advice on when to seek professional help with ttc..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely recommend bringing your husband along for the initial consult with an RE. I was pretty prepared for it and had done alot of background reding, talked to friends, etc., but it is very overwhelming. They throw a lot of information at you and give you a list of tests that need to be done at certain times during your cycle and at certain places. I am a big fan of "The Infertility Survival Handbook" by Elizabeth Swire Faulker. It gives a ton of background information and helps you know exactly what to expect at your initial consultation.

As far as SGF vs. Dominion, there are numerous threads on this board on that topic that you should be able to find with a quick search. I go to SGF (Dr. Widra in DC) and have been happy with him and SGF generally through both unsuccessful cycles and my successful cycle. My only issues with SGF were with the billing/financial people.

Thank you.. yes, I've been researching the threads on the two. Definitely pros/cons to both, as with anything. I also just learned that my insurance will only cover diagnosis and corrective procedures, and any infertility drugs. Therefor now I will need to consider the cost if IVF is necessary. need to do some more homework but may make an appt with both just to get it on the calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you charting?

haven't been charting. really just didn't expect it would take this long and was trying the "lets not stress over it and see what happens" attitude. but I've used the opk a couple times with no luck. my cycle is a bit messed up, sometimes 28 days, sometimes 30, 32 days. and my dh is also traveling a bit which is making it more difficult to time everything.

Start charting now with body temp at least, just so you can have that info handy when/if you do decide to see a specialist. It's pretty easy and you can just do it in the meantime while you take these other steps.

[Anonymous]

If you don't have IVF coverage, I'd ask about the shared risk programs at any clinic that you are considering. I had to switch from GW to SG at the last minute because of additional costs in the GW shared risk program. If we had understood that stuff upfront, we would have started with SG and saved ourselves a lot of stress. I'm not saying that you have to do shared risk, but it is worth considering/understanding if you qualify for the program. Good luck!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't have IVF coverage, I'd ask about the shared risk programs at any clinic that you are considering. I had to switch from GW to SG at the last minute because of additional costs in the GW shared risk program. If we had understood that stuff upfront, we would have started with SG and saved ourselves a lot of stress. I'm not saying that you have to do shared risk, but it is worth considering/understanding if you qualify for the program. Good luck!!!!

this is all so new to me.. so thank you! I was really considering shady grove as well!

[Anonymous]

We have been ttc for #2 for several months as well. We got pregnant with dd#1 very quickly and didn't anticipate this repeated disappointment each month. im very sad and confused since it was so easy with #1. Im 34, so im not too worried about age, but just had wanted children closer in age then they'll be. i have so much more empathy for people who have gone through this for much longer, and without the comfort of knowing that at least i have a daughter already.

[Anonymous]

Skip the OB and go right to the RE, especially if your cycle is acting strange. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If it's time to see an RE, I recommend Dr. Gordon because he will NOT push you into the most expensive or invasive treatment since you already have proven fertility. You don't have to bring on the big guns just yet or pay for some high priced scam that Shady Grove offers. I have been a patient at both places and Shady Grove is a mill that it only interested in generating more money.

[Anonymous]

Funny poster 16:48...I feel the exact same way about Dr. Gordon and Dominion! NCIVF is a total scam in my opinion. Because we only had male factor issues and I am healthy and under 35, we got suckered into it 3 times and all cycles were BFN...did one round of stimulated IVF at SG with Dr. Greenhouse and now I'm 6 months pregnant. Go figure.

Dominion offers the high priced scam with their $4400 NCIVF...not SG. Dominion is making TONS of $$ with that whole "one good egg" song and dance. And I never once felt like SG was a "mill."

Guess we only say good things about the clinics that get us pregnant.

[Anonymous]

OP, you may already be preparing to see an RE, but I would also recommende the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Wechsler. When I was 35, I was sort of blindly TTC #1 for about 4-5 months without charting, etc. (just having sex unprotected several times a week, basically), without success, and someone recommended TCOYF. I loved the book -- so much fantastic, fascinating info. about the reproductive cycle which I knew nothing about. I started charting and got pregnant in my 3rd cycle charting (8th month after starting TTC). It was really empowering to have all that information at my fingertips, know when I was most fertile to maximize odds, etc. You can also bring your charts with when you see an RE, if that's what you end up doing, and the data will help the RE see if you might have thyroid issues (often reflected by overly low or high temps, e.g.), low progesterone (often reflected by low post-O temps), what your cervical mucous is like, how regular your cycles are, etc. GL to you!