Hey all, I have been trying to conceive for over 2 years and was supposed to have my first fertility appointment last week after being referred by my GP but this was cancelled and turned into a phone call appointment, which is tomorrow.
I'm wondering if anyone knows what they might ask over the phone, so I am prepared? I am also wondering if there is anything I should be asking.
Thank you in advance. Katy
In my experience i found they asked much the same as GP, how long we’d been trying for, they might talk about any investigations you’ve had or conditions you may already know about. Lifestyle questions, family history etc.
I’m not sure whether its because we have unexplained infertility (for which there’s not much else they can really say or do about it) but i found my appointment to be fairly short where they said i dont really have many other options other than keep trying or ivf. I chose ivf and then things got moving fairly quickly after that with applying for funding etc.
Good luck! This is the next huge step on your journey xx
Thankyou for the reply, thats really helpful, from the tests so far (bloods for me and sperm count for the oh) things have come back normal, so I'm under the impression it will be unexplained like you. But I guess there are more tests they do to check this.
I'm not sure but I guess if ivf is the answer I will be waiting until after this restrictions have been lifted to start that process.
Hi. Agree with all the above. I was asked specifically if i had had my thyroid checked which i hdnt so they did check that and found i was hypo. So that was something i got medication for. Then was asked to come back in 2 or 3 months. We also had to do all the tests again like bloods and sperm as the tests done before were outdated > 3 months. X
Ah yh I had an underactive thyroid aswell so I'm on medication for that. I guess t
If they redo the tests they might not be done for a while. Unless they are still carrying them out at this time! Might depend on each individual hospital.
Thanks 😊
They asked us if there was any precious pregnancies (both partners), and looked at test results. They offered the HSG test which we didn’t end up having. They also said looking at the results it’s likely IVF would be our option. However there was no funding in our area so we felt a bit let down when it was then “go find yourself a clinic as we don’t fund it.” It was a quick appointment and disappointing, but the private clinic we found was then lovely x
Thanks for the help 
also live the name 😏 fellow Potter head
What is a HSG test?
Sorry about the funding! Hope that doesn't happen for us but may still be a while away
Haha thanks!
HSG is where they inject a dye to see if you have any tube blockages. In the end they said even if there were blockages or not we’d still not get NHS IVF so it seemed a long wait just to know really, whereas IVF bypasses your tunes anyway. And as I was approaching 37 and my partner 41, we didn’t feel we had time to wait.
It’s worth checking online with your clinical commissioning group if there are funded rounds where you live, so you are prepared for a response. There are a few other tests I believe as well but this was our route xx
Ah I see! Me and my partner are only 27 and 29, so I feel we may be told to have more tests to see if there is a cause.
I didn't realise you could see if funding was available, I'll definitely look!
Ooh yes I think the younger you are, definitely worth pursuing all the tests. Good luck xx
At my first appointment I was 28 but had all the relevant tests done my my gp/gynaecologist before I got referred. I was so deflated after this appointment. 4 minutes in and out with nothing to show just wait 2-3 months, actually would have loved a phone version of it.
I really hope your not waiting too long. There is even more waiting once you start. X
I'd just give you a heads up everything can take a while! From the first call to the HSG it was 3 months as needed the letter then to wait for the right day of my cycle etc. Since people find the HSG can clear the pipes and conceive in the couple of months after. Mine showed a problem with my fallopian tube but as only one they said we could still conceive. A year later and at the ivf clinic (it took that long to go through the NHS process) they said the fluid from the blocked tube would be harmful so had to go back to the consultant to have an op to remove it before we could start ivf.
Hopefully it's just a timing thing for you and it'll happen naturally but what helped me was making notes and recording my figures on blood tests, I then felt more in control and really helped throughout a tough process.
Good luck and hope the call goes well x
Yeah I'm trying not to expect too much too quickly, it's going to probably take twice as long as normal because if the pandemic. The year waiting then to be told you cant have ivf yet must have been frustrating.
The phone call was yesterday and now I am a bit concerned as the fertility specialist who rang me said a blood test I had last year to check my FSH was very high and that hasn't been flagged before. Luckily my GP practice has blood tests available this week so I'm getting that retested when my period comes. Trying to take it day by day but easier said than done.
Thankyou, stay safe xx
It's definitely good to try and focus on other things. This process does make you go a little crazy so trying to live a normal life and plan trips or holidays is good so you don't look back and realise you did nothing but tried to get pregnant! Obviously at the moment that's even harder!
My FSH was originally too high for a referral for IVF on the NHS but can make a big difference between day 2 and day 3 so it might just have been when the blood test was done.
Really positive you can still get tests done through your gp though so fingers crossed it'll be fine at the next test. Take care x
Thankyou for the advice!! I'm not working at the moment because of the corona situation so it's hard to concentrate on other things 😅 my house is the tidiest it's ever been.
The high FSH was on cycle day 3 and its booked for cycle day 2 this time, so hope that makes a difference 😊
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