Anyone with Fertility North, WA?

[sofhia]

Hi ladies!

Me and my fiance currently lives in NSW but are moving to WA in the end of November. We have done all tests with Westmead Fertility Centre and our FS recommends us to start with ivf. All tests were normal, but we have been trying for over a year and since I'm turning 32 soon we don't want to continue trying on our own any longer.

Since we are moving to WA shortly we are looking for a clinic over there and I have read lots of positive things about Fertility North. I was hoping someone here would like to share some information.

How much did you pay (before and after Medicare) for a normal IVF cycle with everything included? We don't have any private health insurance. How long did your IVF cycle take? How many times during the cycle did you have to go to the clinic? We will be living up in Newman so there will be some flying for us. How long waiting list do they have?

Thanks!
Regards,
Sofhia

[Ellie]

Hi!

Not much help with the costs as it's been a while since I've done a cycle but give them a call...ask to speak to the nurse manager...they are absolutely wonderful and I can't speak highly enough of the whole team. Good luck

[Alloy]

Hi Sofhia,

have you had a look at their website? It goes through the costs for the different cycles that you can do through the clinic.

Pre-payment Out-of Pocket Cost After
Maximum Safety Net Refund *
ICSI * $3121.20 $624.20
IVF * $2944.20 $588.80
FET $863.00 $172.60

* If you are not in a private health fund, you will be required to pay an anaesthetist fee of approximately $300.00 together with your pre-payment of procedure when undergoing IVF or ICSI. You would be eligible for a Medicare rebate of $98.55 on that portion of the fee. If you do have private health cover, you will need to contact your fund to determine how much of the remainder will be covered.

That's the information I got from the website.
I did IVF with Fertility North in Aug/September, and that fee included all the drugs, and I have private health cover, so I wasn't charged anything for the anaesthetist fee. I'm just finishing up an FET cycle, and I had to buy the drugs on top of the up front fee, but with the Puregon and Pregnyl, I was out around $120. The pessaries were included.
My IVF cycle took around 6 weeks, with me starting Synarel at day 21 of one cycle, and starting injections of Puregon on day 3 of the next cycle. I did have to go for regular blood tests, (I had a blood test to check my levels at the start of my first cycle, and then a blood test at day 21 to check my levels again, for starting Synarel. I had to ring the clinic on day 1 of my next cycle, and then go for another blood test on day 2. I started injecting Puregon on day 3, then back for a blood test on day 7. Another blood test plus an ultrasound on day 9. Day 12 was another blood test and ultrasound, and I triggered that night for egg pickup on day 14. Day 16 I was back to the clinic for an Embryo transfer, then another blood test on day 23. Pregnancy test was day 30.) Not sure how that would go commuting from Newman.
Maybe it would be best to ring the clinic and find out, but maybe you could do the blood tests locally, and just come to Perth for the Egg Pickup and Embryo Transfer. I'm not sure what they do with regional patients.

I'm really happy with how I've been treated through Fertility North, and the nurses are fantastic.

I hope this helps a little bit.
Best of luck in moving to WA!!

[~BecD~]

Hi Sofhia
Im not with Fertility North but I have only heard good things about them - if they weren't so far away from where I live/work, I would probably go there.
They are also one of the more affordable clinics in Perth - much cheaper than my clinic (FSWA)!

[ReggieB]

Hi Ladies

Ok so I have an appointment with Margo Norman on 28th May, but its such a long way away!

I can see Jay Natawala on the 15th May or Vince Chappelle on the 22nd May

What should I do!! should I wait for Margo - is she really that good?
Or are one of the other blokes ok?

thanks

[~BecD~]

Ive actually heard the best thinks about Vince - not to say that the others arent good, but all o my friends have used him and had positive results! And he is really persistent!

[ReggieB]

Thanks BecD! that is helpful...its only a week earlier than i can see margo but ill book in with him, ive read good things about him to...but Margo is always in the paper so it was a tough one!

