GP, gynie, FS?

So I am just wondering who is the best person to manage our TTC at the moment.

I had a chat to a friend (thank you Bloom) about this, perhaps this is getting a bit too much for my GP? She wants me to continue on the same drugs next cycle, despite cysts appearing for the first time during the first ovulation on this drug. I am a bit concerned... it was a functional follicular ovarian cyst, basically a normal follie that got to about 6 cm and burst on CD15, releasing the egg (to where, I have no idea, FX into the fallopian tubes) and the fluid that came out irritated my abdomen and bowels enough to cause bowel colic (contractions of the bowels) and hurt like buggery.

Anyway, I don't know where to go from here? We aren't technically LTTTC, we conceived DD1 naturally after 12 full on cycles, have had 6 lazy cycles and 2 more full on cycles this time around. So 20 cycles and 1 conception, time for a FS or not?

I just don't want to have to experience a ruptured follie on the left side next cycle before my GP decides that our current drugs aren't working.

We also don't want to feel pressured or hounded to go down the AC path before we have really given TTC#2 a go naturally, but I am not sure if that can happen anymore now anyway?

The current issue being high prolactin inhibiting estrogen and progesterone. The GP suspects that we have trouble getting enough hormone to rupture follies, they grow nice but not sure if they actually rupture and release the egg. During the US at the hospital they also found cysts in the lining which I have never had before.

Wow if you got this far you deserve a medal :D.

I'd go and see a FS hun, it can't hurt. And if you find a nice one, you won't be hounded into doing anything you don't want to do. Plus, it's there area of expertise so will give you way more support than your GP ever could.

Sue x

Hi Maruschke
I am no expert on this whatsoever, but if it were me I'd go see a fertility specialist, they really know what they're talking about. I'd be hesitant to let a GP give me fertility treatment, I would either try naturally for a bit longer with no treatment, or see a FS. Just my personal opinion though!
Wishing you all the best with TTC number 2.
HB
xxxx

Thank you both. I'm really tempted to quit the drugs until I can see someone who specialises in fertility, even if that means waiting.

I would definitely be going to a FS - this sounds like some serious stuff that I think is specialist-worthy! If you are worried that you may not get a referral because you haven't be trying for that long, I can recommend a very understanding GP that you can talk to about all this stuff (he referred us to a FS quite early on). With regards to the drugs, I think you should trust your instinct - if it doesn't feel right, you probably shouldn't be taking it. I hope you get some answers really soon.

Can a FS write out a treatment plan that GP's can administer, for really basic stuff? Our GP is so close to our house, it would make things easier. I'm a bit hesitant about a FS because it means "something is wrong", KWIM?

As it happens, my FS is really close to my GP, so in that instance, yeah I imagine that would be possible. I don't know how it would work in your situation, though. The only thing to bear in mind is that (in my experience), the FS does a lot of monitoring by ultrasound for the first while before any major intervention takes place. For example, he may just monitor you to see how the medication is affecting you from the inside throughout the month - something a GP cannot do, obviously. As for the stigma, I suppose it depends on your idea of going to an FS. With us it wasn't so much because we thought we had a problem, we went in order to make sure there wasn't a problem that could be easily solved IYKWIM? Not sure if you know who I am IRL (have changed my BB name). I am happy to chat to you about it if you want another opinion. Just PM me :)

See a FS hun :) If it turns out to be something really simple or managable, the FS will just refer you back to your GP for simple treatment. But I it turns out you need more specialized help, well, it can only help to be going there now and not later, kwim? :hug: xx