https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 06 Aug 2026 04:59:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1377499 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 20:35:50 +0000 Mrs. Chickadee 1377499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@creativemomma15: Eek! I didn't even think about this! Thanks for the heads up!</p> <p>@swedishfish: Good idea on asking the RE too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1377472 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 20:22:41 +0000 swedishfish 1377472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@creativemomma15: my RE told me to tell the OBGYN's office that he sent me if I had issues getting an appointment. I didn't have any issues though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1377461 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 20:15:36 +0000 creativemomma15 1377461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swedishfish: good point! I didn't think of the RE having that connection! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1377456 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 20:14:31 +0000 swedishfish 1377456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@creativemomma15: true! But if @Mrs. Chickadee: goes to a place the RE recommends he/she might be able to get her in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1377433 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:58:50 +0000 creativemomma15 1377433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Chickadee: I am just jumping in on what @swedishfish: said about switching OB practices once you are pregnant... I don't know what it is like in your area, but around where I live it is really hard to switch once you are pregnant. Most practices say that they are full for deliveries the month you are due and cannot take any more patients unless you were an existing patient at their practice. Maybe you could call a few places and see if it is hard to get in once you are already pregnant? One of my friends got stuck with someone she didn't like because she couldnt find an OB that could take her on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1377423 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:54:06 +0000 Mrs. Chickadee 1377423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swedishfish: I might do that! I'm sort of between going to two practices and I know they deliver at different hospitals. I want to talk to them and do tours before figuring out which I want to join. Honestly, I kind of just don't want to do it until I'm pregnant. So I like your idea of sticking with the RE until I need an OB! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1377416 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:49:28 +0000 swedishfish 1377416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Chickadee: I switched OBGYN practices when I got pregnant. I wasn't happy with my former one so I asked for my RE's recommendation for a new practice. He happened to recommend the same practice that my coworker recommended. I started with my current OBGYN when 9 weeks pregnant. You can always start with the RE and then find an OBGYN practice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1377405 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:43:37 +0000 Mrs. Chickadee 1377405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is all good information! I will definitely need to get an OB as well. I probably should found a practice with OBs and GYNs before TTC but I just kept putting it off. I'm such a procrastinator! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1376511 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 09:34:45 +0000 spaniellove 1376511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMcD: You do; you can either go back to the one you saw before the RE or start with a new one around 8 weeks (give or take). I didn't like the one I was seeing before so I started with a new OB practice at that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1376430 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 07:20:34 +0000 swedishfish 1376430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMcD: I guess the best analogy would be public schools. In order to become a principal, you must work as a teacher for at least three years in my state. In order to become an RE, you must be trained as an OBGYN. You don't practice as one though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1376428 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 07:11:40 +0000 swedishfish 1376428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMcD: yep, my RE doesn't deliver since he became an RE. They monitored me until I was 9 weeks along and then released me to my OBGYN. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1376318 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 00:15:22 +0000 deactivated_account 1376318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Even if a girl were to end up needing an RE, wouldn't she also eventually need an ob/gyn after she ends up pregnant? I didn't think that REs actually deliver babies. My sister ended up needing IVF, but once she was a certain amount of months into her pregnancy, she was released to the care of her general ob gyn who went on to monitor the pregnancy and then deliver the baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1376247 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 22:56:25 +0000 Mrs. Chickadee 1376247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: I definitely have to check with my insurance company. I honestly have no idea what's covered and what isn't. I'm going to call before my appointment to find out. All I need is a surprise expensive medical bill! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375908 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 17:05:20 +0000 Happygal 1375908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Chickadee: good luck! I didn't have a referral, by the way, but I also knew my insurance wasn't going to cover anything. Wasn't a problem at all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375888 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 16:49:04 +0000 swedishfish 1375888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shortcake: in order to become an RE, you have to complete a residency in obgyn. </p> <p><a href="http://www.rmact.com/about/our-fertility-doctors-ct-ny/what-is-a-reproductive-endocrinologist" rel="nofollow">http://www.rmact.com/about/our-fertility-doctors-ct-ny/what-is-a-reproductive-endocrinologist</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375885 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 16:46:37 +0000 Mrs. Chickadee 1375885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. 64: @pui: @Happygal: @Trailmix: @HolisticMama: @Leialou: @LovelyPlum: @swedishfish: @spaniellove: @shortcake: Thanks so much for sharing your experiences! Hopefully I got everyone in there :) I really appreciate it! I definitely feel more comfortable trying to go straight to an RE. I'm not sure how aggressive I want to be, but I definitely want to know what's going on. If my husband and I both seem okay (no obvious problems), I'll probably try a little longer. If something is wrong though, I don't want to be wasting time. I'm in my 30s, so the clock is ticking! Thanks for your help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375662 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 14:04:31 +0000 shortcake 1375662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If your insurance covers it, I would recommend seeing an RE right away. I personally found that my OB would say to wait and that there weren't any problems. The RE is paid to get you pregnant and keep you pregnant. If that is your goal, see an RE. Also, some fertility doctors might be OB's, but RE's are not necessarily OB or GYN trained. Mine is not, he is a reproductive endocrinologist. He studied endocrinology, not obstetrics. