I've been seeing the chiro for a back discomfort recently and just realized most of our deductible is met. Then I was thinking that we will be TTC 6 months in December and if I'm not pregnant by then I would maybe like to get some additional testing to make sure everything is ok with me on the reproductive front. I honestly know nothing about it because it only took 1 cycle to conceive DD back in 2010. What types of tests do they do and are they covered by your insurance? TIA!
Re: Question about RE
Like I said, others in this group who have been seeing an RE can provide more info on tests, etc, but for ours, you first go to the consult to talk through process, options, etc. then next step is bloodwork done around CD3. And that's all I know so far, but am really looking forward to appt on the 13th!
I've never temped, only OPK, but many others on here do. I was thinking I should start this too...
Below is what my RE did, but I'm sure this can vary - just giving you an idea:
CD 3 - Blood tests - LH, FSH, TSH, AMH, Hepatitis,Testosterone Free, HIV
CD 5-10 - HSG (or what they did for me first was a test using the ultrasound and pushing saline through the tubes at the RE office which is less painful than an HSG), but it only saw that one side was clear, so I ended up getting an HSG (at a hospital) the next month on the same days - CD 5-10 - to make sure my other tube was clear
Then when you get a positive OPK - Blood tests - Estradiol, Progesterone, LH plus an ultrasound to check for ovulation
Your husband would need to have an SA and minor bloodwork - HIV/Hepatitis testing during that month preferrably, so then they can meet with you both to review all results together.
As far as the insurance goes - it's really too hard to tell you what you can expect considering everyone's insurance/benefit plans are so different. I would say that the only insurance-related barrier/concern could be how long they want you to TTC before you do all of the testing. My insurance gave no indication that there were some sort of time constraints on starting the testing, but perhaps some insurances might want to see that you have been TTC for a certain length of time. I've only heard of that, and it doesn't surprise me, that they may want to see that, but when you are AMA, usually the timeframes are shorter than if you are younger.
If you could at least make your initial RE appointment now, find out if there are any restrictions from your insurance as far as months of TTC, then you would be ahead of the game, and could start testing as soon as you get the green light from the RE/insurance. I know that your OBGYN could do some tests, so they could offer to do some of the above I mentioned, like blood work,, etc., but my OBGYN referred me directly to an RE due to my age.
You really want to ask your insurance if you have fertility benefits, because these tests will often fall under that category. Some, I'm sure, don't, but I would want to know this before any tests commence.
Husband: 40
TTC#1 since 9/2014
Unexplained Infertility - Trying naturally
Husband: 40
TTC#1 since 9/2014
Unexplained Infertility - Trying naturally
Should be be easy to call your insurance and see what you are covered for.
TTC#1 since November 2015
9/16/2016 IUI#1 - BFN
10/12/2016 IUI#2 - BFN
1/21/2017 Clomid/IUI#3 - BFN
March 2017 IVF: BFP! (beta#1 191, beta#2 378!) - it's a boy! DS born 12/6/2017
TTC #2 since July 2018
May 2019 IVF #2: BFP! (beta#1 346, beta#2 646) - vanishing twin at 8 weeks. Baby B still going strong - due 2/8/20!
OBs do have better chances of getting stuff covered (I think insurance companies know that REs focus on fertility, but your OB could be checking you for PCOS, endometriosis, and other stuff that affects both your health and your fertility), but OBs are not that well trained on fertility issues. They're great at getting you healthy, not so great at getting you knocked up. It's a good place to start, but don't waste too many cycles with them.
Some RE clinics offer these free seminars where they talk about what they do, try to convince you to choose them (in cities where they have some competition), and if you attend the seminar, you get some sort of credit towards your initial testing.
7 IUIs, 7 BFNs.
2 IVF attempts, both cancelled and converted to IUI, both BFNs.
Decided that my tired old ovaries are ready to retire.
Next step- reciprocal IVF, using my wife's eggs, my uterus!
fresh 5 day transfer (2 embryos) 4/17/17- BFP!
Identical twins "due" 1/2/17 (but anticipated arrival sometime December)
An OB did some of my initial CD 3 blood work just like @jennh75b described but because of my age she recommended I see an RE. You can call your insurance company and have them go over infertility coverage to make sure you understand. In most cases if you are 35 or older you are covered if you have been trying at least 6 months.
Good luck and keep us posted.
2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos
moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos
Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC
Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks
May 2020 FET; BFN
July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate
Oct 2020 BFP!
Take a look at my blog
I would have a lot of incentive to get to the RE sooner than later if my deductible were already paid for the year. Basically we took this month off but since my deductible is met for the year, H wants to try IUI so that's why I had to switch REs - my insurance covered only testing/appointments at my RE but not IUI or IVF, so I am switching to a new RE. I have to use certain providers within my plan in order for those two procedures to be covered. The one I'm switching to is a little more inconvenient, but oh well, we want it paid for.
Husband: 40
TTC#1 since 9/2014
Unexplained Infertility - Trying naturally
Also I was talking to a friend yesterday. She said it took them 2 years to conceive her 3rd child while the others took little effort. She told me because she was stressed trying to finish graduate school and it was a busy time for them. It made me think. DH has been building his studio for 1 year - new construction. Pretty much done - painting and railings on inside need to finish and next week I will do my best to help him clean so he can unpack and then he gets temporary occupancy and has 2 months to finish outside - paint, sidewalks, and grass/minor landscaping. I think once he actually unpacks, cleans, and is able to go back to doing photography 100% of the time instead of GC type work his stress and energy will be better. So I was thinking maybe the stress is affecting his semen levels which would make sense. I'm thinking of putting him on a multi vitamin and maca root supplement as well for cycle 5. Feel free to tell me I'm nuts. I do still have a chance of BFP - AF due October 1, but I have ZERO symptoms and really doubt I am pregnant.