Hello Again All!

[Mel_B1981]

No one at Monash IVF has suggested PGD to us on any of our appointments yet... so not at all sure what it looks at or whether or not we need it.

[nothing2lose]

PGD is used when you are at risk of chromosomal disorders.

I think what you have been quoted at Monash is still pretty high. I may be wrong but I don't think ICSI makes it that more expensive.

Just wondering how you will do a cycle interstate with all of the lead up scans and reviews??? Wouldn't accommodation and travel make it more expensive???

Is there a waiting list??

[~ Mylitta ~]

I think what you have been quoted at Monash is still pretty high. I may be wrong but I don't think ICSI makes it that more expensive.

Our second cycle with Monash IVF was an ICSI cycle. They decided to do it that way rather than the standard pop-the-sperm-in-with-the-eggs-and-let-them-do-their-thing (lol!) as it didn't cost any extra and they apparently usually have a higher fertilisation rate. Strangely for us our fertilisation rate was higher with the more "natural" way than with ICSI (63% vs. 52%).

[Mel_B1981]

PGD is used when you are at risk of chromosomal disorders.

I think what you have been quoted at Monash is still pretty high. I may be wrong but I don't think ICSI makes it that more expensive.

Just wondering how you will do a cycle interstate with all of the lead up scans and reviews??? Wouldn't accommodation and travel make it more expensive???

Is there a waiting list??

Ahhh that's probably why no one has mentioned PGD to us - the only reason we're using IVF is due to hubby having a vasectomy during his previous marriage. It's too late for a reversal, so IVF is the only option.

The costs from Monash IVF includes everything we would be charged for, including anaestioligist (can never remember proper spelling for that one so I hope you understand what I mean! LOL), hospital bed charges etc. The only thing not covered in that cost is Specialist appointments with our chosen doctor.

I spoke in length with RPA y/day and they said it should be relatively easy - some stuff will not require us going interstate for it it can be done here in Victoria and results sent to them. They recommend we stay in Sydney for the hormone treatment period cause they'd only be able to give 36 hours notice of when egg harvest would be occuring.

Apparently they do interstate patients all the time and working out the logistics is relatively easy... hotel costs aren't something we've even factored in as we have family in Sydney we could stay with and a friend has offered assistance with transportation while there to avoid public transport / hire car.

I will look into MIVF tho - I was unaware they even existed - everyone I've spoken to to date has told me Monash IVF is the only option if you are Victorian...

[myturn]

I am with MIVF, but there is also city fertility, and as I said my understanding is the women's hospital does it too.

[Mel_B1981]

Thanks all - I'll look into the Victorian options before jumping. If I can avoid the travel it would be great, it's one of those things where no matter where we go it's going to involve travel being we are from country Victoria....but if I can stay in Victoria it would be preferrable!

[nothing2lose]

I am with MIVF. The Women's is run by MiVF too, but it is cheaper because it is public.

The main differences are continuity of care (as far as I can tell). You have a different specialist each time - whoever is on 'duty', rather than use your own FS. At least, that's my understanding. Oh, and of course, the waiting list.

[Mel_B1981]

I am with MIVF. The Women's is run by MiVF too, but it is cheaper because it is public.

The main differences are continuity of care (as far as I can tell). You have a different specialist each time - whoever is on 'duty', rather than use your own FS. At least, that's my understanding. Oh, and of course, the waiting list.

I don't mind going public if it means we can achieve our goals of trying IVF.

I'm just getting really depressed as we get so close to having the money there and then something happens and it all disappears.....not to mention the fact that I don't want to be much older than I am now.

[nothing2lose]

I would ring Reproductive Services at the Women's and have a chat about the public system here in Vic.

[Pholi]

How wonderful to have found a way to try again sooneer!

PGD is only for when one or both of you have a known genetic disorder that they are looking for - ie, Cystic fibrosis or muscular distrophy. Then they take a few cells from each embryo before freezing them , and test them, and only transfer ones that will not develop the condition you're trying to avoid. I presume you and partner will have had the standard blood tests to look for the range of common things, and answered questions regarding any genetic diseases in your family, and came up clear. This is why PGD probably was never discussed. If you did need it, it adds a heap of extra expense to the process, too. Legally, they're not allowed to offer it for gender selection purposes for family balancing, only if there's a sex-linked genetic disorder present.

Just for comparison's sake, our up front cost at Hollywood Fertility Centre in Perth for ICSI was just over $7000, but we got just over $5000 of that back from Medicare. Oh, and a few hundred from HBF. Thanks, HBF, after 30 years of paying up to $100 a month. that doesn't incluse the cost of the FS appointments and the testing we had leading up to the decision to go for ICSI, which was around $3000, of which we got about $200 back from medicare. But you've obviously done all of that already.

Have you tried contacting other melbourne clinics to get prices? Like others, I think you should consider the potential extra cost of travel (especially for last minute air tickets) , and the extra stresses involved with travelling during IVF.