infertility question for the REI people

[BBB123]

Hi you guys,

I have a problem and it seems like it’s a little over my head. I am finishing up 4th year and going into IM so infertility is a little beyond my scope of knowledge and am hoping to get some help.

Our story:
My part is quick, I have a varicocele but have normal sperm count by analysis. I probably need the penetration test some time soon though. My wife has endometriosis, laparoscopy proven. She has had this for some 7 years and has been on BCP's on and off. When she has been off (>1 year) in past we were unable to conceive. She has been off BCP for almost 9 months this time and again we have been unsuccessful. It seems that she is ovulating (at least the last several months) by temp, and OTC ovulation kit. We are planning to get a hysterosalpingogram next month. Her OB/GYN started her on 50 of clomid this month. She took the course. Now, about 10 days later hasn't ovulated yet but started to get these side pains. She doesn't look sick, these pains aren't too bad, come and go and are relived, at least partially, with 800 IB. I haven’t done a pelvic (feel weird doing it on my wife). We called her OB/GYN he basically, as he does always, told us to go to the ER, and he does not have time to see her this week in his clinic. He has done this often, when anything comes up, tells us “go to the ER”. I am getting annoyed with this, and don't want to waste more money, so I am just watching my wife for now. I am aware of the hyperstimulation/ovrian enlargement/poss torsion but she doesn't look sick at all and I don't think they will do anything at the hosp anyway.

Anyway, the broader question. In the scope of things, do you guys think that it would be best for us to visit an REI. I don't know how things work but I am guessing that they would be better equiped to handle things like this. How far should we go with the general OB/GYN before seeing a specialist?. Is this beyond the scope of a generalist? Also our insurance will cover the work up just not the treatment. Basically, would you guys advise us that it is time to move to a specialist?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[wooo]

Not an REI here but a person with many years of experience with the same problem.

Many OB/GYN's are far removed from infertility and you should stay away from these types because they will give bad information and not follow the patient as needed as you have pointed out.

My wife and I lived in a city of 50-60,000 people and went through 3-4 OB/Gyns that said "no hope" before we stumbled into a doc that really liked tinkering with infertility. The key is to "find" that special doc that likes tinkering with infertility just like some family docs like tinkering with nutrition, some sports medicine, some even cardiology/electrophysiology.

Ask around to the many docs in town and probably even better to ask the REI doc for a recommendation of a good OB/Gyn that works closely with the REI clinic.

We worked with the OB in our home town for 1 year and he smoothly transitioned our care to the university REI team w/o any complications

SUMMARY: you are going to have to search for that special OB that meets your needs.

Good Luck

 

[BBB123]

thanks for the great advice!

My insurance does not need a referal from PMD to visit a specialist. I thinking we should just make an appointment with an REI ourselves. Apperently, the diagnostic infertility w/u is covered, so i guess it doesn't matter who does it (general ob/gyn vs rei).

I am curious, how was your experience visiting REI. Is the cost prohibitive (beyond the w/u)?

Not an REI here but a person with many years of experience with the same problem.

Many OB/GYN's are far removed from infertility and you should stay away from these types because they will give bad information and not follow the patient as needed as you have pointed out.

My wife and I lived in a city of 50-60,000 people and went through 3-4 OB/Gyns that said "no hope" before we stumbled into a doc that really liked tinkering with infertility. The key is to "find" that special doc that likes tinkering with infertility just like some family docs like tinkering with nutrition, some sports medicine, some even cardiology/electrophysiology.

Ask around to the many docs in town and probably even better to ask the REI doc for a recommendation of a good OB/Gyn that works closely with the REI clinic.

We worked with the OB in our home town for 1 year and he smoothly transitioned our care to the university REI team w/o any complications

SUMMARY: you are going to have to search for that special OB that meets your needs.

Good Luck

 

[wooo]

Our work-up was with a OB/GYN doc that really liked REI. He actually worked in an in-vitro lab prior to medical school and decided to become an OB/Gyn. We did the work-up and IUI there and then went to an REI 3 hours away and followed up with IVF and ICSI. My insurance paid 15 grand for infertility and I caught the overage which was mainly due to getting ripped off by a pharmacy for the meds. I think IVF is around 8-12 grand per cycle depending on your location. That includes the meds too.