https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:48:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1950268 Wed, 19 Nov 2014 09:35:31 +0000 Sunshine1810 1950268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I went to the RE after 9 months TTC. I did have a known fertility issue though (PCOS). We didn't start doing IUIs until we were almost 2 years into TTC, and started IVF at 2.5 years TTC. If you are under 35, your RE might tell you to try for a full year first. Even though I have PCOS, my RE told us to try for 3 more months before starting interventions. She did run a lot of blood work after that first appointment though.</p> <p>Good luck! :heart: :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1950112 Wed, 19 Nov 2014 07:32:10 +0000 momazon 1950112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish I had started with the RE much earlier. Instead I took the "just relax and it will happen" path for a couple of years, which resulted in no babies. :silly: Especially since you have some coverage, I'd probably get the ball rolling soon if I were you. At least you can get some of the testing out of the way- that generally takes a few months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1950078 Wed, 19 Nov 2014 05:58:02 +0000 Snowdrop 1950078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went after 6 cycles of perfect timing. I also just knew something wasn't right based on my cycle. It took a while for all the tests etc and we conceived with just a bit of help from progesterone.</p> <p>I have never heard anyone say they went for help too early, go for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949914 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 22:00:10 +0000 marionberry 1949914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started looking into additional help after about 7 failed cycles. I'm type A, so we were doing everything right (timing, charting, fertility monitor, etc. and still nothing) and I knew it had to be something else. We started with getting OBs to order some blood tests on me for ovulation and then had them order a semen analysis for DH. From there we decided an RE was our best option and since our insurance didn't cover anything IF-related we weren't forced to wait until a year of trying. We got pregnant our first cycle with our RE using IUI. So happy we sought help! I wish we would have done it sooner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949493 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 15:08:28 +0000 kayakgirl73 1949493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shutterbug: yes that's my point exactly. I've been down the IF road for my lo and I'm on the road again trying for a second. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949479 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 14:59:33 +0000 mrsjyw 1949479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>no advice just hugs and support your way :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949462 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 14:46:46 +0000 sweetooth 1949462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raspberries: I had to set up an account with Reproductive Resource Services through my insurance to cover things. I also had to be seen by a preferred provider. RRS was a great resource and support during my treatments. I hope that proves to be the case for you. But I also secretly hope you get pregnant without having to embark on any of this :) :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949452 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 14:42:22 +0000 LindsayInNY 1949452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started TTC in December of 2012 right after I turned 29. I had my annual in September and asked about "next steps" then. She said to come back at the year mark. I then had a chemical pregnancy that cycle, took progesterone for pre-AF spotting for a couple of cycles and went back early February for testing. As all results came back normal and I wasn't sure what my ob/gyn would do, I scheduled a consultation with my RE in early April. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949362 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:53:14 +0000 Shutterbug 1949362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raspberries: the hotline sounds awesome! The guy I talked to way back when I called insurance to find out about my IF benefits was so clueless, and he kept saying he was sorry about my IF. Ugggh.</p> <p>@MaryM: not to speak for @kayakgirl73: , but I think her point was more that OB/GYNs tend to prescribe oral meds without U/S and B/W monitoring, which can be very risky, both for the risk of multiples and the side effects of Clomid (thinning your lining, for example). I'm of the opinion that if you have access to a specialist and it's covered by insurance then there's no reason to continue with your OB. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949343 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:37:22 +0000 MaryM 1949343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raspberries: That's awesome that you have a hotline available for that! I hope even if they don't think you need to be set up for appointments right away, at least maybe they can help you come up with a plan for what will be appropriate at what time. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949334 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:35:17 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 1949334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had my annual exam after about 9 months of trying and mentioned it to my doctor. She ordered tests because she said someone my age who was ovulating (and I was) ought to have had success. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949331 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:33:28 +0000 raspberries 1949331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: Thanks for the advice - I double-checked my insurance, and I thiiiink most infertility services are covered as long as I have "prior authorization," which I'm assuming my ob-gyn would be capable of giving (why are explanations of benefits so difficult to understand?) More importantly though, it looks like I have an infertility hot line I can call for "education, counseling, &amp; infertility management." I could just hug you for suggesting this - I'm giving them a call as soon as I get off work!</p> <p>@MK0180: @ineebee: Thanks for the encouragement, ladies - it means a lot. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949297 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:16:19 +0000 Mamaof2 1949297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was over 30 so I asked at 6 months </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949290 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:13:40 +0000 MK0180 1949290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were trying for 7ish months before I talked to my obgyn - it was during my annual appt. She ordered blood tests for me and a HSG to check blockage in my tubes. She also did a referral for DH to get a sample done. After our tests came back (borderline low for DH's count) but otherwise normal she referred us to an RE whom we worked with after the year mark of trying. I wasn't mentally ready to jump to an RE right away.<br /> Had my annual appt not have come around the time it did, I would have set up an appt to speak to my Dr. around the 8 month mark of trying so around the point where you are.<br /> I don't think it would hurt to call and set up something - I know every office is different but your doctor may be able to do preliminary tests (egg quality, estrogen levels, DH's count level, etc). FX to you! I know it's hard and incredibly frustrating. :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949269 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:08:17 +0000 MaryM 1949269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kayakgirl73: I don't think it's fair to suggest that no OBGYN's should treat IF. I think a lot of it depends on knowing what your doctors do (or don't) specialize in. Not all OBGYNs blindly prescribe high doses of clomid. </p> <p>I think the most important thing is to know what doctors will or will not do (or cannot do). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949250 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:03:56 +0000 kayakgirl73 1949250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First thing check your insurance coverage you might need to switch to better coverage during open enrollment which many companies hold near the end of the year. At age 30 they will probably want you to try for a year before referring you on to an RE. I wouldn't mess with fertility treatment an an OB/GYn even for just Clomid you should really have monitoring done as higher order multiples are a risk and sometimes it thinks your lining and you need a boost and An RE will check that and prescribe something. It does take a while to get started with the RE. It might be worth booking an appointment with one for after your annual. So that you have the appointment ready and don't have to wait long. RE's usually require you to have had an annual exam in the last year anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949239 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:59:17 +0000 MaryM 1949239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You might also want to read your insurance benefits plan really carefully before scheduling anything. Knowing my plan doesn't cover any infertility services, it's made sense for me to bring things up during routine visits so that the visit isn't marked with IF and I'm forced to pay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949233 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:56:58 +0000 ineebee 1949233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I knew I had an issue because I had super irregular periods, sometimes just months of light spotting before BCP. So after going off BC, I let my gyn know right away that I had concerns about conceiving at age 30. About 8 or 9 months into TTC, my period was crazy weird and OPKs were all over the place, so she gave me a blood workup which showed that I have PCOS. After that I went straight to the RE and ended up starting IF treatment right around the 1-year mark. </p> <p>I didn't wait for my annual exam with my gyn. Instead, I made an appointment which they called a "family planning consultation" or something like that. </p> <p>It's a frustrating time. I really hope things work out for you soon!! Big hugs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949180 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:36:29 +0000 MrsKRB 1949180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just finished our 8th month ttc - I made a appointment with my obgyn (I was due for my annual anyway) and she gave me a referral to get a SA. If that comes back normal, she said we could go ahead with an x-ray and hormonal testing if I want. I was actually pretty surprised, I thought she would blow me off and tell me to wait until 12 months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949157 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:26:40 +0000 MaryM 1949157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raspberries: Also, if you don't have a regular appointment coming up and you want to call to ask about being seen earlier, I'd highly suggest calling the nurses line instead of the front desk (especially if your office is anything like mine and the front desk is often swamped).</p> <p>I've found it a lot easier to get info straight from the doctors when reaching out through the nurses line. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949151 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:24:29 +0000 raspberries 1949151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ValentineMommy: @bluestriped bee: @MaryM: @sweetooth: @bhbee: @ballerinabee: Thanks, ladies. I'm just about to turn 30, so I'm hoping age isn't a factor. My doctor is part of a practice who have fertility specialists on hand (I was chatting with another woman in the waiting room who was there for an IUI, so I know they at least do those in-house as well.) So I'm hoping that means it wouldn't take as long to be referred to an RE if they're part of the same practice?</p> <p>I guess the moral of the story is that it doesn't hurt to ask. It seems like most people wish they'd looked into interventions earlier than they had, so I guess it's better to err on the side of going too early? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949135 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:15:52 +0000 PurplePumps 1949135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started to look into it 7 months after stopping BC at my annual since I'd only ovulated twice by then. I saw my OB a month or two later, and she wanted to put me on Clomid right away, but I wanted to wait a few natural cycles, which is what we did. By 1 yr later, I gave the Clomid a shot which didnt work and then made an appointment with an RE. