Was wondering if anyone could recommend a FS in melbourne who specialises in women who are over 40? Or at the very least doesn't turn them away... A friend recently sought the help of a FS only to be told "due to your age it's a less than 2% chance of conception so we won't try IVF" and won't treat her
Unfortunately I do not have a name for you to PM - but can tell you that the response wasn't appropriate. I am over 40 and both Monash IVF and Melbourne IVF accepted me as a patient (the FSes I used at each don't specialize in over 40 and I'm not sure they treated me any different than any other patient except for starting me out on very high dosages). Perhaps it is also the doctor's prerogative, but I didn't get that sense - I felt like it was more about the clinic's rules.
As for the statistics - what your friend was told isn't far off. Should she proceed, she should go in with her eyes open...unlike myself who thought, well, if I can't get pregnant the way mother nature intended, IVF will do the trick. I learned the hard way this often isn't true...and more importantly (from my perspective), wasn't true for me.
Just to post for older women who may read this at some point ..
At 2 % your friend may have a particular problem, that reduces her percentage considerably.
I at 41, had a 17 % chance, and now at 42, have a 10 % chance
I know of two FS's in particular that are geared towards helping women with AMA, and they each try different teqnique's, one is on high dose FSH, and the other is low dose stims with the aim of letting nature select the best egg .
Your friend could try a medicated IUI each month, with monitering to increase her chance of natural conception
Thanks for your replies. My friend is pretty aware of the stats, I guess it was more the fact that this FS was refusing to offer her IVF due to the low chance. I've gone through IVF and I was pretty shocked at that response - my friend pretty much took it as meaning she should give up. This was before any investigations or anything!
I thought it might be helpful for her to see a FS who has treated over 40s before, rather than taking pot luck that she'd get someone helpful. I know of a friend who was 42 on her first cycle, so it can't be that unusual....! I'm pretty upset on her behalf. My FS was a bit detached, but I never encountered anything that insensitive.
Q for Mods - the replies with names wouldn't be defamatory - why can't names be posted when they are just replying to a request such as this rather than an opinion on whether someone is or isn't good? Thanks!
In OB/midwife rec forums we also ask members to use the PM function to pass on information. The problem is that if we only allow positive comments (thus avoiding legal problems) then that creates a bias in our forums (so it's not giving the whole story).
See defamation info here and changes to guidelines here
Hope that explains things.
Thanks Marcellus - I do understand that and have read those threads - however, this is only asking for names of FS who specialize in over 40's - I would think that this doesn't raise the same concerns (which of course are very valid) - it is also very valuable info and very, very hard to find.
Although I don't think the FS I used hold themselves out as specialists in over-40's but they were willing to treat me and I am (and was) over 40:
Dr Julie Whitehead at Melbourne IVF
Dr Lynn Burmeister at Monash IVF
Also, if I was starting all over again - and was 40 as opposed to what I am now which is going on 43 - I'd get myself on a plane to Brisbane (it would be worth it!) and see:
Dr Warren DeAmbrosis at Queensland Fertility Group who I understand is such a specialist although I don't have 1st hand knowledge of this.
Yes Dr Warren De Ambrosis is No 1 with 40 +.. We used him and fell first go with IVF although I am only 34 myself i have 2 friends 41 and 42 who used him and were succesful. If you can jump on that plane.. He does treat women from interstate, so that is no issue with him! Good Luck
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FS specialising in over 40s
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