Newbie Playdate & Other Questions

[Rama]

Aug 5, 2015 17:50:32 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

Back to OPKs for a second, is there a reason you shouldn't test an OPK with FMU? I do it and it's been accurate for me. Sometimes I seem to surge at night so I might get a positive in the evening, another positive in the morning then it's negative in the afternoon. I just don't know if it's considered inaccurate or what.

My understanding is that FMU just doesn't work with your average person.  I think it was the Newbie Blog that said that most people surge in the early hours of the morning (think 3am kind of time), and that doesn't show up in your FMU because it's diluted by the ~5 hours you've already been asleep, not surging.  By SMU, most of your urine will be from that surge, so it should show up.

Now, that's for your average person.  If FMU works for you, don't fix what ain't broken.

[goldenlove3]

Thanks summerdonna and pismoduo. I test multiple times a day when I'm close to O. I like to be able to visualize my surge over time (is that weird?). I'll just keep doing what I'm doing!

[JustJudy]

Aug 5, 2015 18:02:38 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

Thanks summerdonna and pismoduo. I test multiple times a day when I'm close to O. I like to be able to visualize my surge over time (is that weird?). I'll just keep doing what I'm doing!

I test 3-4 times a day in the few days before I usually get a + so I totally get you! I say keep on keeping on.  

[easilyunamused]

So I have a question for ladies who have been trying 12+ months. I'm on my 11th cycle and am confused on what my next step should be if I don't conceive on my own. Should I ask my OB to run a progesterone test or an HSG soon? Or do I ask straight away for an RE referral?

[Rama]

Aug 5, 2015 18:30:59 GMT -5 easilyunamused said:

So I have a question for ladies who have been trying 12+ months. I'm on my 11th cycle and am confused on what my next step should be if I don't conceive on my own. Should I ask my OB to run a progesterone test or an HSG soon? Or do I ask straight away for an RE referral?

Get a referral to a RE.  It seems like a lot of them won't take the tests that OBs do because they're done wrong and you'll have to redo them anyway.  That said, if you trust your OB and/or you can get them on the same page as your RE, you can try to get testing done with them to, hopefully, charge to insurance.

[easilyunamused]

Aug 5, 2015 18:32:40 GMT -5 Rama said:

Aug 5, 2015 18:30:59 GMT -5 easilyunamused said:

So I have a question for ladies who have been trying 12+ months. I'm on my 11th cycle and am confused on what my next step should be if I don't conceive on my own. Should I ask my OB to run a progesterone test or an HSG soon? Or do I ask straight away for an RE referral?

Get a referral to a RE.  It seems like a lot of them won't take the tests that OBs do because they're done wrong and you'll have to redo them anyway.  That said, if you trust your OB and/or you can get them on the same page as your RE, you can try to get testing done with them to, hopefully, charge to insurance.

Thanks Rama. I have no relationship with an OB. I will meet him/her next month for my annual for the first time. I think I may call the office before that and see if they have any info about the situation. I would hate to have to do all the tests over again. OBs don't do IUIs or anything like that right?

[emilie]

Aug 5, 2015 18:36:51 GMT -5 easilyunamused said:

Aug 5, 2015 18:32:40 GMT -5 Rama said:

Get a referral to a RE.  It seems like a lot of them won't take the tests that OBs do because they're done wrong and you'll have to redo them anyway.  That said, if you trust your OB and/or you can get them on the same page as your RE, you can try to get testing done with them to, hopefully, charge to insurance.

Thanks Rama. I have no relationship with an OB. I will meet him/her next month for my annual for the first time. I think I may call the office before that and see if they have any info about the situation. I would hate to have to do all the tests over again. OBs don't do IUIs or anything like that right?

I would maybe research the good REs in your area - see who has good reviews, see who is in-network on your insurance if that's a factor, etc.  Then when you go in to your OB ask for a referral.  The OB might recommend someone specific - and if you've done your research, you might recall having seen that name - or, if the OB doesn't have someone specific in mind, you can ask for a referral to one of the docs you found while researching.

ETA:  But yes, I'd just do all your initial tests with the RE first.  My OB did my first tests (progesterone and CD3) and even though my OB and RE are in associated practices and in the SAME BUILDING the offices still effed up getting the records to each other, etc.  Might as well just start with the RE.

[Rama]

Aug 5, 2015 18:36:51 GMT -5 easilyunamused said:

Aug 5, 2015 18:32:40 GMT -5 Rama said:

Get a referral to a RE.  It seems like a lot of them won't take the tests that OBs do because they're done wrong and you'll have to redo them anyway.  That said, if you trust your OB and/or you can get them on the same page as your RE, you can try to get testing done with them to, hopefully, charge to insurance.

Thanks Rama. I have no relationship with an OB. I will meet him/her next month for my annual for the first time. I think I may call the office before that and see if they have any info about the situation. I would hate to have to do all the tests over again. OBs don't do IUIs or anything like that right?

