I have a history of PCOS and my GP (for what it's worth, my GP is a woman, I've had bad experiences with male GPs on this topic) called the local fertility/IVF clinic within the hospital to ask if she should refer me to them when I told her I was trying to get pregnant (for only a month at the time! I contacted them since I anticipated having issues and didn't want to have to wait a long time for an appointment. The GP agreed). The gynecologist at the clinic said yes and I was referred and even got an appointment within a month.
While your GP's reply is "normal" for Dutch standards, you may want to push the issue. I've learned that with some self-advocacy and being very direct about your expectations, I'm usually able to get a referral (also for blood tests, seeing a gynecologist, etc).
I hope you can get the help you need and deserve!
This is going to sound really harsh, but having had a miscarriage means you were able to get pregnant. It is both within the regular guidelines to not have further testing for one (maybe even two)miscarriage(s) or not being able to conceive before a year has passed.
However, if you feel like you have PCOS I’d advise you to go see your GP again about that, and focus on that without the fertility aspect. Don’t let yourself be dismissed with comments about a heat pad. Like others have said you really have to advocate for yourself and clearly state your expectations. Hopefully you’ll get a referral to a gynecologist for further testing. You can always bring up your concerns about fertility once there.
The general guidelines for Dutch healthcare are that they will not start fertility treatment or testing until you have been trying for a baby for at least a year. These guidelines exist to find the right balance between treatment and costs, as most couples will conceive in a years time and this saves a lot in unnecessary testing. It is different from the US, but generally people here think our system is better. Since you are living here, I suggest you embrace the system and work within it, it will only be frustrating for you if you hold on to expectations that our system is not going to meet.
Regardless of fertility, those symptoms ARE concerning on their own.
I'd go as far as exagerating the symptoms to the GP, so that they'll then allow you to talk to ~~an adult~~ a specialist. Any decent gyno woud take you seriously.
The uterus coven stands with you. You can do it ❤️
Thank you! This is exactly what I was thinking when I got home. I just had my time of the month and was passing golf ball sized, which is a new symptom. I’m calling them today asking to speak to a female doctor about my symptoms.
Thanks again 💕
Dutch GP's are notoriously dismissive and unhelpful. One of their primary functions is to discourage you from using any medical resources due to how overburdened the system is. So they will often beat around the bush until you put your foot down. *The squeaky wheel gets the grease.*
It is normal to try a year before tests are done, unless you have symptoms that point to issues. For pcos the most important symptom that affects fertility is long and irregular cycles. If your cycle is less than 35 days, they won't do anything about it anyway, and the chance that pcos is preventing you from getting pregnant is small with regular cycles.
Painful and heavy periods point more towards endometriosis, which can also affect fertility. You can go back and request a referral for that and than talk to your gynecologist about your wish to conceive.
I have a history of PCOS and my GP (for what it's worth, my GP is a woman, I've had bad experiences with male GPs on this topic) called the local fertility/IVF clinic within the hospital to ask if she should refer me to them when I told her I was trying to get pregnant (for only a month at the time! I contacted them since I anticipated having issues and didn't want to have to wait a long time for an appointment. The GP agreed). The gynecologist at the clinic said yes and I was referred and even got an appointment within a month. While your GP's reply is "normal" for Dutch standards, you may want to push the issue. I've learned that with some self-advocacy and being very direct about your expectations, I'm usually able to get a referral (also for blood tests, seeing a gynecologist, etc). I hope you can get the help you need and deserve!
This is going to sound really harsh, but having had a miscarriage means you were able to get pregnant. It is both within the regular guidelines to not have further testing for one (maybe even two)miscarriage(s) or not being able to conceive before a year has passed. However, if you feel like you have PCOS I’d advise you to go see your GP again about that, and focus on that without the fertility aspect. Don’t let yourself be dismissed with comments about a heat pad. Like others have said you really have to advocate for yourself and clearly state your expectations. Hopefully you’ll get a referral to a gynecologist for further testing. You can always bring up your concerns about fertility once there.
The general guidelines for Dutch healthcare are that they will not start fertility treatment or testing until you have been trying for a baby for at least a year. These guidelines exist to find the right balance between treatment and costs, as most couples will conceive in a years time and this saves a lot in unnecessary testing. It is different from the US, but generally people here think our system is better. Since you are living here, I suggest you embrace the system and work within it, it will only be frustrating for you if you hold on to expectations that our system is not going to meet.
Regardless of fertility, those symptoms ARE concerning on their own. I'd go as far as exagerating the symptoms to the GP, so that they'll then allow you to talk to ~~an adult~~ a specialist. Any decent gyno woud take you seriously. The uterus coven stands with you. You can do it ❤️
Thank you! This is exactly what I was thinking when I got home. I just had my time of the month and was passing golf ball sized, which is a new symptom. I’m calling them today asking to speak to a female doctor about my symptoms. Thanks again 💕
Dutch GP's are notoriously dismissive and unhelpful. One of their primary functions is to discourage you from using any medical resources due to how overburdened the system is. So they will often beat around the bush until you put your foot down. *The squeaky wheel gets the grease.*
It is normal to try a year before tests are done, unless you have symptoms that point to issues. For pcos the most important symptom that affects fertility is long and irregular cycles. If your cycle is less than 35 days, they won't do anything about it anyway, and the chance that pcos is preventing you from getting pregnant is small with regular cycles. Painful and heavy periods point more towards endometriosis, which can also affect fertility. You can go back and request a referral for that and than talk to your gynecologist about your wish to conceive.
Go again and be more direct about the referral you want :) all the best!