[Kirby]

This may have been asked a million times before but could't find in the past search....

We will possibly embark on the IVF route next year so I am starting to do some research on the process.

I am based in Sydney. How do I determine which clinic to use ? The ones I know of are SIVF & IVF Australia. What sets them apart & how do I know which is better ?

I live in the Chatswood area if that helps.

Any ideas/recommendations ladies ?

Thanks,
Kirby

[sauseelula]

HI

This always starts a powerful debate and it really does come down to preference. I was with IVFA East Graeme Hughes and got BFP twins first time. I then went back for #3 and got BFN, moved to IVFA North - Frank Quinn for location reasons and had about 5 BFN's then I made the move to SIVF - Mark Bowman and got 1 BFN! Then I gave up and got a natural surprise.

I know a bunch of EB girls who made the switch from IVFA to SIVF about the same time as me for the same reasons.

If you want more specific details about clinics and DRs PM me and I will give you my personal opinions.

I think the main thing is having trust and a connection with your Dr and the clinic nurses and you need to feel comfortable!

I hope this helps!

[~*Jenn*~]

Kirby - I reckon there are a million things to consider with regards to choosing a clinic. So here are a few that spring to mind. In no particular order.

Opening times? 5 days or 7 days, 7-7 or 8-6??

BT collection points - do you have to go to the clinic or do they have an arrangement with a Path lab.
Ultrasounds, same as above.

Staff - call the clinics and see what the staff are like.

Cost - Some clinics sharge the full cost upfront, some the gap between medicare and their fee.

Reputation - Google the clinic names and see what is out there.

Your FS - do you already have one, if so which clinic do they operate out of.

Your private healthy fund - some have agreemments with particular clinics to cover day surgery costs and some of the Dr's fee's for EPU and ET???

Good luck with your choice.

Jenn

[StillRoz]

**Edited by Roz**

This post has been edited by StillRoz: 09/06/2008, 06:55 AM

[sebela]

I definitely agree with Roz to get two opinions. If they match it's comforting and if they are really different you have something interesting to think about. I also agree to some extent to choose a Dr before a clinic. Once it came to IVF for me the clinic came into it as well as the Dr and I changed, not because I didn't love my current Dr (I did) but because there was another Dr I also really liked and trusted at a clinic that was a better match to my IVF needs. I was thinking about things like:

hours/days of operation (some clinics are 7 days for monitoring but not procedures so get a really clear answer to this question)
do they do EPU under general or sedation?
do they do blast or earlier transfers routinely?
If they don't do blast transfers routinely how much DO they do them?
if they offer pgd what day do they do it (we didn't do pgd but we might in the future)
reputation of the lab
obviously success rates

doing procedures 7 days (because I have a completely unpredictable cycle, even on drugs) and EPU under sedation not general were particularly critical to me.

Remeber that the best for IVF may not be the best Dr for avoiding IVF. The best Dr for you may depend on your diagnosis and that is another reason to get two opinions. If you have blocked tubes or DH needs TESA well go to the best IVF Dr you can find. If your problems are not so drastic you may want someone who really believes that OI and IUI are worth a good shot before moving on.

I don't mean to be rude but Drs are like hairdressers they don't necessarily all excel at the same things - some are great colourists, some are great cutters, if you see what I mean? It's ok to change Drs if your needs change. Having done it, it's not easy and I wouldn't do it lightly but it is something to think about and therefore good to know who is out there.

[scholar]

Like Roz, I chose a Dr rather than a particular clinic.

My gyno (which I highly admire) really recommended Dr Graeme Hughes to myself, so that's why I have gone with him. As it is, it's actually turned out for the best, as the clinic is very close to my work, so that's a bonus for me!



TTC # 1 Aug04
Sep05 Lap/Hyst/D & C - Grade 3 endo, sluggish tubes
IVF - commenced GonalF injections

[charlie10]

Hi Kirby,

I am using Frank Quinn at Chatswood.

My friend used him and on the 2nd IVF she got BFP with #1 and 3rd IVF she got BFP with #2.

I have also heard good reports for Ric Porter at Chatswood - but personally don't know him.

I think it does really depend on where you work and live. For me, I work and live near Chatswood and work does not know I am doing IVF, and I managed to go through the 1st cycle with no one at work knowing.
I could not have managed going into the city without telling people at work.

I tossed up b/t SIVF and IVFA for ages - but decided with Chatswood due to closeness and I preferred Frank to the doctor I saw at SIVF.

Charlie

[icsipixie]

Your doctor is a very important person in the success of your treatment but don't underestimate the role the scientists have, especially if you need ICSI. It is also very important that you are comfortable with the other staff ie. clerical and nursing as they are the ones you have most contact with. You don't want to be going to a place everyday where you don't like the people. For these reasons I would go see both clinics (and I think 2 opinions are a good idea) and make sure you do a tour, speak to the staff that you will be dealing with. One clinic might give you a 'better' feeling. Good luck and sending you lots of baby energy