How long did you wait to get tested?

Soylee1 · June 2014

We've been TTC since January (actively) by period math, ovulation sticks, sex every other day during two fertile weeks, etc. We've been "casually" trying since fall of last year. Last I went to my gyno, she wanted me to wait until Sept/Oct to get myself and husband tested. I'm starting to feel extremely discouraged and impatient and would like to get tested NOW. If there is something wrong - I would hate to wait until then with no luck then finally taking some action to conceive.

How long did YOU wait to get tested at your doctor's while trying naturally?? I know everyone says it takes 6 months to a year to conceive but a month feels forever when you're ready to start a family. Thank you.

TTCBabyJ · June 2014

I waited exactly 6 months to the day because I was 35 when we started trying to conceive. I really didn't want to waste any more time.

lebradford · June 2014

If you are under 35, appear to be ovulating (regular periods, LH surge), and have no other known issues you really need to wait a full year from at least when you started "casually" trying. I know waiting completely sucks, but impatience is not an infertility diagnosis. Good luck.

borntorun17 · June 2014

I think you go get tested now- I started trying last May and stared my testing journey in February. There's no reason to wait a year if you think something's wrong. For me, it's that I don't ovulate.

KT416 · June 2014

Usually the recommendation is 6 months for 35 and over and a year for under 35.

I am under 35 and started trying around my annual physical. At the year mark, I casually mentioned it to my main doc, and she gave me a referral. 6 months later.... I went and started testing. Testing and finding out what was wrong was a little overwhelming for me, but I'm glad I started when I did (1.5 years).

If you are under 35, I would hold off because it can take up to a year for a healthy couple. If your DH is up for a doctor appointment soon though, you could see if he can get a SA to make sure everything is normal, especially if you are ovulating with timed sex.

lebradford · June 2014

dm28 said:
I think you go get tested now- I started trying last May and stared my testing journey in February. There's no reason to wait a year if you think something's wrong. For me, it's that I don't ovulate.

@dm28‌ Yours is a completely different situation. I agree, if you're not ovulating, don't wait a year. However, if you have no indication that anything is wrong (except that you aren't pregnant), then getting tested earlier than a year is inappropriate. It takes away appointments from people who are actually infertile, and it is a waste of time and money.

Soylee1 · June 2014

I appreciate your thoughts. I have very irregular periods (average is 35 days) but they can range from 30 to 43 every month. That was the biggest reason I took ovulation tests (around the time my app told me I should be fertile and through my secretion). The tests would tell me I would be ovulating so I guess that is always a positive sign.

Not to sound harsh in any means but what if I'm not the problem?

It helps to hear everyone's thoughts/suggestions/stories.

ronniesgirl1981 · June 2014

That's not harsh at all! I think that stat is like 40% of the time there is a male factor. FWIW My RE says a year without protection is sufficient.

Sha259 · June 2014

I don't know if I agree with the year wait 100%. I went the full year before I went in for testing, as I am under 35. Turns out, my tubes were blocked and I had a huge hidden fibroid. I know that most people are going to tell you to wait, but hindsight is 20/20, and if I knew then what I know now, I would have at least gone to my OB to discuss testing and an HSG, especially if your insurance will cover it. Trying the whole year sounds fine, until you realize you basically wasted that all that time because there was no natural way for you to get pregnant, even though everything "seemed" fine with me. When I found out, I was really pissed, at myself.

Maybe don't immediately seek out an RE, as those can be hard to come by, even for those who really need one, but talk to your OB about what proactive measures you can take. Ask your mother/aunts about their reproductive history. I knew my mother had fibroids, but no one ever told me how prevalent they are in my ethnic community, and how they can effect TTC if in the wrong place.

Soylee1 · June 2014

@sha259 That is exactly what I'm afraid of. I actually don't know my biological mother's health history so I'm not sure.

I'm also a bit worried my doctor will suggest against it since she did tell me to wait until September.....

borntorun17 · June 2014

Ok so I assumed there was a confirmed issue here. I assumed you've already gone through the BBT, charting, O tests, etc

Kind of playing devils advocate here but..... personally if you have good insurance and have some kind of issue (like an irregular period -- NOT a regular 35 day cycle), I don't understand why you can't get tested now versus in 3 more months.

borntorun17 · June 2014

I'm not going to get political on here about health insurance bc I don't know everyone's situation. I work in the healthcare industry and deal very much with insurance. In my experiences, 8 months vs 1 year wouldn't make a huge difference on costs for the vast majority. Plus many people lie to get in for an appt sooner than is recommended. However, depending on where you live, @NariaDreaming‌'a assumptions may be correct about costs rising. There's no hard and fast rule here.

