Recommendations for OB/GYN for 44YO who has had infertilty issues

[Anonymous]

I need a new OB/GYN. I am not currently pregnant but would like to be but I am 44 with 2 kids and not willing to go for any more infertility treatments. I had a MC and a D&C a few months ago and it was a really bad (and sad) experience. Since then I have been spotting/bleeding, sometimes a lot, between periods and have had a pap and ultrasound and all was normal. OB recommened BC pills because the bleeding is "probably caused by hormonal changes". I know my chances of having a baby at this point are not great but I certainly don't want to actively prevent it with BC pills. I also don't want to take daily meds based on "probably". OB/GYN keeps mentioning that at 44 I am "perimenopausal", although I have no symptoms of this and maybe I just am not ready to face reality, but it really pisses me off. I want to see a doctor who is at least sympathetic to me wanting another child and not advising me to take BC pills for God knows how long because she can't figure out what's wrong with me or won"t take the time to do so. Does anyone have an OB/GYN (not at Georgetown) they would recommend? I am willing to go to DC (George Washington?), Arlington/Alexandria and Montongomery County (near 270 area) for a good doc. Who do you see after your infertility issues and baby making days are ending or close to ending?

[Anonymous]

Here's what I would do...Go to a primary care practice that is certified as a Primary Care Medical Home. Which means they know how to coordinate your care with quality results. Start with a primary care physician there and see what kind of advice they give. One example is Fairfax Family Practice, they handle basic women's health and they will refer you to good, appropriate specialists if you need that. Good luck & hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I need a new OB/GYN. I am not currently pregnant but would like to be but I am 44 with 2 kids and not willing to go for any more infertility treatments. I had a MC and a D&C a few months ago and it was a really bad (and sad) experience. Since then I have been spotting/bleeding, sometimes a lot, between periods and have had a pap and ultrasound and all was normal. OB recommened BC pills because the bleeding is "probably caused by hormonal changes". I know my chances of having a baby at this point are not great but I certainly don't want to actively prevent it with BC pills. I also don't want to take daily meds based on "probably". OB/GYN keeps mentioning that at 44 I am "perimenopausal", although I have no symptoms of this and maybe I just am not ready to face reality, but it really pisses me off. I want to see a doctor who is at least sympathetic to me wanting another child and not advising me to take BC pills for God knows how long because she can't figure out what's wrong with me or won"t take the time to do so. Does anyone have an OB/GYN (not at Georgetown) they would recommend? I am willing to go to DC (George Washington?), Arlington/Alexandria and Montongomery County (near 270 area) for a good doc. Who do you see after your infertility issues and baby making days are ending or close to ending?

Your obgyn sucks. Ilike my obgyn bit it's hard to predict how he would act in your situation. I am 40, pregnant with #2 and he is upbeat and never mentions my age. He is Dr Elliott in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

PP - there is a big difference between 40 & 44

[Anonymous]

I was pregnant at Georgetown last year at the age of 44 and no one batted an eye. Maybe you could also try switching docs within the practice? I found Georgetown to be a great place for OB care at that age with the MFMs on staff and the neonatal ultrasound unit around the corner, etc.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I did think about seeing another OBGYN at G'town. I had both babies there and all of my records are there, but I have had such odd experiences there over the past few months that part of me just feels like I am so done with them. On the other hand, it's so hard to get appointments as a new patient. To the PP that goes there -- who do you see?

Also, thanks for the rec for Dr. Elloitt - I will check it out.

[Anonymous]

Georgetown PP here. I rotated through most of the doctors except for a couple with whom it supposedly can be hard to schedule appts. Toward the very end they recommended choosing one doctor for continuity of care and because I ended up needing a c-section (not due to age). I ended up sticking with a doctor who had rubbed me the wrong way once years ago on a gyn appt. and who has quite a few detractors on this forum, but the doctor was a very good fit for me, and I couldn't be happier with the care I received during delivery (and afterward). During my years of going there for gyn care, which was some time ago, they were quite bc pill happy, so I know where you're coming from. Ultimately you need to be comfortable with your care, though, so if you're done with them, you can always find a new doctor for gyn care and switch back for OB care, which is what I did. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I don't have a recommendation for who to go to but I can tell you that Foxhall OB/Gyn probably wouldn't be a great choice. They have always been great with me, that is until I was 37 and saying we wanted to have kids. I felt like a special needs case until 20 weeks of pregnancy, everything was normal but it took them awhile to not consider 35+ to be taboo.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I highly recommend Women's Health Corp. in McLean. http://womenshealthcorp.com/?page_id=122 I specifically would recommend Dr. Armstrong, Dr. Bannon and Dr. Soloman. This practice saw me through my first pregnancy at age 41 and my second at 44. They deal with alot of AMA patients.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. Dr. Bannon is not accepting new patients but Dr. Armstrong specializes in abnormal utirine bleeding so that may be the way to go.

[Anonymous]

PP from 10/11/2013 10:50 - You'll be in good hands with Dr. Armstrong. He was my primary OB in the practice. LOVED him!