up in a bag, and not neat little anal-retentive boxes for easy organization/storage amongst my bathroom toiletries. This was oddly disappointing to me.

But...2) they threw in this little gem in the instructions (good thing I read them because I was totally gonna use this shit backwards if I hadn't)...."many factors can affect your ability to become pregnant. Often you may need to use the test kit for 3-4 months. You and your partner should consult your physician if pregnancy is not achieved after 3-4 months."

What the what?! You'd think a company selling these products would actually have a working knowledge of what they fuck they're talking about.

Fertility friend actually says something somewhat similar:

You may find that you have been timing intercourse optimally for conception purposes for several cycles. In this case, you may decide to seek medical help to determine what could be preventing you from conceiving. Even if you have been advised to wait a full year or longer, it may be reasonable to seek help earlier if you know that you have been timing intercourse well within your fertile window.

So does this mean we now need to be more accepting of people on here who piss & moan about TTC for a few months but nothing is happening? ;-)

ETA: A ;-) so people know to read my sarcasm font.

TheBorg7of9

TCOYF says 4-6 months of good timing, then you call doctor. ...

CoozieInMyPurse

TheBorg7of9 said:

TCOYF says 4-6 months of good timing, then you call doctor. ...

My doc gave me the same advice -- He wants me to come back if we aren't pregnant after six months of timing for conception. (Note: I'm not advocating this as advice across the board; just reporting what MY doc told me).

wintersong139

I honestly don't get the hate that I have seen here for people who go to the doctor before a year. (That is, I don't get the hate as long as they aren't being annoying about it, like "OMG I have been off BC for a WHOLE THREE MONTHS and nothing, TRAGEDY and INSENSITIVITY Brawr!") I am considering going in this summer for a consulation, even though it will only be nine months, for peace of mind and to ask a fertility specialist if there are noninvasive tests that they can do for some of the more common things that prevent couples from conceiving.

cateyes543

You guys got instructions with your wondfos???? I had to Google instructions and hang out on here to learn when to pee in a cup!!!! All I got was a giant Ziploc bag with OPKs and HPTs all randomly mixed in there. The first month was a scavenger hunt to find the HPTs!!! 

And now I guess since we are in month 7 we too are broken

Wine&Cupcakes

Joy2611 said:

Accordingly to Wondfo, some people's doctors and Taking Charge of Your Fertility, my husband and I are broken.  (Month 8 with only a chemical to show for it).

AWESOME news I wanted to hear today. 

((hugs)) I have very many friends who got pregnant on their own far after the 8 month mark. I guess I just didn't know it was so widely said to only wait like 4-6.

DH and I will be referred to an RE after cycle 6 but only because of my metabolic issue and my crazy diet that is hard to adhere to.

((hugs again)) @joy2611.

Wine&Cupcakes

wintersong139 said:

I honestly don't get the hate that I have seen here for people who go to the doctor before a year. (That is, I don't get the hate as long as they aren't being annoying about it, like "OMG I have been off BC for a WHOLE THREE MONTHS and nothing, TRAGEDY and INSENSITIVITY Brawr!") I am considering going in this summer for a consulation, even though it will only be nine months, for peace of mind and to ask a fertility specialist if there are noninvasive tests that they can do for some of the more common things that prevent couples from conceiving.

I would side eye anyone who was ready to jump traditional TTC ship at 3 months in. 9 months is thinking ahead. 3-6 I think is jumping the gun.

Wine&Cupcakes

I hadn't heard any of this until today either.

wintersong139

Wine&Cupcakes said:

wintersong139 said:

I honestly don't get the hate that I have seen here for people who go to the doctor before a year. (That is, I don't get the hate as long as they aren't being annoying about it, like "OMG I have been off BC for a WHOLE THREE MONTHS and nothing, TRAGEDY and INSENSITIVITY Brawr!") I am considering going in this summer for a consulation, even though it will only be nine months, for peace of mind and to ask a fertility specialist if there are noninvasive tests that they can do for some of the more common things that prevent couples from conceiving.

I would side eye anyone who was ready to jump traditional TTC ship at 3 months in. 9 months is thinking ahead. 3-6 I think is jumping the gun.

Right, the three months was the example of someone being annoying. :-P

As for another poster's comment, at least in my area, its not like fertility clinics and doctors are in short supply. I live in the DC area, and there are a large number of practices geared to all kinds of issues. It's a bit much to say I would be taking an appointment that someone else could have when I hear an ad on the radio for one every time I get in the car. Maybe this is different in different areas of the country.

ETA for Darcy - I was trying to be sensitive, that's why I purposely did NOT use the word infertility. I know that infertility has a very specific definition, and that many women on this board have been TTC for longer than I have.

lebradford

I know many people don't have any infertility coverage anyway, but at least in IL (where coverage is mandatory in most cases) coverage doesn't start until after 1 year of trying, possibly even, as in my situation, you are not ovulating at all.

