A Question From Someone Just Starting Out

WeBelieveInMagic

My husband and I have talked it over and decided that we would like to begin trying to become pregnant in the fall using IVF with PGD. We both have the gene for cystic fibrosis.

I went and saw my obgn today and got a referral and a business card for the doctors I need to consult with. My question is, when should I make the consultation appointment? Should it be closer to the fall, when we hope to start trying or should it be now. 

I asked my obgyn but he was unable to give me an answer, or he was unwilling. Who knows? He's not the most sensitive doctor. He said that IVF was an unnatural way to have a baby and said that my husband and I should just try (I'm sorry if that it offensive. It is not my opinion. Just what he said.). I was so uncomfortable in the office today. He was looking at me like I was nuts.

Thanks in advance for your help.  

Edwina.McDunnough

I'd go in soon. It can take several weeks to get your records together (which you should bring) as well as book your appointment.

After that, you both will need to undergo a series of diagnostic "checklist" tests, take an IVF teach class, and possibly do some prep diagnostics, like a mock transfer. All this can take a few months and some of the tests are dependent on when you get your period. Plus, you find out that you have some kind of factor previously unrevealed that can be dealt with now before you cycle. For instance, even though you have normal thyroid levels, some REs want you to be slightly hyper for optimal TTC.

Your GYN can shove it. Sorry you had to deal with that.

Good luck!

ETA Some clinics batch patients, or have times when they are closed. Some protocols take up two of your menstrual cycles...something to consider when you're planning. Cycles can also be canceled or delayed because of cysts or other unforseen reasons. So you need to keep in mind that you can't really schedule IVF as much as you'd like to. Anyway, it's better to have all your information available sooner rather than later.

inlovewithB

I am so sorry you have such an a$$ hole for a doctor!! You are doing the right thing by considering PGD. It can actually take up to 12 weeks to create the "probes" that are needed for PGD, so I would most definitely try to get an appointment with an RE asap. GL!!

Dustilou

I agree with the ladies above! We started with our consult in October of 2010, and are doing our first round in May.  I would start the process with looking at a website called sart.org . It will let you see all the clinics in your area and you can also access their individual record of success.  Many of the clinics are linked to see their website.  I looked at all the clinics in our state and then followed up with our endocrinologist and asked his opinion.  We chose a clinic with a 5 day transfer with a higher success rate, and it ended up a lot less expensive than the highly popular competitor with a 3 day transfer and slightly lower success rate.  I would make sure you get all your questions answered.  I hope this info helps you, and sending you positive thoughts from Colorado!

PS it's not unnatural, it's sometimes the only way to get your dream! Good Luck! 

Dustilou

cmyrck

I concur - wow, about the doctor.  He really said that out loud?  (not that I don't believe you, it's just pretty amazing).  I'd find a new OB/GYN, btw - you might still need them to order some tests (I did), and you'll need a new one down the road if/when IVF is successful.  At least the way it works for my clinic is that after a while they transfer you back to an OB/GYN to handle the pregnancy.  You don't want to go back to someone who is moralizing and ambivalent about the protocols you used to achieve a pregnancy.   Sorry you ended up with that!

For the tests and finding an RE getting started early never hurts.  It gives you time to research, to get through any testing (that can take a couple of months), to coordinate with insurance, all those kinds of things.  Especially since you have the additional potential complication; you'll want someone (I presume) who has as much experience as possible with PGD and potential complications. Time to research and ask questions is a huge help.  When you go in you can explain your desired timeline and they should be able to work with you.

 Best of luck!

BeeBee08

Your doctor's a jackass!  Don't listen to negative junk like that.  Babies are natural no matter how they arrive.  The other ladies filled you in on the time requirements, so make your appointment with your RE soon.  Good Luck!

WeBelieveInMagic

Thanks so much for the replies everyone. I don't even listen to my doctor anymore. He says really stupid things sometimes. When he called me to tell me that DH and I both had the gene his exact words were, "You married your cousin...." No hello, no nothing. That's how he broke the news because when we were having my husband's blood drawn he told us that the two of us having the gene was rare and if we both had it we had to be cousins.

I will, more than likely, change doctors. I can't take much more of his special brand of humor. He's been staying cruddy things for years.  

ecleptic

What an absolute ass. I hope you can find a more supportive OBGYN because that's just crazy!

The only consideration that comes into play with going early to an RE is that they may require you to re-do some of the testing if you get to the one year mark. I think that's less of a concern though than making sure that the RE has all the time necessary to set you up for your preferred cycling time. You can at least check appointment wait times (mine is less than a week but im in a major city with a huge medical center. Some girls had 6+ week long waits) and if the clinic of choice does IVF in batches (some start everyone as a group 2-4 times a year) or individually. Just let the RE know your planned date and he can probably delay testing until it's appropriate.

Good luck!

gervaisj6

Your doctor sounds like a jerk...If I would have listened to my obgyn...we would still be ttc...so glad I didnt listen! No amount of timing would have helped us! Haha! If you dont like what he says, go somewhere else. It is your life, your body, your family.

ChicagoWeded2007

I can't believe your OB said that.  What an @ss.  I think you should see an RE now and I think you should also fire your OB and get a new one.

blueberries8

Your ob/gyn just sounds plain awful...I really hope that you'll switch! As for the consult, I would go now - it can't hurt to have everything as well-planned as possible in advance if that is an option for you. Good luck!