New to all this

[Mrs Allan]

Hi There,

Just wanted to introduce myself and hopefully someone can give me some info.

Hubby and I (we were married late last year) have decided that we want to have a baby, but he had a vasectomy two years ago. He did some banking before he had the snip performed though. I've been to see the local GP for a referral and have an appointment with Dr Downing next Wednesday (not sure what will even happen at that apt? Maybe just an intro?)

Can anyone tell me what to expect from now on starting with the very first appointment? I'm healthy and have no medical issues (in a reproductive sense) that I am aware of anyway and hubby has two children from a previous marriage so I am assuming it would be IUI that they would use for us?

Any info would be greatly appreciated and I look forward to everyones responses.

Cheers

[kittykatz]

:wave: Hi Mrs Allan. Welcome to bubhub. I don't know much about IVF, but maybe someone in the IVF thread can help you out?

Good luck!

[Mrs Allan]

Hi, and thanks for the reply

I did post in there but then thought because IUI is not technically IVF that I'd posted in the wrong spot....

No one has replied anyway???

[SundaysChild]

I worked with a girl in the same situation a number of years ago. Her hubby had two kids from a previous marriage too and had had the vasectomy. They went IVF and had IUI (I am pretty sure) and fell pregnant on the first attempt. Their Dr had also said it was better to go down the IVF road than it was to try a vasectomy reversal. Good luck at your appointment, would probably be an intro and a questions session.

Congratulations on TTC :)

..Sun

[springbride]

Welcome Mrs Allan:wave:

Good Luck with your TTC, :fingerscrossed: your bub comes sooner rather than later:babydust2:

[Mrs Allan]

Thanks for the replies!

I really hope it works first time round (as does everyone TTC I'm sure)

I'm very excited and also scared / nervous about potentially becoming a mum, but I'm sure everyone feels this way when they are TTC.

Apt is next wednesday... I'm sure it will be just a Q&A session and investigative type stuff from the Doc.. The forms and info they sent me states that there is a 3 month waiting period for appointments, yet I managed to get one within two weeks from when I called. Is that because I got a cancellation or because its just an into apt. Does that mean after the initial apt there is a 3 month wait?

Oh, I don't know, I'm blabbering out loud now!

If anyone else can share their IUI experience, I'd be grateful :)

And happy Valentines day to everyone!

[singa06]

Hi,
I am about to have IUI in early April.
I had an app last week with FS and he arranged for me to join Monash IVF (IUI falls underneath the IVF umbrella...that word scared the hell out of me!)
Next week Dh and I have to go in for blood tests, I have an Ultra sound and Dh is having sperm analysis.
3 weeks after that I have app with FS to go over results then we begin once next period arrives.
So total wait for me for IUI to start(from 1st visit) will be around 7-8 weeks. (Private)

I have no idea what to expect as well!
Maybe we can share this journey together, feel free to Pm me or we can chat through this forum...

GOOD LUCK!

[Mrs Allan]

Thank you Singa!!!!

That's exactly the info I was looking for.... Oh, thank you! It's so scary not knowing what to expect.

Question, what do you mean by private? Meaning non-medicare? I just signed up for Health Insurance last week but of course there is a 12 month waiting on preg, gynae etc.

I would so love to share this experience with someone who is experiencing it too! I'll be sure to keep posting in here!

Mrs Allan

[singa06]

Your welcome!


From what I know all out-patient costs (blood tests, ultra sounds) give you a refund from medicare (30%-80%), but being at a private clinic, my tests are a little more expensive. Eg a blood tests for me will be $292 and I will get back $167 from medicare (so out of pocket $124). I think that if I was at a public hospital (eg Royal Womens) the costs are cheaper (more is covered by medicare)

If I have to stay in hospital (in-patient) then my private health insurance will cover most of the costs. I am assuming that if I wasn't a private patient then I would have to go to a public hospital because it would be too expensive. (Hence why people go to public in an emergency, medicare covers the cost, but if you go to a private hospital, it is out of your own pocket unless you have private cover)

I am not 100%, but some of the ladies in IVF would know a lot more.


I hope this wasn't too confusing.

I am going to stay with Monash IVF because I really like my FS as I have had lots of recommendations to him, however if it ends up being to expensive then I may consider trying Melbourne IVF (heard it's a little cheaper) or I might even go Royal Womens (public).

So I guess to answer your question, Medicare will not cover IN-PATIENT costs in a private hospital (if they put an id wrist band on you), but they will cover out-patient (blood test etc).

[Mrs Allan]

Hi Singha,

Thanks for that, it was good of you to explain.

First appointment is tomorrow so I am a little nervous but we're both very excited!

Will let you know how I get on tomorrow!

[KatiesMum]

Singa is 100% on the costs ..... each test/appt/cycle etc has a set schedule fee which is refundable from medicare (eg if the BT is $100 medicare may cover $30-$60) the balance is your out of pocket expense ...hwoever once you reach the medicare saftely net (ahve paid $1500 in out of pocket expenses) medicare will also pay 80% of the balance ....so in the example above, if the schedule was $30 medicare would pay the $30, then 80% of the balance...

This goes for all IVF costs from your clinic. As singa says, if the actual proceedure is done in a hospy then you will also have hospital fees - which would normally be covered by Private Health if you have it. Having jsut joined, the IVF/IUI will not be covered for 12 months from when you join ..... but the waiting period for maternity is 12 months also - meaning as long as you have been a member for 3 - 4 months before getting pregnant you are covered.

If you have frozen sperm, you have a choice of IUI or IVF. IUI is less invasive, less expensive and easier on your body .... but doesnt have as good a success rate - though remember success rates are based on the combination of everyones problems .... so becuase you and DH should be otherwise fertile (ie you are only doing this because he had the snip, not becuase of infertility) then most FS's will suggest IUI.

Basically from what I understand, they defrost the sperm, 'wash it' or take out all of the semen/mucuos that allows it to travel the distance etc (dont need as sperm is being inserted directly into uterus) which also allows much greater concentration etc and insert it into your uturus in a 'papsmear like' proceedure.

Anyway - let us know how you get on tomorrow ......and wishing you the best of luck

:flowerz: :flowerz: :flowerz: :flowerz:

[singa06]

Good luck Mrs Allan!!! Let me know how you go!

KatiesMum, I am glad that I was right!
I am hoping that IUI will work for us as I have fallen pregnant before (m/c) and have had 2 chemical pregnancies, so I am assuming I have poor egg quality and that the tablets/injections will help that! Or perhaps I have hostile mucus!! Oh well time will tell!

P.s Mrs Allan, My Dh and I have all our tests this Friday, Blood, sperm and ultra sound.

[Mrs Allan]

Hi again

Had appointment this morning.... long wait but a lot more straight forward than i anticipated....

He ordered a whole heap of blood tests, an ultrasound and gave me an info pack which included a membership to Monash IVF. Freaking out a bit about the cost of the Cystic Fibrosis test ($200) as well as the Ultrasound ($410) and the membership to Monash ($125).... Of that $735 we'll only get $100 back so I really hope my bank balance will co-operate :dizzy:
We only just moved house so finances are a little tight at the moment :P

He did a quick exam as well *(ick)* LOL and everything seems to be okay....

I have to get all the tests done, and then i have an apt on the 1st April..... i think we'll figure out the process then....

Have a lot of information to read tonight so hopefully i'll be more informed this evening.

Well, that's it I guess.......

hope things are going well for you singha.....