How do you....

Did most of you find out about infertility issues after trying to conceive for a few months or did you have ideas/clues beforehand? I know this is a sensitive subject but I am 32 and have been trying to conceive for a few months - have been using CBEFM and I am just curious. I seem to have a typical cycle, but you just never know. How many months into it did you have your husband tested?

Re: How do you....

I had no clue, I thought my age might be a factor, but not really - at almost 36, after 6 months and one MC we decided to see an RE

Re: How do you....

We started TTC around December of 2004 , about 3 months before our wedding, thinking if we got lucky it would be great and we couldnt wait any longer, we were so anxious to start.

Around March we started using OPKS and timing BD.

I have normal cycles for the most part so it wasnt hard to do.

I had 2 previous PG's ( although losses) but got PG quickly so I assumed this time would be the same.

We started to wonder/worry around June/July which was like 8 months of trying and 5 months of trying agressively.

We saw the RE at the end of August and have been seeing one ever since.

Im gonna be 31. We read in TCOYF ( great book)...with timing BD and using all the charting techniques, with normal cycles, it shouldnt take more then 2-4 months to conceive, thats what pushed us to go.

DH was tested and we started all the fun tests etc then.

I think for anyone over 30....if you are charting as well as using the ovulations predictor, I would look into more help at around 8 months.

Good luck!

Message edited 4/7/2006 11:02:47 AM.

Re: How do you....

We ttc, for a year, using the fertility monitor. Then after that, we went to seek help. ...

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I got pg naturally last March and miscarried in April. My OB said I would get pg again in no time. So fast forward to October ... no BFP...and I asked - no BEGGED - to have CD3 blood work done. My FSH was 12.7, very high. So that's when I started going to an RE.

I am 39 years old so can't really wait and see anymore.

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It is so scary that you just never know if you are going to have problems, bec , with this , everything can seem "normal" but there could still be problems... What are the first round of test a ob/gyn would do for their patient, even before going to a RE, or do you guys recommending going straight to an RE with these kinds of concerns?

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Most GYNs will do an HSG to make sure your tubes aren't blocked, and should also be able to do cycle day 3 blood work which tells you where your hormones are at. They can also prescribe a semen analysis for your husband. If any of these tests come back with bad results I would move right to a REproductive Endocrinologist -- hopefully they can get to the core of the problem quickly and solve it.

Most GYNs will not want to do any of this unless you say you have been activelly trying for at least a year (if under 35) or six months if you are over 35. Sometimes you have to be very adamant about your desire to have tests done.

I feel like I wasted a lot of time.

Also GYNs are not fertility specialists no matter what they tell you. It's kind of like seeing your PCP for an ear infection --- go right to the specialist, I say...

Re: How do you....

An Ob would likley do some blood work...progesterone etc....And send DH for a SA ( semem analysis) and maybe send you for an HSG to see if your tubes are bloked and see the shape of your uterus. Some OB's start patients on Clomid as well.

I would do everything with the OB except the Clomid. I would rather see an RE for that.

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Is the HSG the same as the transvaginal ultrasound bec my dr already sent me for that and she said everything looked OK.

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We were trying using the CBEFM for about 8 months. I had my regular GYN appointment and I mentioned this to the doctor. She sent me for bloodwork and the HSG test....the HSG test came back abnormal (I have 1 missing tube) and the bloodwork showed an underactive thyroid. She suggessted I see an RE. I went to the RE and was there for 8 months...had many test and 5 IUI's later, I am now PG. I am 32.

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I always knew for years that I'd have issues because I'm annovulatory... maybe 3 or 4 periods a year MAX. I complained to a few ob/gyn's for YEARS while I was single and everyone dismissed me as well... when you are married and want kids. Well, I'm almost 36 now (got married last year). I knew it would be an issue so I didn't wait 6 months to see the RE. I lied about my marriage date and called as soon as we got back from our honeymoon... got an appt. last Sept.

Good thing I spoke up right away because all of these months later... still no baby. Had I waited 6 months I would have lost more precious time.

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best of luck to all of you...thanks for your repsonses. i am finding this all very helpful. feel free to keep them coming -Thanks!!

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As far as the underactive thyroid...I have that myself and its one of my TTC issues. I always thought I had this, since I had all the signs...always being cold, inability to lose weight, extreme tiredness etc.. But my regualr PCP would test me for it when I complained ( about once every 18 months-2 years) and say the results were normal.

When my RE tested me, my results immediately came back as high. What was happening was my levels were slowly rising and my PCP was not reading into the rasing of the numbers and just assumed it was normal.

I woudl suggest now to women to get their thyroid checked every year and ask about the last numbers to be reviewed as well.

Re: How do you....

Message edited 4/7/2006 3:07:54 PM.

Re: How do you....

Posted by luvsun27

Posted by readynhopeful

Posted by luvsun27

We were trying using the CBEFM for about 8 months. I had my regular GYN appointment and I mentioned this to the doctor. She sent me for bloodwork and the HSG test....the HSG test came back abnormal (I have 1 missing tube) and the bloodwork showed an underactive thyroid. She suggessted I see an RE. I went to the RE and was there for 8 months...had many test and 5 IUI's later, I am now PG. I am 32.

did you have any indication prior to trying that you had one missing tube and and underactive thyroid...what are other symtoms of these condition? what RE?

No...nothing, never. The underactive thryoid, they gave me some medication that I took for a few months while I went through the IF treatments...I'm off it now, and all seems to be good. I have always been perfectly healthy...never sick, nothing. Through all my test, I have also discovered that I have only 1 tube, 1 ovary and 1 kidney

However...now that I'm PG, the doctor doesn't see why I wouldn't have a normal pregnancy...they are just watching me closely in that I also have what they call a unicornia uterus (because there were not two sides to fuse together). Apparantly, it's not that big a deal, just that I have to be careful and the only concern is pre-mature labor. So far, everything is going well though.

Good luck!