Had my 1st GP appointment today...

[Em_325]

Well I finally went and saw a GP about our fertility problems and to be honest I am a bit shocked. The GP didn't seem interested at all. I did get a referral to a fertility specialist which is good but when I asked if I could get the blood tests etc done first I was told no... Is this normal? Was I expecting too much? I guess the FS might want their own tests done but I wanted to do all the preliminary tests first before taking the step of going to the FS. In the end I pushed for the blood tests but they are only the routine pre TTC ones. I wanted the referral for the cd21 test as I am currently cd18 but she wouldn't do it.

On a more positive note I was expecting a couple of months wait to get into the FS but I have an appointment for next Thursday so at least I don't have to wait long for the next step.

Oh and my DH got his SA results back on Friday (different GP) and they are all normal.

[Keta]

Hi Em,

Sorry your gp wasn't very helpful. Your fs will more than likely want to do their own tests anyway so I wouldn't worry too much. I had had bt's but my fs still wanted to repeat them plus do some extras. Your dh will prob have to do another SA too.
I hope you have a solution soon and get pregnant nice and quick.

[Lily Dust]

Yep that ^^^^ Our FS re-did any tests we had done previously through his own clinic. But Im pretty sure DH only had a sperm analysis through the GP and I had zippo. Honestly, imo you are better off just getting them run through your FS they specialise in that area and know what they are talking about ie a GP may tell you that 97% abnormality is a deathly result whereas the FS reads that and knows that 97% of sperm is abnormally normal itms

Good luck and i hope that you have a quick TTC journey from here on in

[juniper76]

My GP did nothing other than the referral either. To be honest, the clinics' pathology labs typically give more reliable results than the general pathology labs since they specialise in these tests rather than doing all tests. In particular, I've heard of people getting very different SA results at the different labs. The lab at our clinic was much, much quicker with the results too.

[jayejaye]

My GP did nothing other than the referral either. To be honest, the clinics' pathology labs typically give more reliable results than the general pathology labs since they specialise in these tests rather than doing all tests. In particular, I've heard of people getting very different SA results at the different labs. The lab at our clinic was much, much quicker with the results too.

What she said!! A good FS will want all their own tests done! Good luck!!

[RhiChiChi]

My FS ran his own tests, even though the OBS/Gyno had done the CD21 ovulation test and my DH did a sperm test... so it was sort of pointless in a way b/c the FS disregarded the first lot of tests. Just make sure you have plenty of questions written down to ask when you see the FS, it can be a little daunting

[Lulliloo]

my gp actually did a lot of different bt for me. i am waiting for the fs to do a sa for dh.. i figure they will do another one anyway so i will give dh a break and only have to do it once.

[Marley&Me]

My old GP practically laughed when I told her that I suspected I may have PCOS. Because I am not overweight or hairy When I saw the FS he pretty much diagnosed it within 5 minutes of our appointment (with scans/BT)
Better to save it for the FS, fertility is their speciality!

[juniper76]

My old GP practically laughed when I told her that I suspected I may have PCOS. Because I am not overweight or hairy When I saw the FS he pretty much diagnosed it within 5 minutes of our appointment (with scans/BT)
Better to save it for the FS, fertility is their speciality!

I had the complete opposite - my GP assumed immediately that I had PCOS (in spite of my clockwork cycles and charts indicate ovulation every single cycle) because of my weight and skin. Took the FS 5 mins (via u/s) to show I didn't have it. Same conclusion though - the FS know way more than your average GP!

[Em_325]

Thanks for the replies I do feel a lot better about it now. I think my main issue is I haven't accepted the fact it might not happen naturally. Even now I have my fantasy that I will get to the FS appointment and they will discover I'm pg already.

My FS ran his own tests, even though the OBS/Gyno had done the CD21
ovulation test and my DH did a sperm test... so it was sort of pointless in a way b/c the FS disregarded the first lot of tests. Just make sure you have plenty of questions written down to ask when you see the FS, it can be a little daunting

What questions should I ask?

[jayejaye]

What questions should I ask?

Everything and anything you can think of! What tests theyi intend to run and why? You almost need to see the results of those first before you ask any more, ie. what do the results mean, is that good or bad, what path do they reecommend, what success rates they have, etc.....think about it and write it down, because once you are there you will forget!!

[juniper76]

I can never think of any questions at the time, so I've learned to always ask "If I have any other questions, can I phone you?". Works wonders!