When is it time to see a fertility specialist

[Anonymous]

Hi folks --

I've been TTC our first for four months now -- timing sex to ovulation -- with no luck. I will be 30 in a few weeks. I know everyone says it's "normal" to take a year, but I am skeptical, particularly when you are timing sex. So I guess my question is: when do you go see a doctor, and when will a doctor perform those basic tests to see if there are any problems? I'm willing to give it six months, but is that still too soon? I just don't want to waste any more time!

Also, any recommendations for a reproductive endocrinologist/fertility MD in D.C.?

Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

On one hand, if your gut says you may have a problem, then go with with your gut. On the other hand, an RE is only going to be able to give you medical solutions (generally IUI or IVF, both of which require much time, energy, stress and money. So it is smart to want to check things out, but you may want to make sure you don't get sucked into going down a road that isn't necessary.

I also recommend you check out your insurance coverage first to see what they cover and if there are restrictions based on the amount of time you've been trying.

[Anonymous]

If you feel like there might be something wrong and preventing you from getting pregnant then I would make an appointment with your OB/GYN. He/she might be able to give you some additional insight to assist in getting you preganant. If that doesn't work then I would seek assistance from a Fertility specialist. Good Luck!!

[Anonymous]

I love Dr. Frankfurter at GW Fertility and IVF. I was a patient of Dr. Sacks at Columbia but I really like the GW staff and Dr. Franfurter is honest, to the point and very positive.

[Anonymous]

I got nervous after about 4 months of TTC (with charting etc) at age 31. You might want to consider having DH get a sperm analysis, since those are relatively cheap and easy. All the screening tests that you would need can add up to be kinda pricey and getting an HSG test is no fun. If the sperm analysis comes back OK you can decide if you can wait a year or if you want the extra tests for you now. Also, are you charting? If not, I'd recommend it so that you can see if you are ovulating (and you can bring the charts to the RE so they can better see what is going on). In my case, we had a sperm analysis after 4 months that came back kinda borderline, but we were told to keep trying for a year. Now, after a year we've been diagnosed with unexplained infertility. Like the PP, I am also seeing Dr Frankfurter and I am really happy with him.

[Anonymous]

Where can my husband get a sperm analysis? With his PCP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi folks --

I've been TTC our first for four months now -- timing sex to ovulation -- with no luck. I will be 30 in a few weeks. I know everyone says it's "normal" to take a year, but I am skeptical, particularly when you are timing sex. So I guess my question is: when do you go see a doctor, and when will a doctor perform those basic tests to see if there are any problems? I'm willing to give it six months, but is that still too soon? I just don't want to waste any more time!

Also, any recommendations for a reproductive endocrinologist/fertility MD in D.C.?

Thanks!!

Trust your gut and go NOW! If nothing else, to at least have tests done.... also, if you or your husband are Federal Employees, now is the time to go, check insurance coverage and possibily change plans (Open season).

I like my OB very much, and while he is very well meaning, he does not have the necessary knowledge - for instance, before telling me to take clomids for 6 months he ordered a blood test to be done on the 21th day of my cycle. Now I know that test was probably to check if I was ovulating, and also now I know it was negative because I don't ovulate on day 14, but usually on day 17, and sometimes even later.

I am TTC for 3 and 1/2 years, with a 7 months break perion in between ("not really trying, but trying"). I knew in my gut that something was wrong after the first 6 months... I had that unexplained feeling, but was completely dismissed by everyone around me, including my husband and two OBs - mostly because of my age (26 at the time).

I regret not following my gut sooner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where can my husband get a sperm analysis? With his PCP?

Yes, my husband's first one what ordered by his PCP (at my request mind you). When we moved to the RE, he had to do another test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where can my husband get a sperm analysis? With his PCP?

Yes, my husband's first one what ordered by his PCP (at my request mind you). When we moved to the RE, he had to do another test.

*was

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where can my husband get a sperm analysis? With his PCP?

Your OB/GYN can write a referral for your husband to do a sperm analysis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi folks --

I've been TTC our first for four months now -- timing sex to ovulation -- with no luck. I will be 30 in a few weeks. I know everyone says it's "normal" to take a year, but I am skeptical, particularly when you are timing sex. So I guess my question is: when do you go see a doctor, and when will a doctor perform those basic tests to see if there are any problems? I'm willing to give it six months, but is that still too soon? I just don't want to waste any more time!

Also, any recommendations for a reproductive endocrinologist/fertility MD in D.C.?

Thanks!!

First of all, 4 months is really nothing!!! Each month, there is only a 25% chance that you will get pregnant even if intercourse is perfectly timed and everything is perfectly on track (I am not making this up, this is what my Dr. told me and there are lots of studies on this). The general guidelines say that you should see a fertility specialist after 1 year of trying if you are under 35 and after 6 months if you are over 35. You are only 30 (not 35!!!) so, unless you suspect something is wrong (if for example you are not ovulating, which apparently is not your case since you are timing sex to ovulation), you should wait 1 year. Fertility treatment is very expensive and even if your medical insurance covers it (a lot of them do not), most medical insurances will only cover it if you have been TTC for at least one year. Also, fertility treatment is stressful and burdensome, no point going through this if you don't need it. I also think that if you see a RE and tell him you have only tried for 4 months and you have no issue that you know of, the RE will probably tell you to continue trying.
Also, stress is not good when TTC and it looks like you are very stressed when there is really no reason to stress. Try to relax, that will improve your chances. It can take several months to get pregnant, if you look at statistics most women get pregnant after much more than 4 months.

[Anonymous]

Also to chime in - I was in your shoes recently. I thought I'd get pregnant super-fast.

It really does take time, and the old adage "once you quit trying, it will happen" was really true for us. Take 2-3 more months and try to make it fun(!!!) with no worries. If you have an ovulation kit telling you that things are working, try not to worry for a little while. Set a date - say Feb 20th or something, that will be the date you call for an appt. if you aren't pregnant by then.

[Anonymous]

I started clomid as soon as we wanted to "try" b/c I rarely ovulate on my own (extremely long and irregular cycles) and was 34 when I started - it worked great for us - pregnant w/#1 after only 3 months and pregnant w/2&3 (twins) after 2 months. I'm glad I pushed and was able to work with just my OB, but I knew (based on internet) that since my cycles were so off clomid would be the first option a fertility specialist would recommend. My plan was to try 6 months on clomid and if that did not work, I would have gone to a specialist. So bottem line, trust your instincts (although I would first talk to your OB).

[Anonymous]

To PP- Who is your OB?