GP not very worried.... where do I go now?

mymission · by **mymission** » Fri May 04, 2022 8:12 pm

Hi gang,
I'm TTC for 12 months now and I'm 38 .... so getting concerned and I cannot ignore it anylonger. Even though I'm not looking forward to doctors prodding and poking at me - but at this stage it has to be done.
I was visiting my GP on another matter , and I said to her that I was worried about not being pregnant yet and that I'm 38 and have been trying for a year now, and what is the next step. She said not to be worrying about it and that she had a woman into her surgery the week before and she was 41 and was pregnant and there was another woman a few weeks previously that was 40 and pregnant. And that it would happen - just not to be worried.

I thought this was fair enough - and she actually made me feel better

. But I'm thinking now that given my age I can't just sit back and do nothing.
Should I :
(a) Go back to GP and insist on getting blood tests done (day 3 & 21 etc) or
(b) Go to another GP or straight to a fertility clinic and say that my GP is not concerned but that I am converned and would they take me on as a patient ??

Help ?? what would you do ??

by **joan1** » Fri May 04, 2022 8:27 pm

Are you temping? this might be a good idea so you can monitor your cycle. It made me realise probs with my cycle, then I asked GP if I could get bloods done. As I had suspected, I have low progesterone. In the meantime I have started acupunture which is helping with Ovulation and have made an apt with gynae as I don't want to go on trying as I know there is an obvious prob that needs to be fixed first.
I am 33 and told the GP I was trying for 6 mths longer than I was. YOu could start temping and maybe find a good gynae. Nothing might be wrong but at least you will be able to rule out any possible issues that may be stopping you from falling pregnant. Best of luck

mymission · by **mymission** » Fri May 04, 2022 9:11 pm

Thanks Joan,
I haven't been temping - but I did start using a cbfm in january. My cycles used to be 28 days (for at least 12 months) - and then as soon as I started using the cbfm my cycles went to over 40 days !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sods law !!! So I have only had 2 cycles of using the cbfm - I got high days - no peak in either of the cycles.
There is a fertility clinic near where I work - I might give them a call next week. The trouble is that I've heard some horror stories from the gynae there. She works in the public system in the local hospital and some of the girls I work with have had some bad birthing stories with her. A few people I know when private just to avoid her....
And this is the only fertility clinic in the county.

reine · by **reine** » Fri May 04, 2022 9:48 pm

Which county are you in? I'm with Sims in Dublin and can highly recommend them, if you're prepared to travel.

We've been ttc for a few years now. Like you, we left it a while before having things investigated. I regret that now. I also believe that your GP is wrong. If you've been ttc for a year with no success, particularly at 38, there could be something wrong. You need to go and get your progesterone and fsh levels tested. Also get thyroid done when you get your Day 3 and Day 21 tests done. If you go to Sims, they will do an amh test which will check your ovarian reserve. You should also have a SIS done to check your tubes, see if you have endo or any cysts. As you can see, this is a minefield.

Apart from all of that, if there is a problem, it could be with your dh, so he'll need to do a semen analysis test.

I hope I haven't panicked you. I just feel that, going by experience, the sooner you look into this, the better.

Tonnes of luck to you. Please let us know how things go.

mymission · by **mymission** » Fri May 04, 2022 10:59 pm

Thanks Reine,
Thanks so much for all the info - no you didn;t panic me ... there is loads to it alright. I also think that the GP is wrong. Its easy for her to give me examples of other women in my age group that have successful pregnancies - but I could still have a problem!!
I'm in Kerry - and I only know of one clinic around here. I suppose I could start there anyway.

Does anybody know if you attend a clinic for fertility treatment - can you change to a different doctor then for the pregnancy and the birth ???? It would be awkward I'm sure.

jewellb · by **jewellb** » Sat May 05, 2022 7:51 am

my mission I think sims have a satellite clinic in Tralee !!! I also would take no notice about what your gp has said, wow isn't it great all those women had babies I know women like that also, my cousin is preg on her 2nd at 43 natural conception, but you should only be concerned with your self, every gp knows if you over 35 and trying 6 months you should gets bloods done, insist on getting them done !!!! Good luck xxxx

IvytheTerrible · by **IvytheTerrible** » Sat May 05, 2022 11:32 am

I think as a starting point, you should insist on getting bloods done for your own peace of mind and see if they throw anything up. If it does, your GP can refer you and depending on clinics, it could take a while to get an appointment so while you are waiting you can be temping etc in the meantime so you are armed with all the info you need. Maybe this is just coming from me though as I am your age and sorry I didn't stand my ground earlier when GP's patted me on the head, telling me to relax. If you do get pregnant in between, wouldn't that be great, you could cancel the appointments. If you feel in your heart that you need to start taking things further, listen to your gut feeling :wv

mymission · by **mymission** » Sun May 06, 2022 9:15 pm

Thanks girls for the replies. I agree that i should do something now, and I'm going to make a few phone calls on monday.
A problem too is that I'm not sure will GP even want to do bloods. Will she know what I'm talking about when I say day 3 and day 21 bloods ?? She's in her late 70's - I'm just not sure how up to date she would be about fertility etc, esp when she was not concerned over the amount of time I'm ttc etc.

