Newbie - need ICSI and confused - please help with some questions!

Hello everyone, this is my first post here and im really hoping that someone can possibly help with my questions. Ive only had a few days to take in our situation being that my partner has severe sperm issues and that we need ICSI and really need some help understanding a few things.

Im 27 and my partner is 33, we have been TTC for just under a year. I have a prolactinoma (benign pitutary tumour) which we though was causing us the problems however its fully under control, im ovulating and everything seems to be fine with me.

We have been advised that due to my partners low sperm count (1st SA - 86,000. 2nd SA - 4million (!!! Bit of a difference but still very low) and very poor motility - 6%) that our only hope of having a baby is to have ICSI. We saw Dr Hossam Elzeiny at Melbourne IVF last Thursday and came away unbelievably confused and upset! However after reading 99% of the posts on here I feel much more confident about the process and what it involves (thanks) but still have a few questions that im hoping some of you who are going through the same thing might be able to help with.. :pray:

First of all we were advised by the doctor that the approx cost of the full treatment will be around $12,000. Our massive problem is that we are both from the UK, we are here on a temporary working visa and although we have been here for 2.5years and intend to stay for the next few years at least (possibly even long term with Perm Res but it depends on how we can cope being away from family for such a long time) and we have the Medicare reciprocal agreement, this only covers urgent medical costs, bloodtests, GP visits etc and not ICSI! After the initial shock on Thursday of how much it is going to cost us to have a family we have managed to pull together the money to enable us to start in 6-8weeks. So with regards to costs I have a few questions:

Do the costs vary per consultant? ie we are currently seeing Dr Hossam Elzeiny, if we were to change consultants within Melbourne IVF would the price differ? Id like to try and get the $12,000 down a little but not by compromising on the doctors skills!

From your own experience do you have an approx full cost of your treatment? In our case this would be not including any rebates from Medicare.

Has anyone else used Dr Hossam Elzeiny? And if so, was your treatment successful? As I am new to this, would you say that he is a good consultant? Given that its going to cost us so much money, would you recommended using a different consultant who has more experience? Is there any records of each consultants success rates?

Finally (and probably my most worrying question) can anyone tell me that if our first ICSI cycle didnt result in a pregnancy and we were able to freeze remaining embryos to use on the next cycle, how much is it likely to cost us to try again? I understand that we wont have the costs of drugs, egg retrieval etc but I just wanted to get an idea of the costs going forwards should it not work first time because the costs are quite scary! Also given my age (27), but also the fact that my partners sperm motility is so bad, do you think we have a decent chance at least of a few of my eggs being fertilised?

Im trying to stay as positive as possible and accept how much it will cost us, but its tough. In the back of my mind I cant help but think what happens if we keep on trying and run out of money and are never able to have a family... However I have to stay positive to get through this.

I really do feel for all you ladies out there going through this, I have barely started and am feeling the stress and upset. Unfortunately we also have the $12,000 issue aswell! :doh:

Anything anyone can advise us would be a massive help - thankyou in advance and lots of :bluedust: to everyone.

Lindsay XXX

Hi Lindsay

My husband and I are also going through IVF/ICSI. We have just started our 4th IVF cycle (which is our 3rd stimulated cycle, as we've had one frozen embryo cycle). Not sure if I can really help re the costs thing, as our clinic seems quite different to yours. Our clinic is only new, and they don't charge extra to do ICSI. So the ICSI cycle costs the same as a normal IVF stimulated cycle. Our up front cost is just over $7000, and with Medicare rebate (after reaching the threshold), we'll get about $6000 of that back (day surgery costs are extra though, and not included in the $7000 for us).

Regarding subsequent (frozen) cycles, you should find that the cost will be significantly less (well it is at our clinic anyway). A frozen embryo transfer cycle for us costs about $2700 up front, and we'll only be out of pocket about $450 of that.

Not sure if any of that helps, but good luck with everything.

Wishes xoxo

Hi Lindsay,

firstly, I'm sorry you find yourself in this situation, it's hard to take in at first so big hugs to you. I have done ICSI at Melbourne IVF, and am about to again. My current fees document has a Stimulated IVF cycle with ICSI at $4,550 up front. as far as i know the costs do not vary based on who you are seeing. Add to this extra's for medication (a few hundred and maybe the hospital fee for the egg pick-up ($800). I cannot understand where the $12000 comes from! Are you doing PGD? (Pre-implatation genetic Diagnosis - where they genetically test embryo's) - this is an extra $3,280.

I suggest you call the Patient liason officer there and ask for a detailed costing - you will have a compulsary appointment with them before you get started at Melb IVF.

I don't know if this helps you at all but so far total cost for us has been over $15,000 - that is 1 full stim cycle, 6 frozen transfers, all medications, hospital fees, new patient fee, acupuncture. this is before medicare rebates, which I believe don't apply to you. Maybe your FS was giving you the $12,000 figure as an estimate of total treatment costs overall?

A cycle where you transfer a frozen embryo costs $1,675 at the moment at Melb IVF.

Best of luck with everything, I hope you get your family very soon.

ETA - of the $15000 i told you above about $10000 is for the repeated frozen transfers......

hello and welcome

Im only new to this whole thing myself, we are on our first IVF/ICSI cycle. Our doc and clinic (mind you I am in WA) has quoted us roughly $5500 all up before any medicare rebates so if I were you I would definitly look into it a bit further.

