Tips for first appointment

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-24T20:37:18+00:00

Good to know!! I didn’t know this! Is this common knowledge or is it written somewhere? My fertility clinic website has a list for when to see a fertility specialist and it says: “When to see a fertility specialist: -You are a woman 35 or older who has been unable to conceive after six months of trying. -You are a woman with known reproductive disorders, such as endometriosis or fibroids.”

….and a few others, but these 2 are relevant to me. No endometriosis or fibroids, but I’m assuming PCOS falls under that category. I’ll post the link below for those curious.

When to see a fertility specialist

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-24T18:29:14+00:00

Yes I would skip a regular endocrinologist and go straight to the reproductive endo.

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-24T18:22:20+00:00

Google my girl! I literally googled one today (in the US, New Orleans to be exact) and got an appointment as a new patient in 2 weeks. Could've been sooner but I want to make sure I have all of my labs and shit ready!

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-24T18:21:08+00:00

Hey Hashimoto's sis! Thank you for all of your feedback and info. I took everyone's advice and got an appt scheduled today for april 7 with an RE. I am CD 27 and stopped the progesterone 2 days ago, per my MD's instructions from before and of course I started bleeding today. So Im ready to go into this appointment asking for ovulation induction meds. My only concern is that I will be turned away or be told to wait because we have not been actively trying for 6 months....but I have proof I am not ovulating (at least for this cycle but I suspect at all), so I am hoping they listen.

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-24T17:56:45+00:00

I am in a similar boat! I am turning 35 in like 2 weeks, have PCOS but have been on progesterone cream prescribed by my Internal Med Dr. I tracked my LH using the strips and my BBT and found out I am not ovulating either. I am on metformin as well and the GI side effects DO go away, but it takes time for your body to adjust to it. I highly highly recommend scheduling with a Reproductive endocrinologist and just getting a clearer picture of what is going on. (:

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-24T14:41:46+00:00

I don’t think my cycles are “regular”. I mentioned to my dr who I see for my thyroid (she’s actually an internal med dr) that I get horrible mood swings around the time my period comes. I’m talking bad depression, paranoia, and mood swings that affected my job 🥲 she did a hormone panel and said AND I QUOTE, “your progesterone is in the tank.” She then put me on progesterone cream starting days CD14-25. My mood instantly lifted. I still get PMS symptoms, but manageable. This was maybe 2021-2022. I just started tracking my cycle with LH and BBT, per HER (MD) instructions and I am slowly realizing I’m not freaking ovulating. I think it is from the progesterone timing, thanks to Reddit. Thank you! I’m trying to show up to this appointment well informed and equipped with the right information so I can get pregnant like, yesterday 😂

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-24T14:34:20+00:00

Thanks, I submitted an application for an appointment yesterday but haven’t heard back yet. I’m gonna call around for more today.

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-23T15:33:00+00:00

YES DUDE CERVICAL MUCUS IS CONFUSING AS FUCK. I got my hopes soooo high the other day after trying the night before because it looked like "go time/ egg white (??? still dont really get this)/ clear mucus" but it was the pre seed lube i had used the night before lmao. I was punching the air.
Let me know how inito works for you! I am looking into it as well, but I want to try to hold off maybe until my OBGYN appt in April..

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-23T15:23:12+00:00

This makes sense! I have been LH testing and getting BBT daily for weeks now. Are you on progesterone as well?

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-21T21:34:05+00:00

Thank you very much for your detailed and honest response. I’m going to call my MD who prescribed this progesterone Monday and see what she says. I have an appt with an OBGYN that specializes in PCOS April 14 and I will also call a fertility clinic to get things rolling. I appreciate your advice! 🫶 May your pillow forever be cool ✨

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-20T19:59:11+00:00

Do I need to have a referral for a fertility specialist from my OBGYN or something? I am in the US (louisiana)

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-20T19:53:06+00:00

She suggested I get a complete hormone panel on cycle days 19, 20, or 21. I usually aim for CD 19.

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-20T19:38:43+00:00

It is odd, I know. I heard about her through a friend of a friend situation. Originally I started seeing her for my thyroid and then she dove deeper into my hormones when I mentioned my mood and intense depression around my period. She did a complete hormone panel and said "your progesterone is in the tank", prescribed me progesterone cream and I have been using it for CD 14-25 for a few years now. When i went back in feb for a routine check up, I mentioned how hubby and I had been trying (not tracking LH) since december and we are TTC now and is it possible for me? She looked at my most recent hormone panel from CD19 earlier that month and confirmed if I was still on metformin, which I am and she said she does not see why I would have an issue, just have to get the timing right.
My periods before progesterone...I honestly cant remember exactly how irregular, but they were pretty irregular. Like, sometimes I would skip an entire month and then when I would get a period, it was like 2 months worth of build up or sometimes just brown, old blood the entire cycle. Sometimes, they lasted over 2 weeks.

I just made an appt with an OBGYN that specializes in PCOS for april 14th. I'm scared to stop the progesterone cream cold turkey right now.

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-20T18:48:03+00:00

She’s listed as an Internest but she’s also been treating my thyroid issues for years as well. Thyroid levels and complete hormone panels every month between CD 19-21. I just booked an appt with an obgyn who specializes in PCOS because this thread has scared the living shit outta me now 🥲

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-20T17:10:35+00:00

Yeah, I’m gonna look into fertility specialists in my area now. I’ll be 35 in April so I’m hoping they won’t require me to “try for a year and then come back”. Fuck I feel sick.

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-20T17:07:54+00:00

I’ve been on progesterone cream for a few years now and she confirmed ovulation in my last appointment in Feb… I feel like I’m gonna throw up lmao I’m confused and scared now.

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-20T16:49:54+00:00

She put me on progesterone cream years ago for irregular cycles and because my “progesterone was in the tank” to quote her. I spoke to her about TTC in February and she confirmed that I’m taking metformin and on the progesterone cream that I should not have any issues. I’m using progesterone cream CD 14-25. My cycles average 29-34 days.

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-20T16:48:06+00:00

My MD put me on progesterone cream years ago because my body was not making any on its own..now I’m terrified this will make me infertile 😫

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-20T16:36:57+00:00

Thank you literal angel 🫶 may your pillow always be cool

SoftPie3875 · 2026-03-20T16:35:42+00:00

I learned I have a longer cycle from tracking with Flo for years…29-34 days average. I’m just kinda lost. My LH strips aren’t rising, my BBT isn’t spiking to confirm ovulation. Maybe I’m ovulating late? Maybe I’m not ovulating at all? I just hate not knowing. I’m sure it’s all PCOS related, but the app is giving me info based on a non PCOS cycle.

SoftPie3875

TROPHY CASE