TTC...question about testing.

jwalk16

Since everyone on here (besides me of course) is pregnant, I have a question about testing before. Would it be a good idea to get bloodwork and testing done (for me and my DH) or should we just keep TTC? This is the 4th month of TTC. Hoping for a BFP before my 36th birthday (in July).

ALF222

I was 36, waited six months before starting testing, and got my BFP on a break cycle after round of Clomid. I wanted to get pregnant on our own but decided not to wait too long. I think the recommendation in general is six months after 35. Good luck!!! Hope to see you over here soon!

ssull1974

We got our BFP during the 4th month of TTC naturally and hadn't had any testing done.  I was meeting with my primary care every three months so that they could help me determine when the right time was to start testing.  I was 36 at the time of TTC. 

LauraLynneC

4 months is nothing (I know it feels like a long time)  Most specialists will insist on at least 6 months, many others a full year.  It depends on the doctor.  Can't hurt to call and find out what your primary doctor recommends.

kiwiadiremWed231308

Since I was 39 and nearing 40 my OB ran the normal blood work that they would normally do after your BFP. Screened for RH factor, chicken pox, std's, cf etc. She recommended FSH levels due to age, which I did. I also did day 21 progesterone which came back at 31 and it turned out I was already pregnant. She recommended just the testing I had done for the first 6 mos, then wanted DH to have SA after that and would then refer to an RE if we wanted to go that route. I think she may have been more aggressive if my numbers had come back poor. Good luck!

Punter2009

LauraLynneC:

4 months is nothing (I know it feels like a long time)  Most specialists will insist on at least 6 months, many others a full year.  It depends on the doctor.  Can't hurt to call and find out what your primary doctor recommends.

 

I agree,4 months is not that long. We had been not using any contraception since salua was born (17 months). I did breastfeed for a year, but had my period back 5 months after birth. The month we conceived I had used an ovulation test kit - just from the supermarket- and I had been charting for months with a very regular 28/29 day cycle. I did not expect to fall pregnant that month, so you never know!!I also signed up to a site called Fertillity Friend which really helped with planning and telling me via my temps when I'd O'd.

as long as you are healthy and know your cycle, you should be able make use of the 'best' days. It will happen GL!!

 

clipingirl

I don't have much personal advice to give you, except I'm 38 (prego with #3), and it took DH and I around half a year to conceive. If it were me I would wait. But I like LauraL's advice on calling your doc just to get info (to have just in case you may need it). Good luck to you!!!!! Wishing you well.....

alliapistor

We were in our 10th cycle and had just gone in for testing when we got our BFP.  If everything indicates that you are ovulating and you do not have any specific reasons to believe that there may be a problem (e.g., already diagnosed with PCOS, long periods with no peridos, etc.), then I would probably give it 6 months before I started testing.

When we first started TTC, I did go ahead and have a full physical to make sure that there weren't any underlying health conditions that I wasn't aware of (e.g, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.).  I also had some basic bloodwork for standard immunities so that I could get any necessary vaccines before I got pregnant.  I think Rubella immunity was one of the things that they tested for because it can be dangerous to pregnant women and you can't get the vaccine while pregnant.  They may have tested to see if I was a carrier for cystic fibrosis, but that can wait.

CheezeFace

While I agree that 4 mos isn't very long I'm going to disagree with pretty much every OP here and say to get the blood work/ s/a done.  Don't go crazy but if insurance covers it, get it done.  It will either put your mind at ease that all is functioning the way it should be or you may identify something that could be a challenge.  Either way, you are one step ahead.

If I may give you one piece of advice - and I'm a bit biased b/c of personal experience - but when my blood work/ s/a came back and we both looked like rock stars, our Dr. pretty much started to ignore the issue.  Since there was nothing to "treat" or "fix" I think she was at a loss.  It wasn't until I saw a specialist that I felt like I got any real movement on the IF issue.