OP said her periods range from 30 to 43 days. Does your OB call that an irregular period or a red flag? @Soylee1‌ - I think if you're 35+ and have an issue (like TRULY irregular cycles) than you should look into it. If you're just impatient like others are implying and don't have identified issues (and are under 35), wait the year.

borntorun17 · June 2014

@NariaDreaming‌ you're not reading the whole post.
I agree that these liars are bad... That's why I brought it up.

I advised that one should only go before a year if they have an irregularity or are over 35. I also don't think we can assume OPs only issue is impatience with such limited info from her.

borntorun17 · June 2014

You are really aggressive about this. I Am going to try and think I'm misreading your tones. Please Go back and read a little and see that I advised the same as you, with the exception that she should go before a year if there IS an issue or over 35. When someone posts in TTTC I assume they have an issue- silly me.

Soylee1 · June 2014

Thanks to everyone's reply.

One month my cycle is 29 days and one month it's 43 but I understand I am a regular (so-called) irregular cycle lady. I haven't been taking my temps but using the ovulation tests in addition to having sex every other day. I'm not trying to get tested purely on a feeling but trying to get an understanding of when/why those TTTC got tested.

It was good to hear everyone's perspective and no, I will not be lying or trying to manipulate my way into getting tested so let's not go there and keep this thread friendly.

BunnyBerry · June 2014

Sorry you are having these worries! I hope you get that BFP really soon and don't ever have to deal with testing.

We waited far longer than necessary, but if I could go back, now that we feel more time/age pressure, I would do the whole work up as soon as we passed one 1 or maybe 2 year mark instead of the 5 year mark.

It makes a lot of sense to chart your BBT along with OPKs, because it is super valuable to the RE when they start to diagnose and make a treatment plan. When we were going to wait a while to start treatment, it still felt good to keep track of my cycle and have a clearer picture. Since all my testing indicated PCOS, it was really important that my years of charting showed I was regular and O'ed every time, for example. It also was a big help in convincing my DH that we need to spend money and effort on this, even IVF if needed, since clearly we had plenty of perfectly timed opportunities!

Good luck.

Tiko99 · June 2014

We went in for testing after about a year of trying. I tried 6 months with my ex husband with no luck and then a year with my current DH for a year, so technically 1 1/2 years.

Pintobean39 · June 2014

I waited 2 years but only because the first year I was having neurological problems and I had an upcoming surgery on my head for my Ménière's. We were just NTNP the first year. I was 37 when we started, I thought I had a pretty good idea when I ovulated. I was 39 when I finally saw an RE. I wish I could have started early but my health wouldn't allow me.

I started charting in the 2nd year and it made a HUGE difference, I got preg 2 months in a row. I think in my first year I was missing my ovulation because I get signs before I ovulate. I agree with PP if you are ovulating which it sounds like you are give it a year. Start charting and temping and you will be able to pinpoint you optimal day a lot better especially since it seems like your day changes.

Sha259 · June 2014

Yeah, I think this discussion got a bit out of hand. I don't believe that anyone here was telling the OP to run to an RE. Both @iPutKetchupOnKetchup and I said it would be best to talk it out with her OB.

I suggested family history because @NariaDreaming, it might not have had anything to do with your fertility, but it did with mine. I specifically called out that it was exactly my maternal fibroid history, and the prevalence of fibroids in black women that should have given me cause to talk more at length with my OB. I mentioned it, and they said it was no big deal. I should have asked more questions,and wish in hindsight that I had been more proactive with that. I have since used my experience to warn my older sister of her risk, and we have now learned my sister also has uterine fibroid issues.

It definitely does not hurt to be informed and not go through your early TTC journey blind as a bat. This is the same reason that we ALL recommend using OPKs, and temping and charting until we are blue in the face. But tubal factor is invisible, fibroids can be as well, and neither are anything that time will fix.

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