What to expect from GP for fertility issues?

[drewid]

After 4 mostly unsuccessful years of TTC since DS, we've finally decided to go get some help/answers in the new year.

Can anyone tell me what to expect after we go to the GP? Will we get referred to a fertility specialist, or will the GP do anything first? I'm a bit clueless, and frankly, a bit scared.

Thanks :o

[sexy_minx]

when we went to the gp, she didnt do anything but ask alot of Q's to give my new gyny a heads up on my case, it wasnt till i seen him they did bloods and u/s and talked more about things. not sure if this is how it all ways works but did with me.

[TJ]

My GP didnt do anything at all, asked a few questions and wrote me out a referral to the fertility specialist.

Good luck finding your answers.

[ringneck]

My Gp was good he ran tests to check a few things but since it wasn't his specialty referred me.
Good luck i hope you find your answers soon and are pregnant in the new year :hugs:

[Theresa68]

My GP referred me to my ob/gyno (who had dealt with my ectopic and miscarriages). My ob/gyno guy then referred me to the FS. On our first visit with the FS, we went through all the medical history. He then gave us an enormous pack to read and we booked into the fertility centre to meet with the coordinator and the counsellor. We had to have bloods and hubby had to do a sperm sample. Then basically we were ready to start once AF starts. It is full on, overwhelming and exciting all at the same time.

[Chub Chub]

I too have a DD and then couldn't concieve again afterwards.

We went to our GP. He sent me for bloods to make sure my hormone levels were OK and that I was ovulating. These tests came back AOK:thumbsup:.

He then requested a 'sample' from my DH. This was done at home and then taken into our clinic. The result came back lacking. Then we got a referral to our Specialist.

You'll be fine....I felt sooo much better to finally have some answers. Good Luck.

[trixiebelle17]

i'm not up to being referred to an FS yet, but my doctor sent me for bloods, an ultrasound and gave DH a referral for a 'sample'.

I think it'll prob save u time if u ask ur GP to send u off for these so then at least at ur first FS appt u have a whole heap of info already in front of u (and u might be able to get it bulkbilled?!)

[Bellablue]

I actually found that my naturopath was more thorough than the GP. My naturopath specialises in fertility so she knows her stuff. The GP was pretty blase about the whole thing to be honest. I think she's more used to writing doctors certificates for the flu and had a million other people in the waiting room so she couldn't get rid of me quick enough.

My naturopath recommended:

- SA for DP;
- complete blood test for me to check hormone levels and everything else to make sure I was healthy - I had mine done a week post-O which is apparently the best time to have it done;
- pap test to check for STDs and abnormal cervical cells;
- ultrasound to check my uterus and ovaries were normal.

Obviously she wanted all sorts of details about my cycle length, temps etc as well, so it helps if you've been charting religiously. The GP had to write referrals/requests for all these things in order for me to get them done though, as the naturopath didn't have the authority. It was awkward having to go between the two because neither seemed to respect the other.

After 9 months TTC, I went back to the GP and got her to write me a referral to an FS. The FS recommended a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy before she would commence any sort of treatment. You might want to google these procedures to get a better idea of what happens in them, but they are basically exploratory surgery to make sure your tubes aren't blocked, you don't have endo etc. If they do find anything, they can usually fix it right then and there, which can help increase your fertility or gives your FS a better idea of what's going on so they can treat you accordingly. It's key hole day surgery under a general anaesthetic. I haven't had it done yet, but if I'm still not UTD after 12 months TTC, I will be booking myself in. What the future holds after that, who knows!

It's all a bit scary but not when you take it one thing at a time. The worse thing for me was my pap, as I had high grade abnormal cells which needed to be removed by laser. Just as well I had this done when I did because it could have turned cancerous if I became pg and then they wouldn't have been able to operate which could have been a disaster. I have always had regular and normal paps, so it was a real surprise and a bit of a shock for me. Other than that, it's good to be able to go down the list and rule certain potential problems out.

Good luck Drewid, I hope you find some answers which will help address any potential problems and bring you closer to getting your BFP! You have been very patient waiting 4 years!

[drewid]

Thanks guys...its all a bit scary. I definitely haven't been patient the last 4 years! Just buried my head in the sand really..hoped it would resolve itself. But its been 9 months since my ectopic and nothing yet, and I'm 30 next year, so if I want more children, I really need to get into this sooner rather than later. I'm already down a tube, and have no cycle to speak of, so I imagine its gonna take a lot of intervention to try to get things going...its a bit of a freaky notion for me.

[trixiebelle17]

hi again drewid,

Not having a cycle is often a common symptom of PCOS... is this something you have? It is generally dx through a BT of hormone levels... The common treatment is the drug metformin which isn't technically a fertility drug but is used as the majority of women will have normal cycles within a few months of starting to take it... As over 90% of PCOS is caused by insulin resistance, the idea behind metformin is that it will assist lower ur insulin allowing ur hormones to produce themselves at their normal levels...

Other symptoms can include acne, hair in the wrong places, being overweight, having polycyctic ovaries (the presence of these is different to the syndrome itself) etc but the symptoms vary greatly between women

i wish u all the best with all ur appointments, they can be scary and intrusive but at least u can feel proactive about ttc... just don't be like me and get so wound up in regulating ur body u forget to BD when u finally O...LMAO

[drewid]

Thanks trixibelle :)

If I have PCOS, I don't know about it. Have never seen anyone about my stupid cycle. I was quite normal up until I went on the pill for 3 years when I was 19-21. During that time, put on a lot of weight, lost most of it, then met my husband and put it back on again. I've never had a normal cycle since I've been with him (6.5yrs now). I was briefly functioning for a few months after my ectopic, but its probably been 6 months now with nothing doing :(

I could google I guess, but what is metformin? Injection, pill? Is it something done daily, or during certain times or?

The only thing on that list of symptoms would be the overweight factor. I could stand to lose about 20kg I think. Working on that :)

I couldn't care less about regulating my body though...only to have a baby...otherwise I'm quite happy to be cycle-less - it does make life more fun and spontaneous and not having to worry about when AF might rear her head at inopportune times! :D

But yes...definitely need to go see someone in the new year. Will just have to work up my courage levels.. :)

[trixiebelle17]

metformin is a pill, its cheap and isn't too bad although it can take the body a little getting used to...

I know what u mean about regular cycles pre pill... I was basically fine (even when i first came off the pill and was using condoms) until the month i started ttc and now in 7 months i've had AF once...lol... i'm guessing i would have been over the moon at any other point in my life, but not so crash hot now!

Well u can work your courage levels up as u go along, im guessing the first step anyone would take is to have BT and thats not too scary in comparison to some of the other investigative options, take DH along to hold ur hand ;)

[Witchypoo]

Hi Drewid,

I would think that after 4 years of TTC unsuccessfully your GP would definitely take it seriously as that is quite a long time. I was very interested to read this thread as I have an appointment with my GP on December 15 (she is booked up weeks in advance) to discuss my lack of success in TTC. I have just found a great GP who listens, takes you seriously, takes her time with you and seems to actually care. I also have a gyno appointment for Dec 23. I'm really interested to see how they go. The gyno appointment is to discuss a recurrent UTI caused by Group B Streptococcus:( which incidentally has horrible complications for pregnancy/childbirth, but I will ask him about TTC as well.

A question for anyone in the know about these things: Is an FS different to a gyno? Is an FS a gyno who specialises in fertility? I'm a little confused. Could I just see a gyno or would I need an FS? :confused: