First Fertility Appointment - What was your experience?

[Sasha_]

Hi again,

I've had day 3 and day 21 blood tests done, OH is scheduled for SA in a few days and I also have an appointment next week for a pelvic ultrasound scan. I received my appointment (scheduled for the end of January) with a fertility specialist (NHS) and I'm just looking for some information really.

What happened at your first appointment?
Were any tests carried out?
At what point were you prescribed medication (if required)?

Any info is much appreciated

Thank you and good luck everyone!

 

[xMillie]

At my first appointment it was just a chat mostly. Asked about Medical history, what my periods were like, how long my cycles were.
They took swabs from me, then referred me for internal scan and hsg.

After all tests came back as normal they referred me to the ivf clinic.


Some areas may have a difference process of course xx

 

[liz85]

Hello there, when I went they asked me questions about my health cycles etc. They took bloods, internal ultrasound and weight and height. I need surgery which is stalling me having fertility treatment atm.

 

[Sasha_]

Thanks girls. Millie, can I ask what the HSG was like please? Was it painful or just a bit uncomfortable? I get very anxious about these things, even blood tests but I've had 3 or 4 so far and it gets easier each time. I wish you both the best of luck with your treatment. It's such a stressful and hard thing to go through, but hopefully we'll all get there x

 

[Alexis2017]

Ive had 1 appt at the clinic and have my hsg test on 5th. ...thrn back on 30th to talk about the results and the next steps. I am sure we will all get there in the end

 

[xMillie]

Thanks girls. Millie, can I ask what the HSG was like please? Was it painful or just a bit uncomfortable? I get very anxious about these things, even blood tests but I've had 3 or 4 so far and it gets easier each time. I wish you both the best of luck with your treatment. It's such a stressful and hard thing to go through, but hopefully we'll all get there x

Uncomfortable but no worse than bad period cramps. It's all worth it though xx

It's horrible.. I think we have to be done after our next frozen embryo transfer (in Jan) as it will be 5 years since we started ttc in march. I need to move on.

 

[Sasha_]

Hi Alexis, I'm also in Scotland �� Good luck for the HSG. So sorry to hear that Millie, I'll keep my fingers crossed. My testosterone levels were slightly raised and my GP said that I may have PCOS so I'll probably find out after the ultrasound next week. Does anyone know if they give you your results from the pelvic ultrasound there and then, or do we need to wait? I'm dreading the ultrasound because it's the maternity unit I need to go to, where I'll see babies and pregnant women. Sometimes I feel so useless! Thanks again for the replies x

 

[xMillie]

Thanks xx

Gosh I remember my ultrasound well even though it was a while ago now! thankfully it wasn't packed with pregnant women but the 1 that showed up to the waiting room after me brought her army of children with her along with partner and mother(?), made me wonder why???

Then my scan to check if I miscarried at the EPU was awful.. that was right next to the maternity ward. Spotted a pregnant woman in the back entrance smoking. The waiting room again someone felt the need to bring along their young child and partner and friend(?).

People don't think do they!!


The only things they told me at my ultrasound was that everything is tilted.

 

[liz85]

I was told then and there what they saw on the scan but the official report then came from my gp. Xxx

 

[MoominGirl]

I think experiences vary hugely between areas but happy to share mine.

Had all the hormone bloods done and hubby had SA all organised by GP. In my area, the GP had to arrange a pelvic ultrasound before they could even refer us. My scan scan was at a separate scanning place so thankfully I didn't need to go near a maternity unit. They found an endometrial polyp which they told me about there and then. I know someone who has PCOS and she was also told that on the day.

After all this was done we were referred to the fertility clinic. Unfortunately, we didn't have a particularly positive experience (I won't go into it as I think we were unlucky and I don't think our experience was even close to the norm). I then had an HSG organised through gynae as I had been referred to them too because of the polyp.

There are lots of horror stories on the internet about the HSG. Personally, I've had period cramps that were worse than the HSG. It was a bit uncomfortable but if they told me I needed to have another one I really wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Hope that reassures you a bit.

We are now waiting for our new fertility appointment at a different clinic which is in a few weeks. Good luck!!

 

[Sasha_]

I think experiences vary hugely between areas but happy to share mine.

Had all the hormone bloods done and hubby had SA all organised by GP. In my area, the GP had to arrange a pelvic ultrasound before they could even refer us. My scan scan was at a separate scanning place so thankfully I didn't need to go near a maternity unit. They found an endometrial polyp which they told me about there and then. I know someone who has PCOS and she was also told that on the day.

After all this was done we were referred to the fertility clinic. Unfortunately, we didn't have a particularly positive experience (I won't go into it as I think we were unlucky and I don't think our experience was even close to the norm). I then had an HSG organised through gynae as I had been referred to them too because of the polyp.

There are lots of horror stories on the internet about the HSG. Personally, I've had period cramps that were worse than the HSG. It was a bit uncomfortable but if they told me I needed to have another one I really wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Hope that reassures you a bit.

We are now waiting for our new fertility appointment at a different clinic which is in a few weeks. Good luck!!

Hi,

Thanks for sharing your experience, I appreciate that! I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience at the fertility clinic - I hope the new place is much better for you and you come away feeling you've actually got somewhere. It's hard not to leave these places feeling like you're no further on! Like everyone else, I'm grateful to the NHS for helping me and doing all these tests, but it's such a slow process with sometimes months in between appointments. I have my ultrasound tomorrow which I'm nervous about as I'm scared of what they might find. If they do find any abnormalities, I suppose it's better to find them sooner rather than later. Thanks again for sharing and I wish you the best of luck x

 

[MoominGirl]

I think experiences vary hugely between areas but happy to share mine.

Had all the hormone bloods done and hubby had SA all organised by GP. In my area, the GP had to arrange a pelvic ultrasound before they could even refer us. My scan scan was at a separate scanning place so thankfully I didn't need to go near a maternity unit. They found an endometrial polyp which they told me about there and then. I know someone who has PCOS and she was also told that on the day.

After all this was done we were referred to the fertility clinic. Unfortunately, we didn't have a particularly positive experience (I won't go into it as I think we were unlucky and I don't think our experience was even close to the norm). I then had an HSG organised through gynae as I had been referred to them too because of the polyp.

There are lots of horror stories on the internet about the HSG. Personally, I've had period cramps that were worse than the HSG. It was a bit uncomfortable but if they told me I needed to have another one I really wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Hope that reassures you a bit.

We are now waiting for our new fertility appointment at a different clinic which is in a few weeks. Good luck!!

Hi,

Thanks for sharing your experience, I appreciate that! I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience at the fertility clinic - I hope the new place is much better for you and you come away feeling you've actually got somewhere. It's hard not to leave these places feeling like you're no further on! Like everyone else, I'm grateful to the NHS for helping me and doing all these tests, but it's such a slow process with sometimes months in between appointments. I have my ultrasound tomorrow which I'm nervous about as I'm scared of what they might find. If they do find any abnormalities, I suppose it's better to find them sooner rather than later. Thanks again for sharing and I wish you the best of luck x

The actual procedure was only slightly uncomfortable if that when they did the internal. As far as finding problems, thinking about it as if they find something they can treat it really got me through the tests. I think it's always better to know what you're up against even if it's not something you want to hear. Good luck tomorrow.

 

[V.ttc]

on the very first app i had within the NHS, we mostly just chatted the nurse about medical history, signed something say we won't travel to zika country, few other bits about sharing information.
then 2nd app was with consultant who looked at my bloods, oh's sperm analysis and then he sent me for hsg, then 3rd appointment clomid (about 6 months)

hope this helps x