Over 35 and having trouble TTC

Hi everyone!
I'm 37 (38 in early Feb) and DH is 34. We've been TTC since October 2006 so we're now at the one year mark We have been living in Japan and feel very cut off from information, and also the medical care is terrible (we're in the countryside). So, I'm keeping positive, but i'm also hoping to find some others who are over 35 and TTC for mutual support.

This will be our first and so I don't know anything about the medical system in NZ regarding to infertility. So I have lots of questions. Happily, we will be coming home in January 2008 but I don't know what I should do first...go to a GP? go to an Ob, Gyn or both? Or can I go straight to an infertility clinic? etc, etc. I'm also considering acupuncture.

I'm currently in the 2WW with about four more days to go. If any other "older" mums are out there, please join!

i'm not older but lived in japan and had my pregnancy check-ups and such over there (came home to have baby - honestly my doctor told me that labour wasn't painful and to harden up"). where are you? hope you guys aren't with nova@!

I would get along to your GP.
For over 35s they recommend you seek help after 6 months of TTC! I wouldn't delay looking into your options.

I am 34 and will be 35 when we start TTC #1, and have some trepidation of my own as to how well it will go.

When we had trouble TTC I went straight to Fertility Associates and saw a specialist there. They sent DH and I for a series of tests to determine if there was an explained issue causing infertility. We ended up having male infertility with a less than 1% chance of conceiving naturally. We were then rated for public funded IVF and went on the waiting list. As the waiting list was in excess of a year at that time we ended up going private (approximately $10,000) and were lucky enough to be successful first time. We now have a beautiful daughter. In NZ if you meet the criteria for public funding you are entitled to 2 x IVF cycles (if the first one is successful and you have a live baby you don't get the second IVF). One of the criteria is that you are under 40.
So I would suggest seeing a specialist at Fertility Associates or Fertility Plus when you return to NZ to get the ball rolling. But fingers crossed you are pregnant before then! Good luck.

Wow, thanks guys! That's just the sort of info I needed. I did have a GP when I left in 2004. Would I still be on her list, I guess so? Maybe I'll try to make an appointment via e-mail so I can see her to get referred to the fertility places as soon as I arrive back.

The doctor here is rubbish and she did a sperm analysis for my husband and said he had a good number, but I'm not sure that she checked for motility. She also did a test for me that I later looked up on the internet and found that it had been declared obsolete! Anyway, from that she'd recommended that I get an HSG to see if my tubes were clear. I did that at a good international hospital in Thailand when I was there for other reasons in March and, thankfully, the tubes were clear. But, they did say that there were possible uterine polyps, and/or fibroids, and/or endo. but they said you really can't tell from an HSG and I needed a saline ultrasound to find out. Plus I haven't had any fertility related blood tests at all.

Itchyfeet- No worries, ask away!

Lulu- thanks for that. I had come across Fertility Associates on the net so it was good to see you mention them. Congratulations on having Jaymie!! You must be stoked.

BellaBabysMum- Thanks for all that info. And congratulations on the new pregnancy!    

Edited by KiwiInJapan

Is that all you did? Wow! Do you mind if I ask what your problem area was? How was the clomid? I've heard mixed reports about how it affects people.

Thanks Itchyfeet,
I don't think I'll be an IVF candidate anyway as my tubes are clear and I suspect that my problems are realated to polyps and or fibroids. I really just want to have the blood tests (yuck!) and a good ultrasound as a first step, plus a better SA for my husband.

Do you happen to remember what things they were looking for in the blood tests? And did you have to go at different times in your cycle?

Many thanks!

Well, thank you very much for all the info. At least I've got a bit of an idea of what I'm in for now and where I might go first.
I've been waiting so long that it's strange to think I'll actually finally be doing all these tests and things in two and a half months. Truth be told, now I'm feeling a bit scared as reality sets in! But I am looking forward to finally getting some answers.
Best wishes to everyone on here!

Thanks for replying NoFearFranky.
Hope your IVF is going well so far. I will be in Auckland too. Do you recommend any particular doctor there?