Best of luck with your TTC journey I hope its a short one ((hugs))

Hi Lindsay,

Sorry to hear you have joined the many couples who need assisted conception. But at least you know now and you can begin your new journey.

I am at MIVF with my first cycle and treatment - ICSI cycle.

I am not sure where they get the $12,000 either and have not heard of your FS.

My FS is Scott Pearce and he is lovely to deal with, has rooms at Mt Waverley and also at Canbrini.

My costs so far:

Appointments with FS - $80 each
New patient admin fee at MIVF - $265
ICSI cycle (payable up front) $5300
Egg collection aprox $850 - I am not sure of exact cost as I have health insurance

And as far as I know this is the main costs.

Infinity has said a frozen embryon transfer is $1675 so that will be extra if you are not successful the first time and provided you have some embys to freeze.

As per someone's elses advice - I would call patient liason team at MIVF and talk to them about the costs. Once you go ahead you have a compulsory accounts appnt. Ask if you can have an accnts appointment before you decide what to do so you get a better understanding of it all. Also I am sure they can tell you if different FS's have different costs.

I don't know how much the different clinics costs vary - but maybe once you understand the terminology better (cos I know it takes time) and you know what specifically you need, call Monash IVF and I think there is an Australia IVF - just google it and see how you go.

If you have any other questions this is a really good place to put them out there - as everyone is so helpful and knowledgeable and more importantly it is a great group of support too.

Good luck.

Hi Lindsay,

My DH and I are also going through MIVF with IVF/ICSI, and Dr Elzainy performed one of my FETs - he's really lovely, a total charmer, but he's not my regular FS.

I can't comment much on the costs, except to say that I don't think it will vary if you change FS and remain with MIVF. I can also tell you that a FET at MIVF is $1675 - I end up $360 out of pocket after the Medicare rebate.

ICSI has revolutionised fertility treatments, and whilst I know you're probably feeling overwhelmed and confused at the moment, the fact that they're recommended ICSI up front is a good thing - it means the FS is taking the results seriously and not farting around with IUIs and IVF when ICSI is the only thing that might work for you. I wish you all the best - we had some really great results from our stim cycle, and got lots of embryos with ICSI that probably wouldn't have happened if we hadn't done ICSI. My poor DH's little marching men do not march very fast or in the right direction.

Good luck. Feel free to ask lots of questions, both on here and of your FS.

Seph

Dr Elzeiny is my IVF specialsit, we'd tried alot with a cxouple of other specialists but found hium to be the most patient, thoughtful and sensitive to our needs. I'd definitely recommend him. I know the whole process can seem quite overwhelming at first but really with the right doctor on board a difficult experience could be made all the better. I'm now 20 weeks and we're so excited!!! Dr Elzeiny has also agreed to be our obstetrician which means we get the continuity of care and don't have to doctor shop any more :dance::clap:

Hi Lindsay,

I'm also new to this. Currently on my first stim cycle with SIVF, and the costs are a bit daunting.

It might not be much use to you if you don't wish to go back for a few years, but did you know the NHS will cover all your costs of 3 cycles? I'm British (perm resident) with an Aussie husband, so we are thankfully both eligible for the medicare rebates. A friend of mine had her beautiful twin boys about 4 years ago doing IVF through the NHS. She never complained about the service, but she did have to wait about 6 months before she could start (though I don't know why).

Our costs with SIVF are around $8000 per cycle before the rebates. But I have to say the level of patient care and attention at the clinic is incredibly high, and so I feel like it is worth it. I'm not sure you would get the same instant service with the NHS that you do going privately. But the NHS might be an option to consider if you aren't staying in Oz permanently:

NHS IVF and Fertility Treatment – Funding Options

Best of luck with it, I hope it all works out for you :crossfingers:
Debba

We are hoping to start our 1st IVF cycle soon but would like to no what are the total costs of a cycle and how much of that do you claim back through medicare?

Hi lovebug

Costs vary from clinic to clinic, but to give you an idea, my last collection and transfer came to just over $4000 out of pocket. The upfront costs were just over $10,000. Of the $10,000, there was about $1500 that couldn't be claimed from medicare - for accommodation, medications, and the clinics fees - so of the claimable stuff I got about 45% back.

Frozen transfers are cheaper. My last one was about $1200 out of pocket ($2800 up front)

The main thing that will make a difference is the mark up your specialist and clinic adds to the medicare rebate level for each item. For example, the big one in ivf is item 12300 (ART services - initial cycle), which medicare will refund up to $5000. My clinic charges $7000, so there's $2000 out of pocket straight away. Specialist fees make a big difference too - my last anaesthetist charged $400, and I got $100 back, whereas the previous guy only charged $200 (still $100 back)

If you need ICSI as well that will add $500 - 800 to your bill (about $500 is rebated)

Hope that helps - good luck!

Hi

I am about to start an IVF/ICSI full stim cycle at MIVF and it I need to pay $8500 before treatment starts (will get about $4000 back from Medicare), then the egg pickup is about $850 at the Epworth Freemasons (or about $400 at the Royal Women's) as well as about $350 for the anaesthetist. THis is not covered by Medicare. The drugs you take you also need to purchase. Not sure how much they are but I am expecting they will be a couple of hundred dollars or so.

Frozen transfers are about $2000 with $1000 or so able to be claimed.

Needless to say, I am hoping I get a LOT of good eggs in the first cycle!!!

Good luck :)

n2l