I haven't had an IUI, but I'm pretty sure that is not OB territory, no.

If you do not have any infertility coverage on your insurance (call to ask if you are at all unsure), you don't need a referral.  Just give them a call (or email, if they do that and you prefer it), and get set up with a "orientation" kinda appointment, where you can get acquainted and start coming up with a plan.

[joy]

Aug 5, 2015 18:30:59 GMT -5 easilyunamused said:

So I have a question for ladies who have been trying 12+ months. I'm on my 11th cycle and am confused on what my next step should be if I don't conceive on my own. Should I ask my OB to run a progesterone test or an HSG soon? Or do I ask straight away for an RE referral?

RE referral.

OBs are good when you're pregnant.

REs are for good for getting you pregnant.

[easilyunamused]

Thank you Rama, emilie, and joy. I guess I just needed to hear it. I'm not quite ready to make that leap yet, but it's better to know now that I shouldn't do testing with my OB and then have to do it with an RE later on too.

[wanderingheart]

Aug 5, 2015 17:07:34 GMT -5 gabride2010 said:

I have a way CBH question...

I stopped BCP 13 days ago, and H and I are using condoms to TTA. We plan to start TTC in February. I will begin charting on Saturday (my BBT will arrive on Friday).

I am almost 28, and I have a history of very long cycles (6-8 months), as well as needing Provera to induce a period. I have been on BCP for 12 years.

My CBH question...If I chart these next six months, and they are all anovulatory cycles, should I still wait one year before seeing an RE?

I'd give it 3 anovulatory cycles before calling an RE.

[gabride2010]

Thank you wanderingheart!

[ghostmonkey]

Aug 5, 2015 17:55:02 GMT -5 summerdonna said:

Aug 5, 2015 17:50:32 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

Back to OPKs for a second, is there a reason you shouldn't test an OPK with FMU? I do it and it's been accurate for me. Sometimes I seem to surge at night so I might get a positive in the evening, another positive in the morning then it's negative in the afternoon. I just don't know if it's considered inaccurate or what.

I think a lot of people surge later in the day so FMU could miss the surge but I could be wrong.
Eta I've used CB advanced digitals and those say to use FMU so I think it depends on the brand.

You metabolize LH during your waking hours, which is why regular OPKs are suggested in the afternoon. 

The CB Advanced digitals also analyze E3 and tracks the changes from day to day, it isn't just a one shot test. 

[rooskie]

Aug 5, 2015 18:36:51 GMT -5 easilyunamused said:

Aug 5, 2015 18:32:40 GMT -5 Rama said:

Get a referral to a RE.  It seems like a lot of them won't take the tests that OBs do because they're done wrong and you'll have to redo them anyway.  That said, if you trust your OB and/or you can get them on the same page as your RE, you can try to get testing done with them to, hopefully, charge to insurance.

Thanks Rama. I have no relationship with an OB. I will meet him/her next month for my annual for the first time. I think I may call the office before that and see if they have any info about the situation. I would hate to have to do all the tests over again. OBs don't do IUIs or anything like that right?

I just had my annual last month on cycle 12 and my primary care provider told me to call and give them a heads up so my OBGYN would know. She requested recent blood work so she could see if there were any obvious issues (thyroid, vitamin D). She has a RE that her practice works with (across the hall) so she wants to do my initial testing then send me over to the RE. I spot a lot so she's going to code it as "irregular period" for insurance reasons. 

[Rama]

Aug 5, 2015 20:43:56 GMT -5 rooskie said:

Aug 5, 2015 18:36:51 GMT -5 easilyunamused said:

Thanks Rama. I have no relationship with an OB. I will meet him/her next month for my annual for the first time. I think I may call the office before that and see if they have any info about the situation. I would hate to have to do all the tests over again. OBs don't do IUIs or anything like that right?

I just had my annual last month on cycle 12 and my primary care provider told me to call and give them a heads up so my OBGYN would know. She requested recent blood work so she could see if there were any obvious issues (thyroid, vitamin D). She has a RE that her practice works with (across the hall) so she wants to do my initial testing then send me over to the RE. I spot a lot so she's going to code it as "irregular period" for insurance reasons. 

Man, I wish my OB was that cool. She refused to do anything even remotely fertility-related, let alone try to help me with coding it for insurance.

[rooskie]

Aug 5, 2015 20:50:04 GMT -5 Rama said:

Aug 5, 2015 20:43:56 GMT -5 rooskie said:

I just had my annual last month on cycle 12 and my primary care provider told me to call and give them a heads up so my OBGYN would know. She requested recent blood work so she could see if there were any obvious issues (thyroid, vitamin D). She has a RE that her practice works with (across the hall) so she wants to do my initial testing then send me over to the RE. I spot a lot so she's going to code it as "irregular period" for insurance reasons. 

Man, I wish my OB was that cool. She refused to do anything even remotely fertility-related, let alone try to help me with coding it for insurance.

Mine has the ultimate hatred for Anthem and will do anything to get around them. She tells me/my friends who go to her all the time. She said part of my HSG could get covered for "irregular periods". I spot from 8-14dpo every month and a lot of times when I over exert in exercise through my cycle. 

[shadesofgold]

Aug 5, 2015 21:11:06 GMT -5 rooskie said:

Aug 5, 2015 20:50:04 GMT -5 Rama said:

Man, I wish my OB was that cool. She refused to do anything even remotely fertility-related, let alone try to help me with coding it for insurance.

Mine has the ultimate hatred for Anthem and will do anything to get around them. She tells me/my friends who go to her all the time. She said part of my HSG could get covered for "irregular periods". I spot from 8-14dpo every month and a lot of times when I over exert in exercise through my cycle. 

How fucked is it that insurance would pay if it was for irregular periods but not infertility?

[Deleted]

Aug 5, 2015 22:17:07 GMT -5 shadesofgold said:

Aug 5, 2015 21:11:06 GMT -5 rooskie said:

Mine has the ultimate hatred for Anthem and will do anything to get around them. She tells me/my friends who go to her all the time. She said part of my HSG could get covered for "irregular periods". I spot from 8-14dpo every month and a lot of times when I over exert in exercise through my cycle. 

How fucked is it that insurance would pay if it was for irregular periods but not infertility?

Mine was coded as irregular periods and pelvic pain so that it could be covered before hitting the 12 month mark. It makes no sense to me either.

[rooskie]

Aug 5, 2015 22:17:07 GMT -5 shadesofgold said:

Aug 5, 2015 21:11:06 GMT -5 rooskie said:

Mine has the ultimate hatred for Anthem and will do anything to get around them. She tells me/my friends who go to her all the time. She said part of my HSG could get covered for "irregular periods". I spot from 8-14dpo every month and a lot of times when I over exert in exercise through my cycle. 

How fucked is it that insurance would pay if it was for irregular periods but not infertility?

Pretty much. And if I do get pregnant they will pay for one ultrasound unless I have random bleeding. There have been cases in the practice where twins weren't discovered until the anatomy scan.

[bazinga]

shadesofgold, thank you for starting this. I lurked for a while before joining in and learned a lot. I didn't think I had many questions but a few have been answered anyway! Dealing with a diva cup in a public bathroom had me totally befuddled before _ thank you rablissful.

[rablissful]

Aug 5, 2015 22:37:15 GMT -5 bazinga said:

shadesofgold, thank you for starting this. I lurked for a while before joining in and learned a lot. I didn't think I had many questions but a few have been answered anyway! Dealing with a diva cup in a public bathroom had me totally befuddled before _ thank you rablissful.

You're welcome!

[Rama]

Aug 5, 2015 22:17:07 GMT -5 shadesofgold said:

Aug 5, 2015 21:11:06 GMT -5 rooskie said:

Mine has the ultimate hatred for Anthem and will do anything to get around them. She tells me/my friends who go to her all the time. She said part of my HSG could get covered for "irregular periods". I spot from 8-14dpo every month and a lot of times when I over exert in exercise through my cycle. 

How fucked is it that insurance would pay if it was for irregular periods but not infertility?

My insurance won't even pay for a fucking pap smear if it was done by a RE, I swear. Absolutely zero on the IF coverage, as strictly as possible. :/

[ghostmonkey]

Aug 5, 2015 22:36:12 GMT -5 rooskie said:

Aug 5, 2015 22:17:07 GMT -5 shadesofgold said:

How fucked is it that insurance would pay if it was for irregular periods but not infertility?

Pretty much. And if I do get pregnant they will pay for one ultrasound unless I have random bleeding. There have been cases in the practice where twins weren't discovered until the anatomy scan.

My friend had bleeding and still didn't get an early u/s. She found out there were two at her a/s. 

I'm torn where I stand on early u/s. I have too many friends that have had issues discovered early to be against them. And because of those issues some think they need an u/s at every appointment. The cost of them is too inflated and needs to be adjusted so the best care can be given to all.

[Rama]

Aug 6, 2015 0:39:08 GMT -5 @katerli said:

Aug 5, 2015 16:31:15 GMT -5 Rama said:

Here's a dumb question: How long after an HSG should I refrain from sex? I got no instructions from any doctors, so since I'm done spotting now and have been taking antibiotics to preempt infection, would you say I'm good?

I was told to wait 5 days

Whooooa. That seems excessive.

[requiressnacks]

Aug 5, 2015 23:02:00 GMT -5 Rama said:

Aug 5, 2015 22:17:07 GMT -5 shadesofgold said:

How fucked is it that insurance would pay if it was for irregular periods but not infertility?

My insurance won't even pay for a fucking pap smear if it was done by a RE, I swear. Absolutely zero on the IF coverage, as strictly as possible. :/

I'm in that boat too. And thanks for your help with my insurance questions last week. I called Cigna back and they told me that I'm in a "self funded" insurance plan (employer funded) so they are exempt from the CT laws and the employer has chosen to exclude anything IF/RE related. So even the office visit will be 100 % OOP for me. I can't believe an employer is allowed to do less than my state law requires! So frustrating.

[twocents6708]

Aug 5, 2015 20:43:56 GMT -5 rooskie said:

Aug 5, 2015 18:36:51 GMT -5 easilyunamused said:

Thanks Rama. I have no relationship with an OB. I will meet him/her next month for my annual for the first time. I think I may call the office before that and see if they have any info about the situation. I would hate to have to do all the tests over again. OBs don't do IUIs or anything like that right?

I just had my annual last month on cycle 12 and my primary care provider told me to call and give them a heads up so my OBGYN would know. She requested recent blood work so she could see if there were any obvious issues (thyroid, vitamin D). She has a RE that her practice works with (across the hall) so she wants to do my initial testing then send me over to the RE. I spot a lot so she's going to code it as "irregular period" for insurance reasons. 

Same for us the first go round. My OB/GYN did the bloodwork/HSG/ pelvic ultrasound at 9 months when we were TTC the first time due to anovulatory cycles. Since nothing related to fertility was covered, it was also coded as period irregularities, and it resulted in my PCOS dx. They then sent this to the RE who did the SA for my hubby. Now that we are TTC again, they have coded my recent CD3 and upcoming CD21 bloodwork as PCOS related.

[rooskie]

Aug 5, 2015 23:02:00 GMT -5 Rama said:

Aug 5, 2015 22:17:07 GMT -5 shadesofgold said:

How fucked is it that insurance would pay if it was for irregular periods but not infertility?

My insurance won't even pay for a fucking pap smear if it was done by a RE, I swear. Absolutely zero on the IF coverage, as strictly as possible. :/

This is how my insurance is too and why my GYN is trying to help me where possible.

[Deleted]

Aug 5, 2015 15:58:36 GMT -5 joy said:

Aug 5, 2015 14:49:34 GMT -5 steveo said:

I'm thinking after this cycle, I may only temp to confirm ovulation, and then stop as soon as I get my CHs. It's making me more anxious right now, not less. Anyone done that and been happy with it? (I guess I DO have a question for others after all).

This is what I do.  Temps in the luteal phase don't mean much.

EDIT: Yes, continued temping will mean that you can be more sure about your crosshairs.  Yes, some people experience a temp drop before their period.  I stopped temping in my luteal phase after nearly two years of temping.  I knew what I was risking by choosing to stop in the middle of my cycle.  My temp doesn't drop until well into my new cycle (like CD4 or 5) so that benefit doesn't apply to me.

I'm glad you said this because I also don't get a temp drop usually before my period and my LP has varied anywhere from 10 to 13 days sometimes so I'm still usually surprised by my period.

The question: is it normal for a LP to vary as much as 3 days?

[joy]

Aug 6, 2015 7:23:31 GMT -5 @rutherily said:

Aug 5, 2015 15:58:36 GMT -5 joy said:

This is what I do.  Temps in the luteal phase don't mean much.

EDIT: Yes, continued temping will mean that you can be more sure about your crosshairs.  Yes, some people experience a temp drop before their period.  I stopped temping in my luteal phase after nearly two years of temping.  I knew what I was risking by choosing to stop in the middle of my cycle.  My temp doesn't drop until well into my new cycle (like CD4 or 5) so that benefit doesn't apply to me.

I'm glad you said this because I also don't get a temp drop usually before my period and my LP has varied anywhere from 10 to 13 days sometimes so I'm still usually surprised by my period.

The question: is it normal for a LP to vary as much as 3 days?

Sure. My luteal phase can be as ahort as 12 days or as long as 16.

Luteal phases are more consistent than follicular phases (which can be however long they want) but luteal phases really have a finite time period due to the corpus luteum.

[Deleted]

Aug 6, 2015 7:27:12 GMT -5 joy said:

Aug 6, 2015 7:23:31 GMT -5 @rutherily said:

I'm glad you said this because I also don't get a temp drop usually before my period and my LP has varied anywhere from 10 to 13 days sometimes so I'm still usually surprised by my period.

The question: is it normal for a LP to vary as much as 3 days?

Sure. My luteal phase can be as ahort as 12 days or as long as 16.

Luteal phases are more consistent than follicular phases (which can be however long they want) but luteal phases really have a finite time period due to the corpus luteum.

+1 My LPs have been as short as 8 days and the longest was 13 days.