https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 08:35:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-770476 Thu, 09 May 2013 14:09:12 +0000 littleredhairedgrl 770476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went off bcp in November after almost 13 years on and have already been on clomid and hcg after finding pcos 2 months into ttc - my ob told us that everyone's plan for family is different and she respects if we want to wait it out or not and will work with us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-768607 Wed, 08 May 2013 18:54:24 +0000 MapleMoose 768607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been treated for irregularity since I started menses, so my doctor didn't wait before running the gamut of tests and even an HSG right away when I decided to TTC. But I have a documented history of issues so I think that's why I didn't have to wait. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-768580 Wed, 08 May 2013 18:34:24 +0000 IRunForFun 768580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shutterbug: Yeah, that totally makes sense. My testing was covered, but since I wasn't TTC and didn't pursue any treatment, I have no idea if that would be covered or what the requirements would be. Even though my gyno has already discussed Clomid with me from the get-go of TTC, I plan on just trying for a while naturally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-768575 Wed, 08 May 2013 18:30:10 +0000 Shutterbug 768575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: exactly what @MrsCB: said - I only waited because of my insurance, I could have gotten treatment earlier and paid out of pocket. Testing was covered earlier, but I waited a while because I wanted to go with the flow for a bit first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-768517 Wed, 08 May 2013 17:44:15 +0000 mrs. 64 768517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it both depends on the doctor and your personal history. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-768502 Wed, 08 May 2013 17:38:41 +0000 sarac 768502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doctor was willing to investigate immediately. I told him that I wasn't cycling normally, so we tried progesterone to kick start my cycle. That didn't work, so he was willing to go straight to clomid. I was too, and now my baby is 19 months old. </p> <p>Bottom line, there are doctors who will work with you and who will be as aggressive or not aggressive as you want. Just look around if you're not satisfied. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767989 Wed, 08 May 2013 14:12:32 +0000 KT326 767989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a lot of it depends on your history. When I told my gyn that DH and I wanted to TTC, she immediately referred me to an RE. But I also have a history of no cycle so we already knew we would need some interventions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767980 Wed, 08 May 2013 14:08:24 +0000 IRunForFun 767980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pui: I would definitely say call your doctor! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767975 Wed, 08 May 2013 14:07:24 +0000 2PeasinaPod 767975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: My OB/GYN wasn't willing to do anything until I was TTC for over a year. When I came off the pill, I hadn't gotten my period for 84 days. They wouldn't even consider seeing me until I had hit 90 days. I think it's just the norm. </p> <p>Also, I know with our insurance that infertility isn't defined until a couple has been trying for 12 months or longer, or there are other known issues (like PCOS). If you are otherwise healthy, they wouldn't even cover infertility testing or treatment until after 12 months of TTC to meet the definition of infertility. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767966 Wed, 08 May 2013 14:05:08 +0000 pui 767966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been experiencing irregular, long cycles. I have been NTNP for 2 cycles and TTC for 1, however because of my long cycles I have been at it for 5.5 months.</p> <p>Because of my long cycles, and seeming lack of ovulation, I think I am justified in calling the doctor sooner rather than later. If the doctor tries to get me to wait a year, I'm not taking that sitting down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767952 Wed, 08 May 2013 14:00:42 +0000 BSB 767952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I waited for 6 months because I was healthy but my DH has a medical condition that could be the reason why we were still not pregnant at that point. Also, I was off BC for a year before we started TTC. </p> <p>I think before the 6 month mark, it could be known as normal. I think it's common to get pregnant before your 6 months mark. </p> <p>I, personally, could not wait til the one year mark. Considering I was 27 and with no other health issues, I don't know why I should be having trouble.</p> <p>Luckily, my Ob/gyn, agreed that I should see a specialist when I asked her at my annual pap smear, which was around the 6 month mark. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767935 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:54:38 +0000 IRunForFun 767935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: Ohhhh OK. That makes sense! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767931 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:52:34 +0000 ShootingStar 767931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't need to wait that long. I had 2-3 months of no ovulation and took provera repeatedly to induce a period. So I called an RE and made an appointment. I thought I'd have to justify myself more, but I just said that I'd had a few months of no ovulation (proven with blood tests from my GYN) and she was like "ok, this is how we'll proceed."</p> <p>I always tell people that if you have multiple months of irregular cycles, please see a doctor. I gave it 3 months after stopping BC and after having one normal-ish cycle at 43 days it never regulated. If the first doctor tells you to wait, bring your business to another doctor. </p> <p>But just know you may need to pay for most of the services out of pocket. In my state there's mandatory insurance coverage for infertility services, but you first have to establish you have a problem. Most companies say a year for &lt;35, and 6 months of 35 or greater, in <b>otherwise healthy</b> women. I have PCOS which counts as NOT otherwise healthy, but it took lots of money going to an RE to get that diagnosis. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767927 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:51:41 +0000 anandam 767927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: certainly not in a dangerous way! but women might run into issues with insurance coverage. the issue is that you often need a diagnosis to justify reimbursement for testing - for infertility, that's supposed to be 6mos TTC if you're &gt; 35, or 1yr if you're younger. your case was kinda different because you had other symptoms... and if a woman is TTC and has other symptoms (short luteal phase, missed periods, PCOS stuff) it would be a different story, testing should be done immediately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767858 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:25:38 +0000 knittylady 767858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: Yeah, I had regular cycles. I also think if after that appt I had noticed something off about my cycles, or wasn't getting positive opks or something like that it might have changed things.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767854 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:24:26 +0000 dagret 767854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That would have been the case for me - I needed a referral to an RE, bc the RE practice wouldn't just take patients - and my ob/gyn was pushing me to try clomid 3 times with them before they'd refer me. I ended up in a clinical trial all on my own though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767847 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:22:24 +0000 IRunForFun 767847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sera_87: Yeah, that is what I am thinking now. I have seen on the boards here though where people have been upset with having irregular cycles, but have mentioned they haven't gone to the doctor because they haven't been trying for 6 months. So I hope they aren't misinformed/waiting when they could have had some testing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767843 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:22:00 +0000 mrs. tictactoe 767843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doctor was like yours. I was expecting to have to wait longer, but he said I could try provera and clomid after only 6 months. I was the one who decided to wait until a year after we started trying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767836 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:20:54 +0000 nana87 767836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>at my preconception appointment with my obgyn, she said 6 months (and I was 28 at the time). but that's also because I've never had any issues with irregular cycles or any other problems--I think if I was worried about anything she'd be responsive even before 6 moths. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767832 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:19:23 +0000 sera_87 767832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would imagine that guideline applies to women who have regular cycles or no known issues prior to trying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767831 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:19:14 +0000 Revel 767831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had similar testing to what you describe for long cycles when I was not TTC. I think maybe the 6-12 months that you hear is when it doesn't look like anything would hamper fertility (i.e., regular cycles, no other concerning side effects)? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767829 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:19:08 +0000 IRunForFun 767829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anandam: So if a doctor does such testing before 1 year, they are going against the guidelines? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767822 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:18:12 +0000 anandam 767822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The typical guidelines from medical professional organizations is 1yr TTC before testing. If you're over 35, they'll often start after only 6mos so as not to waste time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767816 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:17:13 +0000 IRunForFun 767816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@knittylady: I wonder if it was different because it was your GP? Did you have issues with your cycle at all that you mentioned? Maybe it was because I have weird cycles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767807 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:15:28 +0000 knittylady 767807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At my pre-ttc appointment my GP said not to read any of the books out there on ttc (um yeah right) and to come back in a year if I wasn't pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-really-have-to-ttc-for-6-months-before-your-doctor-will-do-testing#post-767795 Wed, 08 May 2013 13:13:30 +0000 IRunForFun 767795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've noticed in many TTC posts/threads that people assume they need to wait till they hit 6 months of trying before they see a doctor or request testing. </p> <p>I have to imagine that this is because some doctors have specifically said they would not investigate any issues until the 6 month mark, but it can't be ALL doctors that feel this way, can it?</p> <p>I am just curious, because I have seen two different gynos in the past couple of years, and talked to them about my irregular cycles. When I explained what my cycles were like, and told them I wondered if something was off with my hormones or if I might have cysts, etc, both doctors did not hesitate to do a slew of blood tests as well as pelvic ultrasounds. And I was not even TTC!</p> <p>I know I had tests for FSH, LH, progesterone, estradiol, prolactin, androgen, and TSH, T3, and T4. </p> <p>Even though I wasn't TTC at the time, my current doctor even discussed with me the option of inducing cycles with Provera and starting Clomid and having my cycles monitored when I am ready to start TTC. </p> <p>This is why I'm confused when I see so many people post that they haven't seen a doctor yet because it hasn't been 6 months, or that they can't get any testing yet, because it hasn't been 6 months.</p> <p>Are my doctors not the norm? Have people whose doctors have refused to test fertility factors because they haven't been trying for 6 months sought a second (or third) opinion?</p> <p>I hope I am not insulting anyone, I am just genuinely curious! </p>