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949123 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:12:20 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1949123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My OB said to see her if it didn't work after 6months, but I waited more like 8 since there were a few months with questionable timing. The visit with her was pointless, but after that I started acupuncture and got pregnant after a month (ended in m/c though). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949117 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:10:02 +0000 ballerinabee 1949117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It doesn't hurt to make an appt earlier, or to call the office and ask to talk to the nurse / doctor about your concerns and see if they'll bring you in earlier. </p> <p>My doctor said that because I'm older, they'll run IF testing earlier than 6 mos - 1yr of trying, so I feel like we wasted almost a year (we're going on 20 months of trying for our 2nd now, and just started testing in Sept). </p> <p>Give them a call! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949094 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:05:35 +0000 Shutterbug 1949094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After 7 months I had some hormonal tests done (CD 3 and CD 21) and all that revealed was hypothyroidism and lowish progesterone. We kept trying on our own for another 5 months before we went to the RE, but that was really only because I didn't want to pay out of pocket and my insurance wouldn't cover it until we had been TTC for 12 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949084 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:01:21 +0000 BSB 1949084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sweetooth: Yup, I agree. Just getting an appt with the RE took a good month then the Sperm Analysis and then the blood tests, ultrasounds and other tests. I did take about 3 months before my IUIs started. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949057 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 11:55:11 +0000 bhbee 1949057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd say go for it if you and your DH are both on board, because often it's a long process. your regular OBGYN may run a few tests, then they may refer you to a fertility specialist which can take a while, then they run more tests, etc. it can be a while before you get to treatment if you do have an issue, and you can keep trying in that time. I can't imagine you'd regret starting too early!</p> <p>we were not preventing for a while but I started seeking help pretty soon after we seriously wanted to TTC because I didn't have many periods and knew I had some PCOS. if you have any reason to believe something is wrong then I would definitely go ASAP. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949037 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 11:50:59 +0000 sweetooth 1949037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Based on my age, and that we were unsuccessful after a year of trying on our own <i>(monitoring, BBT, everything we could do on our own)</i> we found an RE. My insurance required that it was documented that we had been trying for 1 year before seeking the help of an RE to be able to receive coverage. I'd definitely recommend seeing what your insurance policies are. And also know that even when you are ready to see a doctor, it can still take months to get in and also to go through the testing to find out if anything is wrong. I'm not saying this to sound harsh, just sharing my experience. We decided to see the RE, couldn't get an appt for 1 month. And then when we started it took 2 months to go through testing, and to have a few procedures done based on testing, to be able to start trying to conceive with the help of an RE.</p> <p>We have been successful with the help of our RE, and sometimes I wish I could have started the process sooner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1949012 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 11:42:08 +0000 travellingbee 1949012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After 4 months of TTC, I went to the Dr. for a yeast infection and mentioned it then. The reason being that I am older and had no issues at all conceiving for my first. She said, well why don't we just run a few blood tests and see if anything is going on. My cycle had been a little erratic after it came back PP and she wanted to make sure my hormones were ok. Also I had been spotting. Our timing was also spot on and I was clearly ovulating. They found I had diminished ovarian reserve as indicated by high FSH and low AMH and referred me right away to an RE. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-decide-to-look-into-interventions-while-ttc#post-1948999 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 11:38:06 +0000 MaryM 1948999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm entering our 9th month.</p> <p>I said something at my annual in October because I was also having a lot of spotting. I scheduled my annual around 6dpo so it'd be the right time to test my progesterone if she decided to do so, and she did. So I've been on progesterone the last two months. At that time, she said we'd follow up in April if nothing had happened (she gave me 3 rounds of progesterone to try in the meantime).</p> <p>I had another unrelated follow up at the beginning of this month (I have ovarian cysts that they've been monitoring). I asked the doc then (a different doc in the same practice. I prefer his bedside manner, but the one I saw for my annual seems more proactive I don't want to lose contact with her too). He said the cysts shouldn't be affecting things, but that he'd follow up with me in February (one year from my MC) for my regular cyst follow up, but that we could also talk interventions then.</p> <p>I think the moral of my story is that it never hurts to ask. And if you think one doctor isn't seeing you soon enough (I'm honestly not sure why the one doc picked april), and you're able to ask for a second opinion, it doesn't hurt to ask!</p> <p>In my head I figured I needed to wait a year since i'm not quite 35, but in reality I think the doctors saw that 34 is close enough, and that it didn't hurt to test for low P since I had charts showing signs of it. </p>