how long before seeing an RE

If you ladies dont mind sharing, i was just wondering how long you were ttc before seeing an RE?

I have an appt with my general doctor this week (i love her) and plan on asking her for a copy of my records (she has been monitoring my hypothyroidism for a while) so that I can bring all the info to an RE when i make my first appt. Dh seems to think i am moving a bit too fast.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

we have been ttc for 6 months now. i just did a round of clomid with my obgyn and it didnt work (as of now, im convinced AF is coming soon).

i am going to make an appt. with an RE once my obgyn calls me back with my bloodwork results to let me know if i ovulated with the clomid.

alot of the girls on here suggested not to take clomid unless you are monitored, so thats another reason im going. plus they do more testing.

so my answer is 6 months. but only bc i have VERY irregular cycles, so something is not right.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

How long have you been TTC and how old are you? Traditionally, if you're under 35 you should try for a year before seeing an RE though some people say 6 months. If there are underlying issues, you may go sooner.

My story is, I was getting an x-ray for an unrelated issue when they saw a cyst on my ovary. Turned out it was just a follicle, but that led the dr to run tests and discover that I have a luteal phase defect and low progesterone. And before I could go on Clomid to fix this, DH had an SA where we discovered we were dealing with severe MFI. Had I waited, we would've just wasted time. I'm glad I went sooner than later since it's a year later I'm still in treatment with no baby (yet).

Re: how long before seeing an RE

we waited till after our 3rd loss... which was just under a year.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

I waited 8 months even though I was under 35. My best friend was having IF problems too and she told me to stop wasting time and go.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

Around 6 months, but I also have PCOS and was having issues getting my period during the first few months so decided to go to an RE.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

i am 32 and we are finishing up our 7th month of ttc (af is due sunday and i am pretty sure she is coming). So by the time i get an appt we will already be onto month 8 (or possibly month 9 depending on dr availability).

I have been temping and using opks and seem to be ovulating so i dont think that is a problem. I do have an under active thyroid that i currently get treated for by my general doctor.

My doctors seem to have different opinions...my obgyn (who i have an annual appt with over the summer) has the "be "patient" mentality. My general doctor seems to have the "cant hurt to get tested to make sure everything is ok" mentality. and of course Dh and i have the conflicting mentalities too! i feel like it cant hurt to have a SA done for him and whatever test for me just to be safe...if everything is ok then we can talk about waiting a few more months before going the medication route or the iui route...but if there is a problem i would rather know now so that i dont put things off even longer.

I let DH's be patient mindset get to me and stopped the bcp 4 months later then i wanted to...but now i feel like i dont want to wait anymore.

Message edited 5/2/2012 2:20:31 PM.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

Re: how long before seeing an RE

We never really ttc before going to the RE. I had bee off the bcp a year prior to my wedding and only got a period once. I had been diagnosed with pcos at 16 and my obgyn suggested when we're ready to ttc to go straight to a RE. At the RE we found out we were also dealing with a MF and I produced a sperm killing antibody. Took 7 cycles with the RE to conceive dd.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

Re: how long before seeing an RE

i went at exactly 6m TTC but i was tracking my cycle and i had only ovulated once in 6 months so there was an obvious problem.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

If I don't get pregnant with this Clomid/IUI cycle we have an appointment for next week set up. This is our 1st Clomid cycle. As much as I LOVE my OB, I wish I was monitored more closely. They only gave me one sonogram and said they "think" I'm ovulating within the next 24-48 hours. If I'm going to put drugs in my body I need a better answer then they think. Also, I wish they would have tested my progesterone level after I ovulated.

We have been trying for almost a year before taking meds, but I have Endo and PCOS so I don't want to wait too long

Re: how long before seeing an RE

I would go ahead and make a appointment. It might not even be you. I wasted a year trying to find out what was wrong with me when it was DH.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

13 months, but I already knew I had PCOS and never ovulated, but DH just wanted to try the old fashioned way for a year before we sought out help

Re: how long before seeing an RE

Re: how long before seeing an RE

After 9 months of trying and irregular cycles, my GYN did bloodwork, SA and HSG. Bloodwork showed high FSH so he referred me to an RE in month 10.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

a total of 7months ttc

the first few months were just dtd
the next few months i started with opk tempin. hit a few bumps but my ob wanted us to keep tryin until we hit the 9 month mark. i didnt want to because of my age so one month after turning 36 i went to see an re. first month they did all the bloodwork , unmedicated & monitored resulted in a bfn. month two with them i did 50mg of clomid cd5-9 iui and dtd which resulted in my bfp. i am so grateful and happy i went with my gutt.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

7 months TTC
on the 7 th month, I went to an RE. the first month, i had all the standard tests done and then we went on vacation right in the middle of my cycle the month after so that was like a "non" month. This month was my first cycle actually going to the RE to start the whole process.

However, I know that I have PCOS so i didn't want to wait any longer.

I would reccoment going sooner rather than later.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

For us it was 2 months...DH wanted to try TI and clomid which my gyn prescribed...after that didnt work we went to an RE...I have PCOS and didnt get my cycle for over a yr...it all depends on what issues you have.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

Re: how long before seeing an RE

Great question. DH and I have been trying for 9 cycles. I'm going to see my gyno this month and my next stop will be an RE.

For those who already see an RE... do you have to get a referal? Is there anything specific you need to do before you can see an RE?

I don't think you're moving too fast. Good luck!!

Re: how long before seeing an RE

Make sure you contact your insurance company and find out what is covered. Mine ended up covering basic testing but not anything else. Ask if they cover Bloodwork, monitoring, iuis, ivf, semen analysis.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

almost a yr..i should have gone earlier instead wasting time with my ob

i should have went sooner bc i knew we had issues

Re: how long before seeing an RE

thanks for all the info ladies!
i just came from my pcp appt and she told me to wait longer before seeing a RE
She is going to call me after my blood test comes back but she thinks everything is fine and there is no reason for me to go to the RE yet. im kinda bummed bc it seems like i am prolonging the inevitable. but she said i am ovulating (based on temps and opks etc) so there is no need for concern. But if after 12 months nothing, then i should see a RE.
DH agrees that it is too soon
i guess ill wait til I see my obgyn in June and see what she has to say.

Re: how long before seeing an RE

I have to disagree with this. It could be DH and not you. You should have him tested as well. Also, sometimes there is no reason. It's called unexplained infertility. Everything can be fine but, its just not working. You have to go with your gut. It seems like you feel something isn't right. I would trust your instinct.

Message edited 5/3/2012 12:11:59 PM.