New! What should I ask my obgyn?

AmandaE2010

Hi everyone! My husband and I started TTC December 2011 and obviously haven't had any luck. I am 24 and he is 29. My cycles are pretty normal. I charted for about 6 months and stopped to give the relaxing method a try and I ovulated every month. I find it strange that I have regular cycles and I haven't gotten pregnant.

My next annual appointment with my obgyn is at the end of the month and I was wondering what questions I should ask about my fertility or what the next step is...I don't know if I have to ask for tests or if she will just do them or refer me to someone else. Thanks for any advice!

MTDB

If you've been trying for a year, your best bet is to move on to an RE (reproductive endocrinologist). Depending on your insurance, you may be able to go directly to one or you may need a referral from your OB/GYN. Though a lot of OB/GYN's are willing to start the testing procedure, many REs make you repeat it with them, so to avoid wasting time and possibly money, it makes the most sense to proceed immediately to the RE, where you will begin with various testing (hormone tests on CD 3 and 7DPO, an HSG to check your tubes, an SA [sperm analysis] for your husband, and possibly other tests such as ultrasounds, etc.) and then together with the RE come up with a plan for how to proceed based on the diagnosis or lack of one (unexplained infertility). Good luck!

AmandaE2010

MTDB:

If you've been trying for a year, your best bet is to move on to an RE reproductive endocrinologist. Depending on your insurance, you may be able to go directly to one or you may need a referral from your OB/GYN. Though a lot of OB/GYN's are willing to start the testing procedure, many REs make you repeat it with them, so to avoid wasting time and possibly money, it makes the most sense to proceed immediately to the RE, where you will begin with various testing hormone tests on CD 3 and 7DPO, an HSG to check your tubes, an SA [sperm analysis] for your husband, and possibly other tests such as ultrasounds, etc. and then together with the RE come up with a plan for how to proceed based on the diagnosis or lack of one unexplained infertility. Good luck!

This is very helpful, thank you!

PurplePanda2

I definitely agree with what MTDB said - you will most likely get better monitoring and care from an RE.  Beware not to take any clomid or any other meds from an OB that won't give you CD3 and mid month monitoring.

emtbd26

MTDB:

If you've been trying for a year, your best bet is to move on to an RE reproductive endocrinologist. Depending on your insurance, you may be able to go directly to one or you may need a referral from your OB/GYN. Though a lot of OB/GYN's are willing to start the testing procedure, many REs make you repeat it with them, so to avoid wasting time and possibly money, it makes the most sense to proceed immediately to the RE, where you will begin with various testing hormone tests on CD 3 and 7DPO, an HSG to check your tubes, an SA [sperm analysis] for your husband, and possibly other tests such as ultrasounds, etc. and then together with the RE come up with a plan for how to proceed based on the diagnosis or lack of one unexplained infertility. Good luck!

I second this! We did some testing with ob and had to repeat it all with RE luckly insurance covered most of it but I wish we would have just started with RE . Good luck to u and you will find A LOT of support here!

AmandaE2010

Would it be smart to have a SA before having all the testing on myself? Like I said before, my cycles are regular, 28 to 30 days, and hardly any pain at all. My mother, sister, and grandmother concieved easily, so I wonder if it's a sperm issue. I know it could very easily be a problem with my own body, but should I rule out my husband first, or just see what an RE has to say?

htn1763

We have MFI and I had my DH go get an SA when we had been trying for a year. It came back abnormal so we had to go to the RE. I had to have all the testing and he had to have a repeat SA as well before we could start any treatment. So, unfortunately even if it is an issue with your DH you will be the one doing most of the treatments. 

AmandaE2010

Thank you ladies for all of the advice!

GirlNextDoor24

I would also recommend the SA. That was the very first test my ob asked us to have done before doing anything. We did it with the fertility clinic we are using so that it didn't have to be done again. However, all of the blood work, ultrasounds, etc that the ob requested to diagnose my PCOS was repeated by the RE before we could begin treatment. I was very annoyed bc it seemed like everything was taking forever before we could get started. Looking back I'm glad my RE covered ALL bases upfront.

cjmcdonald82

I started with an ob/gyn in October but very quickly decided an RE was a way better option.  The ob/gyn I saw did not do all of the tests that I have seen recommended and proscribed a drug to induce ovulation without having my husband undergo a SA.  I pushed the issue and he agreed to send my husband for the SA and it came back abnormal.  My insurance only covers six rounds of ovulation inducing drugs so taking the drug without making sure my husband was completely in the clear would have been wasteful.  Skip the ob/gyn appointment, unless your insurance requires a referral to a RE.  Welcome and best of luck!  

sundowner85

AmandaE2010:

Would it be smart to have a SA before having all the testing on myself? Like I said before, my cycles are regular, 28 to 30 days, and hardly any pain at all. My mother, sister, and grandmother concieved easily, so I wonder if it's a sperm issue. I know it could very easily be a problem with my own body, but should I rule out my husband first, or just see what an RE has to say?

 

*Waves Hi* Welcome to the board. I am like you. I also have regular 28-30 day cycles and no symptoms of any problems. So I thought it was a sperm issue, too. My H had his SA done and it came back normal, though. We have been trying for a over a year and a half as you can see from my signature, and I've never gotten two pink lines.

My next step will be to get an HSG with an RE as soon as we decide to do that. For us, we are completely out of pocket ("OOP") for testing so an HSG was quoted as $1800. Other ladies will tell you they got it done for a couple hundred dollars or even less. It will all depend on your insurance. So call insurance and see if they can tell you anything about fertility coverage. That's why we're still waiting and trying on our own because we know we cannot afford treatment right now anyway. So I wanted to give you a little hug and say I understand what you're going through. It sucks. Hang in there!! I hope you can get some answers soon.

BellaLux

AmandaE2010:

Would it be smart to have a SA before having all the testing on myself? Like I said before, my cycles are regular, 28 to 30 days, and hardly any pain at all. My mother, sister, and grandmother concieved easily, so I wonder if it's a sperm issue. I know it could very easily be a problem with my own body, but should I rule out my husband first, or just see what an RE has to say?

I, too, had "regular/perfect" cycles, always had. I tempted/charted, ovulated every single month. Begin testing---cd3, u/s, s/a...all normal. The very last test revealed our issue - HSG=both tubes blocked. I never in a million years expected this as I have no history of any reason why my tubes would be blocked. Fx that is not the case with you, just pointing out that all could seem well until you know...and unfortunately for a lot of ladies here, all results can also come back normal thus unexplained. Good luck~

AmandaE2010

Oh wow, I'm sorry! I'm so anxious to find out if something is wrong. If there is, at least I have nieces to love on, but I'm praying we will be able to conceive one day. I'm at the point now where everyone around me seems to be pregnant. 17 people, yes I counted. It makes me feel broken in a way. I'm sure all you ladies unfortunately can relate.