[MamaCar]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and haven't printed out my acronyms yet so I hope you forgive the 'longhand'.

I'm a 41 yr old mum to a gorgeous 5.5yr old son who was conceived naturally but was delivered by emergency C Section (I guess I should have used the letters CS? right)

I've been TTC (I saw this before) for 4 years unassisted and decided last month to see a doctor and get some tests done. I received my results today - sad news - my egg reserve is very low so my chances of conceiving naturally are almost non-existent (I guess my son is a miracle and boy he really is).

Anyway, I'm processing all of this information today and thought I should ask for your help, mainly because I have no idea what comes next. I'm not very good with medical procedures, so I have no concept of public and private (other than private is very very very expensive and public is very very very long waitlisted)

My GP said I should be referred to a fertility specialist... okay... what happens after that?
What should I be doing next? Do I call and make appointments? Do I get my GP to do it?
is it going to be a year before someone can see me and help me get a baby in my belly?

Does anyone have a bullet list of things for a rookie who is still reeling from sad news.

Your help, advice, hints are all welcome.

Thanks

MamaC

[aidensmum]

Hi,

Its really quiet round here at the moment. Clinics are all closed for xmas break so no one is doing any cycles until Jan. Once you have your referral, you ring up and make an appt with the dr you have been referred to. Good if your referral is made out for indefinite rather than just 12 months, as you have to go back for a new one if it expires. Doesn't matter if its already been written, just a tip for next time.

Once you have an appt, you go in for initial consultation, probably have some tests of some description (has your ptr had a semen analysis?), decide on a treatment plan and then set the date to get going. Some of the bigger clinics have heap of admin paperwork to go thru and in Vic a police check (sucky legislation which no one agrees with).

You only need hospital admission for IVF egg collections, or if they want to knock you out to do a laproscopic check of your bits to check tubes are clear, check for endometriosis, uterus is normal etc. I haven't done any treatment without having private health insurance, so don't know what's available as a public patient or what the costs are to pay for private admission without insurance.

The bulk of your cost is paying the clinic for the cycle. Think I'm out of pocket $4600 for a stim cycle (eg. eggs collected, fertilised and transferred - any hospital costs would be on top of this) and $1700 for a FET cycle (transfer of frozen embryo in drs rooms - no hospital admission).

It wont be a long wait. The initial appt and any testing is the only delay. Once thats done, you can have an appt with your dr to decide on treatment plan and start a cycle when your next period arrives.