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375557 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 12:23:15 +0000 spaniellove 1375557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should clarify about the referral - technically I did need a referral for insurance, but all I needed to do was call my PCP and leave a message asking them to put in the referral for the RE. They don't care who they're giving referrals for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375480 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 11:22:56 +0000 swedishfish 1375480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And yes, REs are OBGYNs with further training. So they are specialists in the fertility field. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375478 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 11:22:18 +0000 swedishfish 1375478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't need a referral to see my RE so check with your insurance. My stance was that I was not taking any form of fertility medication under an OBGYN's supervision. Clomid is not something to mess with as it can thin your uterine lining. My RE told me there is a limit on the number of times you should take Clomid and I wasn't wasting time with my OBGYN. But I was very take charge of my fertility journey. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375412 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 10:50:41 +0000 LovelyPlum 1375412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My experience is a little different from most, but my OB was able to handle my case without needing referral to an RE. Then again, my issue was more staying pregnant than getting pregnant, so maybe that had something to do with it. Also, my situation was slightly different in that I had been charting my cycles using the Creighton Model, which my OB is also trained in. So, I felt comfortable pursuing treatment with him for a little longer than I probably would have with another OB.</p> <p>I'm sure there would have come a point that an RE would have been more helpful than my OB, but I don't know what that point would have been. </p> <p>I agree with the other ladies on here, though-a consult with an RE is not a bad thing, nor does it mean that your choice is locked in. You could always get a referral for a consult and see how you feel after your first appointment. If you are uncomfortable with the RE's plan, you can explore other options, like an ND or OB. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375398 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 10:39:00 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 1375398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My gynecologist ran two tests and them referred us to an RE. If I could have gone straight to the RE I would have. I needed a referral though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375309 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 09:34:08 +0000 HolisticMama 1375309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to an OBGYN and a RE before even TTC. </p> <p>The OB wouldn't test my hormone levels. So I went over to the RE. My RE told me that REs are actually OBGYNs with years of additional training. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375245 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 08:33:47 +0000 Trailmix 1375245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go to an RE, although you might need a referral and therefore have to see an OB first. But an RE deals with fertility issues as their main job, whereas an OB deals with pregnancy issues. I think you will save yourself some time and frustration by going straight to an RE. Also, fwiw, I went to my OB after 4 cycles and then again after 6 cycles, and he then referred me to an RE, so I don't think cycle 10 is too early. It's good to be proactive when it comes to fertility! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375244 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 08:33:34 +0000 Happygal 1375244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went right to my RE. I had been seeing a midwife, and had spoken to her about TTC stuff. My confidence in her was starting to waver, but I think I would go to an RE right away anyway. I knew I wanted my husband to get tested right away and knock all the other basic tests out of the way--an RE just made sense to me. My RE's practice is willing to be as aggressive or as conservative as you want them to be; this is nice, but it also means you need to be knowledgeable about the different treatments and know what is right for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375234 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 08:28:27 +0000 pui 1375234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My personal experience was everyone but my RE was a waste of my time. Other doctors did blood tests and ultrasounds and came up with nothing. My RE did a huge amount of testing but finally was able to give me answers and a diagnosis. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1375195 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 07:29:07 +0000 mrs. 64 1375195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both from personal experience and listening to other ladies on here, OBs are generally not very helpful with regards to fertility. Mine was willing to run a few tests, but when they came back didn't really interpret them for me or suggest any next steps. REs on the other hand really know their stuff, what to test for, and what next steps to recommend. The flip side is if you go to an RE things can be kind of fast paced. Some people aren't ready to jump to advanced treatment quite that quickly, so it really depends on what you and your SO want. You can always get a consult and testing done to see what they would recommend and then decide if you are ready to pursue it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1374963 Fri, 24 Jan 2014 23:20:49 +0000 spaniellove 1374963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Chickadee: I guess it depends on how much you end up needing...treating fertility usually isn't an OB's area of expertise so if you need more than than the very basics it might be frustrating. The advantage of going straight to an RE is that they specialize in treating fertility, but they are probably a bit more aggressive and focused. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1374951 Fri, 24 Jan 2014 23:08:41 +0000 Mrs. Chickadee 1374951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: Thanks! I always feel like my NP is essentially my GYN so I'm wondering if I can just kind of skip that step. Thanks for sharing your experience. I'll keep you posted :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ob-gyn-or-re#post-1374950 Fri, 24 Jan 2014 23:05:48 +0000 Mrs. Chickadee 1374950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone!</p> <p>@LindsayInNY: sounds like we're on the same plan! I had a similar experience with my NP and since I'm close to a year I figured I'd getting things going!</p> <p>@Mrs.Someone: @spaniellove: I'm glad to hear your opinions because this is sort of what I'd heard before and I'm wondering if I should try to go straight to an RE. Also, I would have a total meltdown if someone told me to "lose weight" or "have fun"! What the hell?!</p> <p>So is there any specific reason to go to one or the other? Do they do different tests? My impression is that it seems like an RE does all the same things an OB-GYN and more...so it's there any reason to go to the OB-GYN? Or is this impression wrong? </p>