dr appt

Hi Ladies
Ive been ttc for a while (longer then i have been a member on here)...I just made an appt to see my dr in May bc we have had a few months of ttc unsuccessfully.

I had bloodwork done a few weeks ago from my primary care dr bc i have a thyroid problem and get my levels tested every so often...and she said everythign looked good.

I am just wondering what should i ask my doctor when I see her and what should i bring? Is there anything your doctors told you to try before they were willing to start testing?
I have been using OPKs this entire time and have my dates marked down for all my cycles. I also started temping this past month. Is there anything different i should do during this last cycle before my appt?

Also, do doctors suggest getting a sperm analysis before they test you for anything? if so, how do you go about getting that done...just have Dh call up a urologist?

sorry for all the questions just want to be prepared


edit - new question added below re: recommend your RE and how long do you wait before making an RE appt?

Message edited 3/30/2012 11:58:04 AM.

Re: dr appt

First, how old are you and how long have you been trying?

Re: dr appt

Welcome! I think you've come to great place with lots of good advice. You mentioned a Doctor... do you mean an ob/gyn or an RE?

Re: dr appt

Thanks for responding. I am 31 and we have been trying for 5 cycles so far (which has been close to 7months bc I have long cycles). It will be 6 cycles (and 8 months) by the time if my appt. My appt is with my normal obgyn. When I told her we were going to start ttc last year she said if it takes 6-8months to come in for an appt so I scheduled it. I figure that should be my first step

Re: dr appt

usually docs tell u to come back after a yr with no results..

they could tell u to come back bc it has only been 7 cycles..i know that is hard to hear but sometimes it just takes that long

if u want testing done then ask for it..even if the doc does nto offer

u can have ur dh have a SA u can have a hsg and some blood tests run

are u on thyroid meds? a lot of docs want ur levels normal before they will do anything ttc related

i would bring ur charts and the dates of ur positive opks

do u ovulate? are ur cycles consistent,even though long..what is the average?

Re: dr appt

Message edited 3/30/2012 10:45:02 AM.

Re: dr appt

if you go to see a RE they usually do a SA for your DH. Usually, OBGYN's don' do much in the way of trying to get your pregnant, so if I was you, I would waste much more time and make an appointment with a RE. They can tell you more and get youto the exams you may need to take to find out if there is anything wrong.

If you would rather wait, your DH can have a SA done, he would need to contact a urologist to do so, not sure if your PCP will be able to do that for him

Re: dr appt

I agree with moonmist only because a RE would do a full workup on you both, and by getting a look at the big picture, her or she can analyze the situation better than an ob/gyn. And if they find nothing you can go on your merry way and just
Good Luck!!!!!!

Re: dr appt

thanks ladies. i think since it hasnt been that long i will keep this appt with my obgyn for May.

but may as well start doing some research...does anyone have an RE they recommend (nassau or queens)?
And how long did you wait before you saw an RE? I would hate to make an appt for June and have them say we need to wait another 4 months.

Re: dr appt

Go to your dr in May, especially if she told you to come back after 6-8 cycles. Likely she'll do bloodwork and maybe an ultrasound to see if you're producing follies. My gyno even gave us an Rx for DH to get his SA. That's how we found how we have MFI. DH started seeing a urologist and I didn't have to see the RE until many months later when we knew what his story was.

Good luck!

Re: dr appt

So far I haven't gone the RE route yet. My obgym so far has done the hsg and internal sono for me, gave dh the scrpt for his SA. Worked in conjuction with my dr who did a full blood work-up including the progesterone test and a thyroid test with sono. She saw me after 8 months i just turned 33. She even prescribed clomid for me and is doing my iui. My obgyn is very thorough and I'm only going to a re if these iuis don't work.

Re: dr appt

I would go straight to an RE. Many local obgyn's and urologists are not very informed about fertilty issues. That has been my experience. I can't speak for others. If you are using opks and not getting pregnant, then there could be something wrong. Doctors say wait a year when ttc, but not everyone can fit a blanket 1-year wait. If I waited a year, I would have been delaying the inevitable, which are very serious unknown problems. I go to Cornell in NYC. They are number 2 in the country.

Btw- I started trying last March 2011 and saw an RE in August. I didn't take it seriously until December, and boy was I shocked.

Message edited 3/31/2012 9:42:47 PM.