What would you do - starting out with an RE

[Anonymous]

I had my first investigative cycle with an RE in September and everything checked out normal with bloodwork and DH's semen. Also had an HSG. I am still TTC and am 32 and have been TTC for nearly 10 months all well timed.

I guess after that first investigative cycle I decided not to continue with an RE and didn't really go back for further testing.

My question is; Should I go back and continue to get monitored? I have no red flags from the first visit? But maybe I should ask for more tests, or continue to have hormones/bloodwork screened? If the first cycle looked 'normal' should I continue? The reason I didn't really continue to go back each month was b/c of the time commitment and so early in the morning. I thought I'd try for a few more months and then see them again. I'm at that point now where I'd like to know what could be taking so long, esp. b/c DH's sperm was GREAT apparently in every way.

[Anonymous]

TTC up to 12 months if under age 35 is generally recommended before seeing an RE. And TTC 6 months is the rec for over 35 years old before seeing an RE.

[Anonymous]

If you're anxious, go back to the RE. I'm not quite sure what your hesitation is. If you feel like you haven't given it enough time, give it another cycle or two. I'm sure you'll find many couples who have great sperm and no red flags yet it takes 12+ cycles or some help from an RE to get pregnant. Don't stress yourself out with the "what's taking so long" mentality.

FWIW, we're both 31, in good health, on cycle #10 (early m/c cycle #8), and will be seeing an RE in March (at the one year mark) if necessary.

[Anonymous]

Go back when you're ready to start treatment. We went about the same time as you and everything checked out OK, but I wanted to try to do more cycles naturally, with diet changes and acupuncture. Ultimately, those weren't successful, so I went back after about 15 months to start various treatments (prometrium, clomid, etc.)

I once read that no one regrets going to see the RE too soon. If you're at the point where not getting pregnant is starting to become an issue for you, I'd say it's time to go back and be proactive.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP- go when you're ready. If you're not willing to go in for monitoring in the mornings or make the time committment, you're probably not ready (BTW- have a baby and you'll never sleep-in another morning for a long time!) We were just like you. I was 31, DH 34. All bloodwork and SA looked great. After 12 months of well-timed trying, we went forward with IUI on our very next cycle after the initial testing. We were ready and were blessed with a DS on IUI #1. Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone, OP here.

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

I guess I haven't been back, b/c I've been busy and I felt so 'invaded' with all the transvaginal u/s testing and thought to myself, geez, I don't want to do this every month if there arent' red flags...but I think you're right, it is starting to bother me, (this cycle was the first) ...but if I'm not 'mentally' ready for treatments like IUI or IVF, do I continue to go anyway?

[Anonymous]

I don't think monitoring alone gets you much bang for the buck. Are you self pay or will insurance cover you? What will it cover? Is there a max?

Did you say you've been temping? Or doing opks? If you know you're ovulating then monitoring probably won't help much. Have you read Taking Charge of Your Fertility?

It can't hurt to go talk to the RE again. You don't have to commit to anything. IVF is the only thing that REALLY ups your odds. IUI has a slight increase, depending on how aggressive the meds are.

[Anonymous]

OP here...yes, done temping, read taking charge of your fertility and my investigative cycle was spot on with temping with oulation day. I haven't really bothered doing OPK's, but do plan on incorporating them this month.

So additional monitoring probably won't show anything different than one cycle showed and women don't just go in for monitoring every single month if nothing was off that first cycle? I guess that's where I'm confused, do women continue to be monitored for a while if nothing shows like it's off and then eventually pursue meds like clomid? and more aggressive fertility treatments?

[Anonymous]

PP 8:24 here. Personally, if I wasn't looking for an RE to do some sort of intervention (medication or a procedure) then I wouldn't waste my time with monitoring. I would find temping/charting to be all the monitoring I need, especially since you said your investigative cycle was good.

Even if there are no red flags when we visit the RE in March, I want them to help me get pregnant, not just tell me how to time sex better while they monitor. I don't mean that to be snarky at all, it's just the bottom line of why I'm going there. I want something more aggressive!

[Anonymous]

9:42 here; I agree with the PP. I would be stressed out if I had to go in to the RE for bloodwork and monitoring just for the kicks of it! If you've established that you do ovulate, and, based upon temping/CM, you've got a pretty good idea of when that happens, I don't see any benefit to going in to the RE for additional monitoring.

Part of the reason REs monitor U/S and bloodwork (especially when you're on clomid or other drugs) is to make sure you're not getting overstimulated or developing cysts. That's not an issue with a natural cycle.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks ladies.

I guess I'm just scared of the next step. I just wish/hope/pray that I can get pregnant naturally. The financial stress of another option is a little overwhelming. But thanks for giving me some prespective on what to expect from monthly monitoring.

[Anonymous]

OP here, Also, I was wondering, what are the methods of helping couples get pregnant except for IUI and IVF?

I know that there's clomid. Is there anything else? My RE only suggested clomid, but since I haven't been back since that one cycle, I guess I'm not starting to wonder, if there are other things that they would offer to help you get prengant apart from ART?

[Anonymous]

^^^now not 'not'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, Also, I was wondering, what are the methods of helping couples get pregnant except for IUI and IVF?

I know that there's clomid. Is there anything else? My RE only suggested clomid, but since I haven't been back since that one cycle, I guess I'm not starting to wonder, if there are other things that they would offer to help you get prengant apart from ART?

My RE told us that they would still want to do morning monitoring (bloodwoork and ultrasounds) with a "clomid only or timed intercourse" cycle to make sure too many follicles weren't developing. He also told us that only using clomid is not always very effective b/c it tends to dry up your cervical fluid and thin your uterine lining. He suggested that clomid is most effective when paired with IUI.

[Anonymous]

Some REs use Femara instead of Clomid -- it causes multiple follicle to develop but doesn't have those same negative effects on cervical fluid and the uterine lining.

Except for IUI and IVF, there are no other "mechanical" ways that an RE can help you get pregnant. Of course, they can do lots of tests and help you determine if you're having a male factor problem, a tubal issue, etc. etc...but it terms of what that professional can actually DO once you have that information, it's pretty much IUIs or IVF. So if you're not mentally ready for one of those steps yet, it's probably better to save your $$$. You can do monitoring yourself, with OPKs.