IVF

[bek74]

I posted this in another section and it was suggested I post it here. Thankyou


Hi I am only new here and new to the whole IVF thing. I am married and have 3 wonderful sons ages 11yrs, 10yrs and 8yrs (this month). After my 3rd son I had my tubes clamped, I regreted it the moment I did it, but it was done. Well last year I had my tubes reversed only it was unsuccessful, both tubes remain blocked.
Hubby and I are looking into IVF, I have no idea which clinc to use or anything ( I am in Aspley Brisbane Qld).
So exactly what procedures would I need if I went through IVF, being it isn't an infertility issue it is the plumping that isn't working. What upfront costs would hubby and I be expected to pay out. I do have full Private Hospital 100% with no excess + Top extras cover ( not sure if makes much differnce in the pricing or not).

Any info on clincs, prices at differnent clincs and what kind of procedures would be involved.
I have no idea what so ever about IVF or any of this, so all the info you can give me would be sooooooooooo wonderful.

Thankyou everyone and I look forward to getting to know everyone.
I wish everyone a BFP

BEK

[Kmn]

Each clinic is different. They are all very good about explaining the whole process (what procedures will be done, how likely they are to succeed, and what things will cost) before you proceed.
For blocked tubes I think you would need to have hormone treatment (possibly the pill, followed by a nasal spray to shut down your own hormone production and then daily injections to stimulate multiple eggs to be released) - this made me feel pretty ordinary (tired, emotional and very scatterbrained). This process of ovarian stimulation is followed by ultrasounds and/or blood tests, and may be tweaked as you go to maximise the number of eggs available while minimising the risk of complications. Then there is a small surgical procedure to collect the eggs (takes a morning or so). The eggs are then fertilized and a few days later an embryo may be put into your uterus (a process that feels kinda like a pap smear). Then blood tests a couple of weeks later to see if things have worked.
If there are no complications then it is a much harder process emotionally than physically.

[bek74]

Thankyou. The whole idea scares the living dooly outta me. Having the injections, the whole egg collection, the lot.
Do you know what the usual upfront costs are??? or do you pay as you go. What price am I looking at with Private Health??
Sorry but we want another child and we already have 3 growing hungry boys, lol so budgeting is what we need to do.

Again thankyou.

[Kmn]

Costs vary hugely from clinic to clinic. Call the local clinics - I think the initial talk/info session is usually free and includes cost info. Payment plans, etc are possible.
The health insurance covers hospital costs but not lab costs
The medicare safety net helps with the Doctor's costs
Some of the remaining costs are tax-deductible
I would set aside 5-10 k to have a good go at ivf ('cause it make well take more than one round of stimulation/collection). If you make lots of good eggs and they can freeze some embryos then replanting frozen ones is much cheaper than a new stimulation/collection cycle.
The clinics work by having a "shopping list" of fees - so much for stimulation, so much for fertilizing, so much for ICSI (if they have to inject the sperm straight into the egg rather than let them find it themselves), so much for freezing, so much for replanting a frozen one and so on...

As for the injections - most of them are little ones done with a pen-like thingy, and much less icky than a vaccination-type injection. It's only the last one that is a "typical" injection. The surgery is very minor (no cuts or stitches or anything), and you will probably feel worse from the big change in hormones that accompanies it than you will from the surgery.
Hyperstimulation is a nasty potential complication - but they watch for that very carefully and do everything possible to avoid it.

[JBM]

good luck with it all, i am in similar circimstances as you exccept dh had chop not me. we did ICSI as only way to get dh sperm out was with big needle. i found i learnt the most once i did the whole process. i spent about $ 1800 out of pocket so far but as other say every clinic different. when do you have 1st fertility appointment?, hope all goes well.

[bek74]

good luck with it all, i am in similar circimstances as you exccept dh had chop not me. we did ICSI as only way to get dh sperm out was with big needle. i found i learnt the most once i did the whole process. i spent about $ 1800 out of pocket so far but as other say every clinic different. when do you have 1st fertility appointment?, hope all goes well.

I haven't booked myself in anywhere yet. I was thinking of trying one more time with my tubes. See when I had tha HSG test it showed the dye went past where my tubes were repaired but there is still a blockage. My Gyno is happy to go back in and see what is going on and if it can be fixed, but he also said that IVF may be my better bet.
I want more than 1 more child, hubby and I were thinking of 2 more. I don't think I could afford IVF twice,infact just once will be stretching our budget.
Also I don't know what clinics are around here in Brisbane and Pricing is an important roll with the currents costs of living these days.
If I go for IVF it will be Feb next year or I may try for another operation in Jan after Christmas etc.
I really am not sure yet. The only thing I am sure of is that I would like more children and I am scared it won't happen.
I think what makes it so frustrating is that I did this to myself. I was young, paniced and preasurred into it by friends and inlaws,long story.

Thanks for your reply