How Long Before seeing a Dr.?

robynlesley · November 2008

I'm curious how long everyone TTC before consulting a doctor to check for any fertility issues?

When I went for my annual last May?6 weeks before my wedding?my OB-Gyn said if I were under 35, she'd say give it a year before seeing her again, but since I'm not to try for 6 months and if not pregnant by then to see her.

I've gone through 3 cycles but nada. I know from reading all the posts here, that many of you have been trying much longer than I have and for all I know nothing is wrong, it just didn't happen yet.

I bought an OPK on Friday and a basal thermometer. I didn't chart the last few days because I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy yesterday?but I'm going to start tomorrow (even though it's a few days into my cycle.) Hopefully that will help.

MRSGOLABONTE · November 2008

Dang, those were quite the procedures you just had. ;-) You ought to feel pretty cleaned out!

I saw a doc just as I was TTC [like a cycle or two in], because:

A) I wanted to get established with a new GYN [although I ended up switching after my consultation with him]

I had just been hospitalized for nearly bleeding to death and needing 4 pints of blood transfused [bled 5 out of 6 weeks, still unexplained]. To shock my body out of the bleeding, they gave me heavy doses of Premarin and followed that up with two months of BCP. I knew my body and cycles were out of whack, and were on their way to calming back down, but thought he would be able to guide me on what to try/do and how long to give it before considering future testing.

At the four month mark, I started talking to DH about getting his boys tested. I had just had the most beautiful chart EVER, and when it did not turn into a BFP, I was crushed. We both come from VERY fertile families, so we were surprised that cycle didn't work. He went to the doc for another issue, and the doc refused to order an SA for him for another two months or more.

At the fifth month mark, I got a UTI during O time, and had a lot of emotional stuff going on in my life, so my chart was UGLY UGLY UGLY. It ended up being my BFP chart! haha!

LOOOOOONG story short...Had I not gotten PG on the fifth month, I would have given it to the sixth month without a BFP and then we both would have gone back to our docs to further investigate. We're relatively healthy, and again, come from very fertile stock, so I figured our chances of getting PG were sooner rather than later. Had I had some sort of diagnosis [PCOS or something like that], I may have given it more than the six months of trying.

caribou · November 2008

I talked to my Dr about 4 months into trying because I have long cycles and don't ovulate on my own every month. However, I had kept track of my cycles for 1 year before we started TTC and only had 8 cycles in 12 months. I also charted a couple months before seeing her which showed that I had a couple annovulatory cycle.

From that she did some blood work and then put me on Clomid.

If you are concerned then go see your Dr they may or may not start trying to find out if anything is wrong. The worst that they will tell you is to come back after a few months.

From what I've seen through friends and myself, Dr's seem to be willing to get be a little more aggressive finding out what's wrong (if anything) when you are over 35.

Unfortunately, you have a 1 in 5 shot of getting pregnant every month so it might just be timing.

Pesky · November 2008

My dr told me to give it 6 mos of TTC before he would start doing the fertility work-up. Luckily we only had to give it 4 cycles for DD (and used OPKs on that cycle). GL to you!!!

leffe1 · November 2008

I went after 6 months. He told me since I was pregnant before and there are no issues to keep trying. If it has been a year I will go back which will be the same time as my annual. Then we will go from there. He said the average time to TTC is 6 months. Good luck to you!

iluvtom · November 2008

I was 37 and after TTC on our own for 8 months at 36/37 I went to an RE. I wish I had not wasted so much time because now after 7 failed IUI's we are moving onto IVF. Just do what you feel comfortable with and follow your instincts. Get all the testing doen to rule out any issues by your OB/GYN before moving on. Good luck

NewMrs07 · November 2008

I've been trying 10 months and turned 38 in July. In August I went to by ob/gyn to get a fertility workup. DH also got his SA done in August. Everything except the progesterone (a tad low) came back normal but at this point I want a specialist's opinion. I just switched health insurance carriers, so I have to wait until Nov 25 to go see a new ob/gyn and get referred to an RE. I think Clomid is our next step, so we will see. Hopefully I'll get pg before Clomid, but who knows. It's good to have a plan. A lot of it is timing and luck, like pp said. I know a couple friends who had tried over a year and finally got their BFPs with no fertility drugs or procedures.

I guess you have to have a lot of patience and keep at it but in the meantime, make plans if you cannot get pg on your own within the time frame that you feel comfortable with. It's a personal decision. GL!

robynlesley · November 2008

Thanks for all the replies. I just wanted to be sure that I wasn't being complacent by waiting the 6 months before seeing if anything is wrong. I'll probably end up messing up my charts but I'll do my best to figure out my cycle.

I'm so glad that I found this board. I've felt so alone?most of my friends have children, with the exception of one wonderful woman who found out she has Turner's Syndrome and can't conceive. I feel better knowing that I'm not alone. So thanks.

GymDogFran · November 2008

My GYN says to wait 1 year and 3 mos. after going off BCP to come back and I AM 39! That is the most conservative estimate I've heard yet, and I will be going to an RE much before that. I'm hoping to start soon. I've just finished foot surgery.

slsbride · November 2008

I started charting immediately after I went off bcp's, and found that I had a short luteal phase. After 4 months of a short luteal phase, I went to my dr. I think going with charts in hand helped a lot--it was clear my luteal phase wasn't long enough, and she ran bloodwork which confirmed it and gave me progesterone supplements. I got my first BFP on cycle 5--the very first one with the progesterone supplements. All that to say--I think your charting is a good idea, and don't be afraid to see your dr before 6 months if your charts don't look quite right (i.e., you're consistently anovulatory, short luteal phase, etc). Good luck!