IVF advice

Hi ladies,

My DH and I are investigating IVF through RPA in Sydney and have been told it will cost approx $1300/ cycle. One test I have been offered prior to this to see whether there is any fallopian tube damage or uterine scarring (because of TTC #2 for over 2 years) will cost around $700. Should we just bypass that test and just spend a bit more to have IVF since our FS thinks we have a really good chance of concieving that way? My reasoning is that if it shows in the ultrasound that I do have damage then IVF is the only option from there anyway and we will have spent all that money for nothing.

Thoughts? Thankyou :)

Hi Soph,

Firstly, that's very cheap!!! Is that your out of pocket expenses? I know my antagonist cycle cost over $5000 up front, plus hospital costs, drugs etc..., and we only got our Medicare rebate back AFTER the cycle finished.

Anyway, forgive me for asking such basic questions but I assume you and DH have had other tests done (bloods, semen analysis etc) to rule out other causes and this is why your FS has suggested the $700 test? And if they do find damage and/or scarring is there nothing they can do other than straight to IVF?

IVF is not easy - if I could have avoided it I would have, but DH had severe sperm issues and we had to go straight to IVF/ICSI as we had zero chance of conceiving naturally. I hope this doesn't sound patronizing or rude, but given your age, I think I'd be looking at the $700 test first. But that's just my opinion and I know if I were in your shoes I'd probably be too impatient to wait and jump straight into IVF...!

Good luck in your journey xx

hi Soph,

i saw a specialist in sydney today who also recommended the same test for me, her theory was there may be some scarring following my miscarriages etc and if we go on to have ivf it might not work because i have that scarring there so its better to get it checked and know all is fine in there before starting, they were her thoughts anyway

i can understand its hard because you want to make the right decision and get things moving, good luck with your decision :-)

Thanks for replying. My DH and I talked about it a bit more last night and decided to go ahead with the test to check for scarring (the FS thinks its a possibility that there might be scarring in my uterus from the birth of DD where they had to manually remove the placenta) in which case IVF might not work anyway. We are going to give it a couple more goes naturally and then pursue IVF. The good thing about IVF is that DH doesnt need to be here and he is going away with work for 6 months mid year. I know in theory if the test comes back negative then, in time, we have a chance to fall pg naturally, but there will already be an almost 5 year gap between children and I want to get the ball rolling. DH's job doesnt make things very easy either :)

Glad you've reached a decision you're both happy with, at least you can feel like you're actually doing something. I know I found the waiting times really frustrating, and just wanted to feel I was doing SOMETHING so I felt more in control of the whole process.

All the best,
Lise

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Glad you've reached a decision you're both happy with, at least you can feel like you're actually doing something. I know I found the waiting times really frustrating, and just wanted to feel I was doing SOMETHING so I felt more in control of the whole process.

All the best,
Lise

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Thanks, Lise. I do feel a lot better now we have a 'plan' of sorts. FX its works!

$1300 a cycle????!!!! WOW!!

Are you sure?? That is INCREDIBLY cheap! The first full stim cycle I did this year cost us about $5000 out of pocket. The second has been a little cheaper given we will get full medicare rebate having reached the threshold. But even the natural FET I am currently doing is about $1000 out of pocket....

Do you mind me asking why is it so cheap??

If it's true, it would be cheaper for me to fly from Melb to Sydney for treatment!!!

thanks :)

n2l

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$1300 a cycle????!!!! WOW!!

Are you sure?? That is INCREDIBLY cheap! The first full stim cycle I did this year cost us about $5000 out of pocket. The second has been a little cheaper given we will get full medicare rebate having reached the threshold. But even the natural FET I am currently doing is about $1000 out of pocket....

Do you mind me asking why is it so cheap??

If it's true, it would be cheaper for me to fly from Melb to Sydney for treatment!!!

thanks :)

n2l

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It costs that much after rebates etc apparently. Its that cheap because its through a public clinic at RPA, so there arent a lot of appointments and you have to be really flexible with times. A fair few of the tests I will have to have done privately just so I can fit them in the schedule so it will end up costing more.

I would still do the test just to make sure that the IVF is going to be the right thing for you - there may be other options that your FS wont consider unless he has a better idea of your internal condition. A friend went to the RPA clinic and swore by it. There was a long waiting list at the time, and like you said you have to be flexible but its well worth it when you save so much money! I also went to a public clinic with my first 2 and was very happy :D