Perth Fertility clinics - any advise?

[Krikkit]

Hi marcellus

I am at pivet.

I can tell you Mondays are busy (normal!) always before 9am. The nurses are ok - busy and can be under a lot of pressure. I imagine that place wouldn't function very well without those nurses, so I do give them a bit of a break of they are crappy! LOL.

I don't think the main doctor is consulting any more, but he may see previous patients- well thats what I was told by the reception when I tried to make my initial appointment. He still does Lap surgery though. The doctor I have seen is lovely - and really understanding and intelligent. I have been seeing him this stim cycle as last cycle I had 3 different FS during the whole thing! VERY ANNOYING.

I have noticed that if you try to get an appointment with an FS - they will just fit you in with who ever is available, I now ask SPECIFICALLY for my doctor.

as far as OHSS - I spoke with the Scientific Director on Friday and they have a 0.5% amount of this happening, where as a few years ago it was around 5% or 6%

I would recommend them.

[onthefly]

Thanks!
I hear you on the different docs. When I was there I was glad to get different ones though - mine always seemed available, but didn't want him
I know what you mean about the nurses. It's just so hard when you're first starting out and don't know anything. I needed someone to sit me down and tell me everything, rather than just asking if I had any questions. Sometimes you don't know enough to know what to ask!
That's good to hear on the OHSS front too. We'll be doing FETs to start with, so hopefully less chance of that anyway. Although, last time I was on cetrotide (?) which is supposed to stop you getting OHSS....
Cheers ~~

[nitzerette]

I would just like to write an update. I was at Hollywood, but decided that a change was in order. I checked out Concept which seemed ok and also checked out FSWA which seemed to get a lot of good opinion reports on the forums.

I ended up going to a Prof at FSWA. He and I don't really see eye to eye on things - a bit of a personality conflict - I find him rather arrogant. BUT, he seemed to know what he was talking about on certain things. Could look at various blood test results (not even really related to IF) and say, well this means this and this could contribute to this etc. Loved the personality of my doc at Hollywood, but he didn't seem to have the knowledge behind him.

In the end, it was one Dr that did the EPU, another that kept in contact about the PGS testing and yet another who did the transfer (she was great - didn't feel a thing - whereas in past have had uncomfortable ones) and of course the nurses. So MY doctor didn't really have anything to do with it. I find the nurses generally quite helpful and answer all your questions without rushing you.

I did have trouble reaching a nurse one day when I realised i had some bleeding - the receptionist told me they were busy doing morning scans and bloods and wouldn't let me talk to them to find out what i should do - that was upsetting since that is how my m/c's started in the past.

So I think I would say that i prefer FSWA much better than my experience at HW - and I don't think that is just because of the positive outcome. I felt more like a person this time and less like just a number.

[onthefly]

Hi
Because of the threat of legal action, we request that you refrain from mentioning doctors by name. Please use the PM function to pass on details.
Thanks,

[~BecD~]

nitzerette - FSWA is a good clinic, I liked it but have had to move on as they dont have donor sperm available Going to miss my doctors there.

However the one thing was that they all worked on certain days and if your epu or transfer wasnt on those days, then you got whoever else was on duty - a bit rich considering they are the most expensive clinic in perth! Luckily all of the doctors are lovely, but it still would be nice for that continuity of care

[jeanlouise]

Hi everyone,

I am new here. Like most of you, I am finding comfort in reading all these posts from people who are in a similar situation as myself. First, good luck to all of you, if you are still trying and congratulations to all who have succeeded.

Until the last few months, I had no idea trying to conceive would be so difficult, and such an emotional roller coaster ride! It's only now that I realise people with children are the luckiest people on earth!

Anyway, I am writing here in the hopes that some would be able to tell me the whereabouts of Dr Chris Nichols. I made a phone call to Concept just a moment ago and was told that he is no longer with them and would not tell me where we's gone. Does anyone know?

I have a booking with Fertility North but our appointment is not until 11 February and as many of you would understand, that seems like a long wait. I have read many great things about Dr Nichols so I am trying to track him down.

Can anyone help, please?

[nitzerette]

Dr Christopher Nichols
(also Obstetrician & Gynaecologist)
Fertility Specialists South
Consulting Suites
1st Floor, 764 Canning Highway
Applecross 6153
Ph: 9316 8832
Fax: 9316 8819

Jean
I was going to PM you, but maybe as a new member you can't do messages yet because i couldn't find a way to do it. Anyway, I hope the above is current info. But I know that he wasn't at Hollywood or FSWA, I checked the Pivet website for you and you checked the other 2.
From my experience, getting an appointment that is "only" (yes I know it feels like forever) a month away is actually quite good. You can ask to go on a waiting list if your schedule is quite flexible. Best of luck!!!