If I didn't have something obviously wrong, the absolute earliest I would seek out testing is at the 11 month mark if I really wanted to be able to start treatment at the end of month 12.

It's not fun and most people will end up getting pregnant on their own for FREE with no painful procedures or shitty side-effects. I'm not sure why you (general you) would want to unnecessarily go through IF testing or treatment.

lizzyp9112

oursecretelopement said:

Is a referral to an RE really the ONLY possible thing that can happen if you mention to a doctor you are TTC without luck? Are people supposed to keep it a secret from their doctor? I Mostly want to ask my doctor about vitamin B6/a B complex...should I wait a year and cry some more about it instead?

I talked to my OB last year when we were at the 11 month mark (I had a well woman check up anyway).  We had been NTNP but were newlyweds and definitely enjoying all the sex.  He said to take folic acid, since PNV's made me sick (too much iron) and encouraged EOD sex in my FW.  He had no other real advice, but I appreciated the help since I knew PNV's were necessary but did not work for me.

Like @FINEdoubleLINE said, you have consistently short LP's which is definitely a reason to get checked out.  If I had any 'known' issue I would do the same.

You need to go in for a pap, so hopefully they are able to help you with everything else at the same time.

Wine&Cupcakes

I think there is also some merit to bringing it up to your OB if you happen to be there, although I'm afraid for the people who don't know WTF they are doing, as I'm sure a natural response to this on the part of the OB is to dole out clomid, not properly monitor and set the patient free.

However, if my charts showed annovulatory cycles or another issue then I would bring it up ASAP (obviously I would need to have many months of data verses one "off" month) but that is precisely the reason I decided to start temping/charting 7 months prior to TTC.

Edited because my grammar sucks.

Wine&Cupcakes

DarcyHermione said:

Just for the record I mentioned to my OB that we had been trying for 7 months at my last annual in January and she said, "Okay, if it's been a year let me know." The standard is a year unless you have a primary fertility diagnosis or you have been charting and see actual concerns: short LP, anovulatory, etc.

I believe mine said something along this line as well when I brought up TTC at my last annual physical, however, my metabolic clinic will refer us to an RE after 6 months due to metabolic issues. I just hate hearing the stories of OBs who do prescribe clomid early and dole it out...I hope they are in the minority.

KatzKiss

Mine have always come thrown in a plastic bag with no instructions other than what's on the back of each one. I thought it was strange the first time, but they've always worked for me. In fact when I got KU with Little O I sent the rest to another bumpie who had been trying for 9 months and she got her BFP with the same batch. We called it the Sisterhood of the Traveling Magical Wondfos.

Trampslikeus

oursecretelopement said:

Is a referral to an RE really the ONLY possible thing that can happen if you mention to a doctor you are TTC without luck? Are people supposed to keep it a secret from their doctor? I Mostly want to ask my doctor about vitamin B6/a B complex...should I wait a year and cry some more about it instead?

This is a topic I'm content to agree but disagree with the majority here.  The whole "taking appointments away from others" thing varies ENORMOUSLY by region. In the Boston area, where fertility treatments are covered by insurance, including Mass Health, it is extremely easy to make an appointment. Both of my friends who struggled with this were seen within 2 months of initiating the referral.     Most importantly,  trust in your PCP is more important than trust in people from the internet.  If you trust your PCP, and he/she initiates a referral to a specialist after you have a conversation about TTC, don't let anyone on the internet talk you out of it.  In the same regard, if he/she tells you to wait a few more months, follow that advice.     If you don't trust your PCP,  that obviously changes things.

I had to switch to a new PCP after my husband started a new job and we changed insurance companies, so I scheduled a physical with her, knowing she's also an OB/GYN so that I could make sure I liked her, trusted her, was on the same page about a few important things.  When I mentioned TTC, her exact words were "given your age (almost 32), if you're not pregnant in 6-8 months, schedule a follow up to discuss next steps".    I respect a lot of the ladies here a great deal and value their knowledge and advice, but on this particular issue, I do trust my PCP and will follow her recommendation.

Trampslikeus

I know you're not giving out information to be an asshole 

But to clarify,   checking in with your PCP at 6-8 months is not the same thing as "running to an RE".

And yes, absolutely, I agree trust in your doctor is more than just getting along. Its multi-factorial, as is the decision a doctor makes when taking in to account their patient as an individual before suggesting or not suggesting measures be taken in under a year.  Standard practice reccs (in my field, in the OB field, in any medical field) are based on the "average patient", but the "average" case is not "every" case, and thats where clinical judgement comes in.

wintersong139

If the wait to get a follow up for REs is really that long, than I guess you all have a point. Correction accepted. I will continue to try to be patient. :-P I think I am going crazy because I have reached the bottom of my value sized PNV without getting KU, and it is messing with my mind.

Wine&Cupcakes

2 months to get an appointment, even in a well-stocked metro area is a llooonnnggg time if you have already been patient for a year. I would imagine at that point I would be all fired up to move things along ASAP.