Should I change to another GP if she is not familiar ?? Or is it ok to go straight to ferility clinic and get bloods done through them ??? I know it would prob be more expensive to go straight to the fertility clinic, but at least it would be a way to get the ball rolling.

Busbybabe · by **Busbybabe** » Sun May 06, 2022 9:57 pm

MyMission: Just my tuppence worth. First of all I personally would make either an appointment to see a different GP or an appointment with a Fertility Clinic.
I went to my male GP (he is a young GP) and stright away he referred me to a consultant in James Hospital. I was a public patient and all this "fertility business" was new to me. I spent a year or two messing around in the public system without getting anywhere. I then decided to go to a private clinic where I was thoroughly checked out over 1/2 visits and the ball started rolling very quickly.
I know down the country it's not as easy to access the services as in the city but as others have mentioned there are so many possible factors to rule out (even just to put your own mind at ease). As well as me having PCOS my OH also had low count and motility (the lads always think it's never them!) ;o)

I also wouldn't get hung up about the "stories" you have heard about that particular gynecologist. I take it these were from people who were attending her/him whilst pregnant!
Personally I would second what another poster said and get an AMH test done if you can.
Best of luck :lvs

mymission · by **mymission** » Sun May 06, 2022 10:30 pm

Thanks Busbybabe,
I think you're right. I'm going to ring the local fertility clinic tuesday and see what they say and at least get the ball rolling.
Yes, I now what you mean about ignoring the "stories" about the doctor at the fertility clinic. The thing is she is the only doctor at the fertility clinic, and is also one of the doctors at the local public hospital. And I have heard numerous women (who have had their babies at the hospital under her care on a public basis), that they were very very disappointed with her. And from what I understand, when going through the public system, you can be assigned any of the doctors, and they do not want to get this particular doctor. I hope this makes sence. I don;t want to be naming names because I don't have any first hand knowledge. But I know some women that have paid to go private on their second baby SPECIFICALLY to avoid getting this doctor a second time.

I'm so new to all this..... oh man.... I guess I'd want to start educating myself asap

Luka · by **Luka** » Mon May 07, 2022 4:01 pm

My MIssion,

Scotia house in tralee do certain tests, now mine were for miscarriages so I know thats different to your situation, but it may be no harm to google them & see what they do. A friend of mine was TTC for 3 years from 37 to 40 & had her DS at 40, but she did have some investigation done, I think being pro-active is good as you feel in control. The guide is 12 months ttc under 35 & 6 months ttc over 35, so I would be asking for tests. Your GP should be more pro-active about it, thats her job! Good luck & you will feel happier once the ball is rolling :babydust:

OOB · by **OOB** » Tue May 08, 2022 2:16 pm

Hi Mymission,

I am in a similar position to yourself as in TCC for 12 months. I first went for blood tests ( 3 and 21 day) in Dec, after 6 months TCC. All came back ok. Prog alittle low. GP told me if nothing had happened for us by March to come back and she would refer me to a fertility clinic. I went back toward end of March, and have an appointment with Cork Fertility Clinic in early June. In the meantime I've had 3 and 21 day bloods repeated, as well as other bloods required by fertlity clinic. O/H is having a S/A done in advance of fertility appointment. I was also temping for awhile to get a handle on whether I ov'd or not and would be fairly in tune with my cycle.

I was also doing acupt for a few months but haven't been back since March. Feel healthier for it alright and she gave good dietery advice. ALso taking lots of vitamins and minerals, in the main following a low GI diet as well as trying to jog...its exhausting!

I would say change GP if you can in abid to get the ball rolling. You will feel happier rather than waiting and wondering. I know I've found the wondering 'why it isn't happening' v stressful.

Good Luck. I hope your BFP is only around the corner. :wv

OOB · by **OOB** » Tue May 08, 2022 2:18 pm

Hi Mymission,

I am in a similar position to yourself as in TCC for 12 months. I first went for blood tests ( 3 and 21 day) in Dec, after 6 months TCC. All came back ok. Prog alittle low. GP told me if nothing had happened for us by March to come back and she would refer me to a fertility clinic. I went back toward end of March, and have an appointment with Cork Fertility Clinic in early June. In the meantime I've had 3 and 21 day bloods repeated, as well as other bloods required by fertlity clinic. O/H is having a S/A done in advance of fertility appointment. I was also temping for awhile to get a handle on whether I ov'd or not and would be fairly in tune with my cycle.

I was also doing acupt for a few months but haven't been back since March. Feel healthier for it alright and she gave good dietery advice. ALso taking lots of vitamins and minerals, in the main following a low GI diet as well as trying to jog...its exhausting!

I would say change GP if you can in abid to get the ball rolling. You will feel happier rather than waiting and wondering. I know I've found the wondering 'why it isn't happening' v stressful.

Good Luck. I hope your BFP is only around the corner. :wv

mymission · by **mymission** » Tue May 08, 2022 9:58 pm

Thanks so much for all the replies and information. I think what I need to get initially is a GP that takes me seriously about the length of time we have been TTC and will be proactive about sending me on for tests.

I'm working in Tralee, Co Kerry, so that would probably be the handiest place to get the new GP

Can anyone recommend your GP in Tralee or the general area, as a good GP for infertiility problems - please PM me or post reply

Pleeeeeeeeseee...... I'm going to change GP as a first step

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