[jeanlouise]

Thank you so much Nitzerette for the quick reply.
Thanks for checking out the other clinics for me. I guess Applecross is quite far if I'll be doing tonnes of tests. I also just rang to see when Dr Nichols will be next available and they said it's early March.

I have done further reading on Fertility North and I'm getting more and more comfortable with it. The fact that it is a boutique clinic also appeals to me. You are right, a month's wait, I guess, is pretty good. I tried to make an appointment with Dr Lucy Williams at Concept, and the earliest is in April. That would be torture!

I am going to try to work out how to do this PM thing ...

Thanks again, Nitzerette.

Dr Christopher Nichols
(also Obstetrician & Gynaecologist)
Fertility Specialists South
Consulting Suites
1st Floor, 764 Canning Highway
Applecross 6153
Ph: 9316 8832
Fax: 9316 8819

Jean
I was going to PM you, but maybe as a new member you can't do messages yet because i couldn't find a way to do it. Anyway, I hope the above is current info. But I know that he wasn't at Hollywood or FSWA, I checked the Pivet website for you and you checked the other 2.
From my experience, getting an appointment that is "only" (yes I know it feels like forever) a month away is actually quite good. You can ask to go on a waiting list if your schedule is quite flexible. Best of luck!!!

[jeanlouise]

Hi Nitzerette,

I don't know why my reply to you earlier has not been uploaded!?!
Did you get a notification at all?

I'm new to all this, sorry!

[nitzerette]

Nope, no earlier reply.

[Sequoia]

I thought Dr Nichols was at FSWA South, but I think they may only do scans and bloods there? I'm not sure about transfers. I'm at FSWA too, I can't comment on other clinics but I'm happy with the care I receive there. PM me if you want to know who I see.

Marcellus, can I say his surname starts with an A??

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

We have our first appt with FSS on the 20th, with Dr CN - I'm glad he seems so popular!

Can anyone tell me what to expect on the first visit?

[nitzerette]

FS South do basically everything. There was an article in the paper a few months ago talking about them and had a picture of the first baby born from their, uh, handywork.

[jeanlouise]

Hi Nitzerette,

I replied to you yesterday but it wasn't uploaded or something went wrong. Anyway, I'll try again today:


Thanks for your quick reply! Thanks for finding out Dr Nichol's whereabouts. I guess Applecross is quite far from where I live. I gave them a call though and he won't be available until early March. I also tried to book with Dr Lucy Williams at Concept but she won't be available until April! Wow, that would be torture!

Anyway, I have done further reading on Fertility North and I'm more and more comfortable with it due to positive feedback. The fact that it's a boutique clinic is also a plus for me. I have also read that they have also expanded and renovated their premises! I'm getting a bit excited and anxious now. You're right, a month's wait is not really that bad, I guess.

Thanks, again!

[nitzerette]

Good luck ladies on your first appointments and your following treatments. Write down all your questions before you go. Hopefully your partners can go with you.

What is a boutique clinic?

I have been through a lot of treatments, meds, procedures etc, and been to 3 different clinics, so feel free to PM me and I can speak from my perspective. I am also a part of a support group in WA that gets together about 1ce a month if that is of interest to you.

[Emmaling]

Hi All,

Just to say I am with Fertility North and think they are great. The nurses there are wonderful and although I have had two failed IVF attempts with them previously I am booked to go back again in Feb.

[sunshine 11]

I have only been at Concept, and have found them to be good generally. They have moved to an amazing new building, but I have found some of the processes need some ironing out - like getting to a ET appointment then having to wait two hours before the transfer without having any idea what is going on. The nurses do seem to always want to give you the information then get you off the phone - I know they aren't counsellors but I think there is a lot of assumption about how much you know about the process. Last months FET I didn't get any meds sheet and had no idea what I was supposed to take and when, they just assumed I knew.
I wouldn't move because I am happy with my doctor - he's pretty gruff but he knows what he is doing, and like many of these docs, he spends all his time (seven days a week) helping women like us try and make babies

[nenequeen]

Hello All

I have really enjoyed reading all of the posts on her.
When I was 30 in my wisdom I had a tubal ligation...then split with my husband of 14 years.
My New partner and I desperatly want children and have had 2 unsuccessful IVF attemps at Hollywood and have been thinking about having my tubes reconnected.
Each attempt they have only got a few eggs..1 the first time and 4 the secong.
Wondering what your thoughts are and if anyone has attempted this proceedure before.

Jenine
Me (36) Partner (35)