Just starting testing

[rachel_w]

My husband and I have been TTC #2 for a year now and we're ready to start infertility testing. We recently moved to a new town and I don't have a regular doctor or OBGYN yet. Should I make an appointment with an OBGYN (there is one here that specializes in infertility) or go straight to the RE in town to start the testing?

[mamamolly]

I would definitely go straight to an RE, personally. OB/Gyns are generally not very equipped to diagnose or treat any but the most simple of fertility problems. In my experience, they just tend to waste a lot of time. However, you could make an appt with a new regular OB/Gyn-- since eventually you'll need a regular one once you get pregnant-- talk to him/her and get a referral to an RE. But I wouldn't spend too much time without moving on to an RE, if it were me. Good luck!

[april&tom]

Rachel - Do everything that your insurance covers! OBGYN are a lot cheaper, but are limited. Do what you want with an OBGYN, as long as you can.... My OBGYN can handle quite a bit: www.womensob.com/infertility/.


Here's the timeline most of us are under - depending on age, diagnosis, how soon you need baby vs. how much money you have!!
(1) Testing your husband's sperm (SA). <<no ins: Initial talk with Doctor $150, SA $100>>
(2) Do you know if your regularily ovulating, by using OPK? You might need Clomid. <<no ins: $50/mo>>
(3) Try invasive testing for you, like a HSG <<no ins:$1,500>>
(4) Try inseminations <<no ins: $500/month, more if you're using drugs, ultrasounds, and donor sperm>>
(5) Try for insems with injections or go straight to IVF <<$$$$>>


But, then, I'm still a newbie, at 6 months of OBGYN-assisted TTC - 4th IUI - totalling about $2,500 invested.

April

[rachel_w]

Thanks for the quick responses! I went ahead and scheduled an appt. with an OBGYN. I checked her website and it does say she specializes in diagnosis and intial infertility treatment. I've been charting since we started TTC and my charts clearly show ovulation every cycle. Our timing is good, we're young (I'm 27, he's 36) so we're just wanting to get some answers.

April - That list is great! It's good to have some idea of the costs of things going in. My insurance does cover testing and treatment up to $2500 but no ART (IUI or IVF).

[mamamolly]

Good luck, Rachel! Be sure to get your husband tested, especially since you're ovulating regularly. About 40% of IF is male factor, 40% is female factor, and 20% is unknown or both. But a lot of times people jump to looking for the female problems, when all along it was a male factor. (Not that it's necessarily that for you-- but you just never know).

[april&tom]

Rachel - with your insurance covering testing and treatment - do that first!! Once you touch ART - previously covered testing and treatment might be not covered. Young & Regular is a great combo - good luck!

April

[Cali]

We started out going to an OB that specialized in infertility also. Now that I've gone to an RE, I realize how little she was invested in the infertility aspect. She basically got me started - had me do OPK's to make sure I was O'ing regularly. Had DH do a SA. Did some basic bloodwork. She even had me do a couple of rounds of Clomid with absolutly no monitoring and which in hindsight was an absolute waste of time. The last things she had to offer was either a HSG or Laparoscopy. Then she was at the end of her rope and referred me to an RE. The majority don't have insurance for IUI's or IVF. That's pretty typical, unfortunately. Wishing you the best at your appt!