[Lianne1]

Hi ReggieB,
I am currently going to Fertility North and they are lovely, the nurses are really great to deal with too. I am seeing Margo Norman, however I have dealth with Vince Chapple and Dr Jay Natalwala with my Frozen Embryo Transfers. They are all very lovely and I can not fault any of them. So easy to deal with and make you feel comfortable.
Also, in regards to their prices, they have gone up this year, so what is currently on their website is not correct, however if you call them, I am sure that they will be more then happy to give you the prices.
Good luck with your move, and good luck with the clinic.

[bextaj]

Hi everyone,

We have our first appointment with Dr Jay Natalwala tomorrow at Fertility North so will let you know how it goes!

After doing DH second sperm analysis there two weeks ago everyone was really nice so fingers crossed they were the right FS to choose.

Has anyone else used Dr Natalwala?

A bit about us, we have been TTC for over 3 years coming up to 4 and after struggling to get DH to do a sperm sample in September last year through Western Diagnostic and local GP a zero sperm result came back

Our GP assumed this was a bad sample and it took us nearly another six months before we organised to get a second sample done through Fertility North last month, unfortunatley we found out yesterday the second sample was also a zero sperm count so we will find out tomorrow what the next step is

I have been doing some google research and it looks as though for us we will need to use ICSI to conceive, if anyone else has had this proceedure with Fertility North could they let me know what to expect?

Thanks for your helpfor all!

[chamomille]

We had the same zero count situation but went to PIVET. It's a hard space to be in, isn't it? And lots of questions etc. My partner needed to have blood tests to determine his exact situation (hormone levels) and the result was they discovered he has the sperm but a blockage as well. If this is your situation, like us, you'll need to have the sperm retrieved as you've researched, and then you'll do IVF. If they can get to the sperm quite easily they just need to do a fine needle aspiration (I think that's what it's called). In our case it wasn't accessible that way so they did a biopsy. They'll do the least invassive procedure they can. It won't be any fun for your partner, needless to say, but it's so worth it all. And you'll have your turn of all sorts of procedures!!! Anyway, that is basically best case scenario. There are apparently some people who actually don't produce sperm at all. That's what the blood tests etc help to clarify. I wish you all the best with your endeavours to have a baby. Reading your post brought back alot of memories of our own situation a few years ago. Now we are blessed with a 19 month old daughter. I hope it all works out for you.

[bextaj]

Thanks chamomille

Well the verdict wasn't fantastic yesterday but there is still hope, we had to give gallons of blood samples as you suggested and fingers crossed these results along with a second sperm sample and ultrasound will proove DH does have sperm they are just blocked

Worse case cenario DH has a condition that affects his Y chromosome, we were told finding this is becoming more common as people are putting off having children until they are older and the Y chromosome defect increases with age after hitting puberty.

Both DH's dad and brother both had their children while in their early teen's late twenties and both DH and I are turning 30 this year, regardless of result our FS told us to have children we will need to use IVF ICSI

On a positive note everyone at Fertility North was wonderful, Dr Jay Natawala was really easy to understand and talked us through all the options and gave us the impression he had a lot of time for us and any of our questions so I would recommend him and Fertility North to anyone looking for a FS in Perth

[sunshine79]

Hi, im new to this forum so excuse me if i sound stupid, im 30 years old and last xmas eve i found out i have Poly Cystic ovarian Syndrome, and that im insulin restistant which is aparently caused for the pcos, my doc basically told me i would need Clomid to get me pregnant, so i was really disapointed, my Fiancee is 47 and as far as we know he is fine fertility wise. i went to see my doc last week to get the clomid and he couldnt give it to me and instead refered me to Dr Jay Natawala at Joondalup.

has anyone seen this specialist and does anyone know how much the consultation is and the Clomid without health insurance, i do however have a healthcare card but am not sure if its gonna make a difference.

If anyone has any information about anything could they please help me
thanks