When did you get medical help?

[Nemi]

Hi ladies,

I have been ttc for 21 months now.

I went to the doctor about 5 months ago and had day 21 bloods taken. My results came back abnormal, apparently my progesterone level was low.

The irritating doctor I spoke to about the results said that it was low because day 21 bloods is only relevant if you have a 28 day cycle. My cycle is (on average) 32 days and so apparently I should have blood taken a few days later. She then said I hadn't been trying long enough so basically said for me to go away (not in those words)

I just wanted to know how long you ladies waiting before getting referred?

I'm getting really impatient about it all.

 

[MariaIsabella]

Hello Nemi,

Sorry you feel like this. I went to see someone after 6 months since I was "older" around 35. They were quite understanding taking all tests and SA. I had good levels although progesterone a little low on 29-30. Boyfriend low morphology though.

Not sure why they were so rude to you.. Can you see someone else? You have been trying long enough to see someone that takes you seriously.

The progesterone test should be taken 7 days after ovulation I think ( might be wrong ) so if you have a longer cycle it might not be on day 21 so they should take this into consideration. I have a short luteal phase so got really annoyed when my doctor just looked at Day 21 without even consider I don't ovulate half way though my cycle..

I would go and see someone else. Be persistent and don't take no for an answer. Some doctors are lazy and you get nowhere unless you make a big deal out of it.

hope this helps xx

 

[kittykitchn]

As soon as my cycles changed, so about 6 months in to TTC. Stretched the truth slightly about how long we'd been trying, but luckily I have a good doctor who referred me for scans, and then straight to the fertility clinic.
With all the ailments I have, I definitely know to change GP if they're not as helpful as you think they should be xx

 

[snowbee]

Hiya, we went after a year ttc as that is the policy in our area (even with a known condition of pcos, still have to do the initial year). All areas are different and it does also depend on your age, the older you are the faster they will see you.

Your low progesterone level could be explained by having your bloods done on the incorrect day. It took us several attempts to get mine on the correct day as my cycles are irregular. I find going 8 days after a positive opk gets the best results (as said above it needs to be 7/8 days before CD1).

Did they tell you when they would see you again? If not go back for another appointment and ask for tests and see what they say.

 

[phonixgirl]

Hi Nemi

I initially sought medical advice for my pretty much continuous bleeding. That was shrugged off initially. I went back again and was referred to a gynaecologist who checked it wasn't cancer and discharged me. Then we went back again to get referred to the fertility clinic. The first time they told us to keep trying for longer but did a few basic tests on my insistence. We went back AGAIN a few months later and finally got the referral.

By this time, we had been TTC for around five years on and off but I had gone back on the pill 2010-2011 because I was doing a course (biggest mistake ever). So we counted it as officially from the start of 2013 I think (complicated, I know) when I was tracking my cycles. But really it's been so much longer. From memory, I think they wanted us to have been 'officially' trying for 18 months although she COULD have referred after a year of trying.

Obviously I know now that I do have issues (well, I knew that before but didn't have a name for it lol).

As for your progesterone, your dr should have done it on the right day. I have a short cycle so I had mine done early. I would go back and ask to have them done on the right day as you do not know if it's low or not. Xxx

 

[Unicorn]

I went to the gp as soon as I had concerns, which was about 6 months in for us as my periods had really changed (I think it took that long for the implant to get out of my system and stop masking my symptoms!) They did 21 day bloods and a semen analysis but I pushed it and also got a referral for a scan (which was going to take 5 months) and to Gynaecology (which was going to take 8 months). So we went privately and was saw the following week xx