When did you seek assistance & what to expect

Kittymom6

Hi! This is my first post but I've been reading a few of the TTC boards for a couple of months. I've found it to be a wealth of information, humor and support - so thank you!

My DH and I have been TTC for 5 cycles now. I just turned 36, and have read that women over 35 should visit a doctor after 6 months of TTC. I had a pre-conception appointment, which was no different from any other annual exam I've ever had. The doc told me to come back if I wasn't pregnant after a year (?!). There were no blood tests or other tests other than a pap. Is that normal? How long did you try before seeking assistance?

Also, did you have to try for consecutive months? My FIL has a progressive, terminal disease and isn't doing well. My DH will be going back home every couple of weeks to help take care of his dad. Because it's such a stressful time, we're considering putting TTC on hold for now. I'm worried that we'll have to restart the 6 month wait before we can get help.

 

 

benoitfan

I was 37 when we first started TTC.  I visited my doc before we got started for my annual checkup/pap and he told me if I wasn't pg within 6 months to book another appt and he would start doing testing then. I was not charting at that time and I got a BFP within 3 mos of trying.  If you ask you doc to do some prelim testing now and he/she says no, only after 12 m, seek as 2nd opinion.  Basic b/w to test easy stuff and a u/s to check that everything looks ok shouldn't be a big deal.  If those tests come up normal, then further testing might be needed and it all takes time, so the sooner you get started, the better.  Also, if you aren't charting start, you might think you are timing things well, but if you don't actually know when you o, you might be off and may be missing your fertitle window by a mile.

chicagobride_07

I got married at 38 and had some preliminary TTC conversations with my GYN- she did basic tests like the annual pap, prolactin, rubella titer and TSH levels.  We were not ready to TTC until I was 41 (for a variety of reasons).  I randomly went into see an NP and she ran the AMH test on me (no one had ever mentioned this test before).  A low value prompted her to refer me to an RE- even before DH and I actually started TTC.  January was my first cycle with TI and no BFP.  We are moving forward to Femara and injectibles this cycle- with possible IUI.

I would recommend you get some basic testing now (Day 3 labs- FSH, etc. and AMH)- just to know where you stand.

Good luck!

Country Girl in the City

Before you start any testing, you may want to check and see what your insurance covers.  In my case my insurance would not cover any testing until we were trying for a year unless I had a certain diagnosis.  I did so I was covered earlier but my referral authorization had to say infertility due to endometriosis in order for me to be covered.

I am surprised that your OB did not run any bloodwork.  Mine did at 3 months of TTC and just coded it irregular period so that my insurance would cover it.

MrsNukem

Country Girl in the City:

Before you start any testing, you may want to check and see what your insurance covers.  In my case my insurance would not cover any testing until we were trying for a year unless I had a certain diagnosis.  I did so I was covered earlier but my referral authorization had to say infertility due to endometriosis in order for me to be covered.

I am surprised that your OB did not run any bloodwork.  Mine did at 3 months of TTC and just coded it irregular period so that my insurance would cover it.

Ditto this.  I talked to my OB about some bloodwork and this was how she coded it.  She just ran the basics like TSH, LH, FSH, E2.  My FSH came back high and she then referred me to an RE for further testing.  I would see if your OB would run some bloodwork now just to make sure the basics look in normal range.

benoitfan

Country Girl in the City:

Before you start any testing, you may want to check and see what your insurance covers.  In my case my insurance would not cover any testing until we were trying for a year unless I had a certain diagnosis.  I did so I was covered earlier but my referral authorization had to say infertility due to endometriosis in order for me to be covered.

I am surprised that your OB did not run any bloodwork.  Mine did at 3 months of TTC and just coded it irregular period so that my insurance would cover it.

Sorry, I never think of this insurance thing, not an issue here in Canada for basic b/w and testing.  You only have to worry about it for IVF treatments and then your benefits plan with your employer helps to cover some of the costs, thankfully.

Kittymom6

Thanks ladies! I'll call my insurance co. today.

My pre-conception visit was my first appointment with this doctor and practice, and I didn't feel like it was a great fit for me. The lack of bloodwork, along with having to wait almost 2 months for my pap results, confirm that for me. Any advice for finding a good OB/GYN or RE? I just moved to my current city and I don't have many girlfriends here yet.

I've used OPKs for 2 months and just completed my first month of charting. I was excited to get CH since I do sometimes have irregular periods (more often than I knew before I started paying attention to my body and watching the calendar!). Thanks again and GL!

Country Girl in the City

Kittymom6:

Thanks ladies! I'll call my insurance co. today.

My pre-conception visit was my first appointment with this doctor and practice, and I didn't feel like it was a great fit for me. The lack of bloodwork, along with having to wait almost 2 months for my pap results, confirm that for me. Any advice for finding a good OB/GYN or RE? I just moved to my current city and I don't have many girlfriends here yet.

I've used OPKs for 2 months and just completed my first month of charting. I was excited to get CH since I do sometimes have irregular periods (more often than I knew before I started paying attention to my body and watching the calendar!). Thanks again and GL!

I did not have good luck calling my insurance company.  Unfortunately, they were not very knowledgeable about IF.  They even gave me the wrong advice the first time.  You know how it says "this call may be monitored for quality assurance"?  Well, it was monitored for quality assurance and they called me back to say that they told me the wrong thing the first time.  Their correction was not accurate either.  I went to the insurance website so that I could tell them what should be covered and that helped.  I had so many problems with my insurance company because they lost my paperwork many times and just had an overall hastle with it.  I was so frustrated that I wanted to go OOP.  Luckily, the women on here convinced me that was a bad idea.  Once I got it straight in the beginning, it has been much smoother.

To find a new OB, you may want to check your local bump board.

Good luck

versace1008

you should see an RE for sure, it will take a month or so to get in to and then all the tests that will be run will take a while too...

The OBGYN is good for paps and prenatal visits but the RE helps get you pregnant. sounds like you might want to go to another ob if it takes 2 months to get the results!!! 

at the RE they run tests and will call you that day with results and if somethign if off...

if you are ready then you shoudl go see an RE, if you are almost ready you should go see an RE bec getting an appt is not easy, if you are not ready and still want to try then wait....

but you should be trying to see when you will be ovulating next even if you need to use the OPK, the cheapies are just as good as CBE! Good luck!

JC0721

benoitfan:

I was 37 when we first started TTC.  I visited my doc before we got started for my annual checkup/pap and he told me if I wasn't pg within 6 months to book another appt and he would start doing testing then. I was not charting at that time and I got a BFP within 3 mos of trying.  If you ask you doc to do some prelim testing now and he/she says no, only after 12 m, seek as 2nd opinion.  Basic b/w to test easy stuff and a u/s to check that everything looks ok shouldn't be a big deal.  If those tests come up normal, then further testing might be needed and it all takes time, so the sooner you get started, the better.  Also, if you aren't charting start, you might think you are timing things well, but if you don't actually know when you o, you might be off and may be missing your fertitle window by a mile.

I agree wholeheartedly.  And OPK/fertility monitor helps too along with temp charting.