Longing for Oz

CarolynSG · 11-22-2006, 03:41 AM

Just a general question, I will be moving over to Australia within the next year, I am wanting to know how the treatment for PCOS in Australia is? Expensive? East to find? Are the Doctors up to date with this syndrome? etc. etc...
Cos here in south Africa, we still have a long way to go when it comes to treatment option.
Any replies will be awesome.... Thanks!

Smilie · 11-22-2006, 04:50 AM

Hi Carolyn!

I have a friend that is moving to SA for a year and a half.

Can't remember what area though.

Do you know what area you're moving too? What kind of treatment are you getting now? IE are you on meds?

If you're moving to an area one of us on here are in then we can recommend Dr's to you. There are Dr's that have no clue and some that are very good, think it's like that most countries though.

You're coming in on a permanent residency visa?? If so then you will qualify for medicare within 10?? days of landing I beleive. Can't remember for sure, it's been over 2 years since we arrived. I think they tell you to wait 10 days before you go to medicare so that the info that you are here legally has time to get to them. Some people get private health care which means anual/monthly fees (not sure becaue we haven't really looked into it) but that means shorter waiting lists for things like surgeries. I've found the public system to be very good for us so far.

Your treatment will depend on your Dr and your symptoms.

Do you know when you're moving? Hope your move goes really smoothly

CarolynSG · 11-22-2006, 05:03 AM

Hi there... I will probably be moving to Perth. My brother & his family are going over within the next 6 months. He has applied for PR. As soon as he is there and settled, me & my hubby will be applying for Work visa's and going over on that. Once in Aus we will apply for PR. For us at this point of time it is cheaper for us to do it that way, and its the fastest way that we can get over. My brother will more then likely be living in Perth, so when we arrive, we will be staying with them in Perth.
I am currently on Metformin. Have tried Provera & Clomid but have not been to succesful. I have not yet tried any other treatments, because here in SA it is far too expensive.
Thank you so much for the reply, its awesome to hear from another cyster who has been through the same as what i am planning on going through...

Smilie · 11-22-2006, 07:44 AM

Not sure if we have anyone on here in Perth?? You should check out the PCOS Australia web site for Dr. recommendations... http://www.posaa.asn.au/

I hope the whole process goes really smoothly and quickly for you. We went for PR before coming here and it was a long wait.

I think Met is the most popular treatment here as well. There is a new slow dose one out that's supposedly easier on the system. I haven't tried Met but some of the other girls on here have. Not sure what's most common for TTCers as I was fortunate enough to fall pg on my own but the other girls on here could tell you what they have gone through. You should join us in our daily chat thread Downunder @ the dog.

CarolynSG · 11-22-2006, 08:29 AM

Great, thanks thats awesome, i might just join you girls.
Yes the PR is quite a lengthy process hey,a nd i dont want to have to wait that long. When it comes to patience and waiting, i am deffinatly not the best candidate.. lol.
Thanks again for all your help!

Sapphire Spirit · 11-23-2006, 09:07 PM

Hi Carolyn!!

You may find some helpful info in this thread:
Post your Aussie PCOS friendly Dr, Herbalist, etc here!!

I think Australia is pretty good in terms keeping abreast of PCOS issues and treatments. The link Janet gave you for the POSAA is a really good one. There are message boards there too where you may be able to find out more information about Perth specifically.
I have been really happy with my drs througout my diagnosis and ttc yrs. I have 2 children: ds was conceived with clomid and met and dd was conceived through IVF. We have both public and private health systems here so I guess it depends which one you will be accessing....I personally think they are both pretty good. Our public system is so much better than that in the US (not sure about other countries though). I'm not sure about fertility treatment through the public system though as I have private insurance so accessed a private dr for fertility and delivery.
Dr's seem to be increasingly 'in the know' about PCOS. Many GPs are happy to prescribe Met now as a respected treatment which is great to see.
I hope you settle well here and enjoy this great country. Would love to have you over on our 'Downunder @ the Dog' thread.

How expensive are treatments like IUI and IVF there?

CarolynSG · 11-24-2006, 11:02 AM

Hi Amy, thanks for the reply...
ah sweet, look at your little ones!!! Too cute! Your son reminds me so much of my brother when he was that age.
Treatment here in SA is very expensive. For on AI treatment its around R25 000!!! Hectic!!!! And when you earning a salary of only R4 000 per month, thats tough!

wombat woman · 11-24-2006, 08:15 PM

Your next step with TTC is probably FSH injections. I don't know your circumstances but at the time we did not use IUI or any "extras" like that, just the injections and the trigger injection. I am in Sydney and we went with a public hospital. It cost us $300 per cycle plus the meds which I can't for the life of me remember how much they cost, but they were on the PBS (Government Subsidised) list. I can look into the price of the meds if you want, just let me know, I have it here somewhere. Good luck with the move, my MIL lives just south of Perth, nice place but very slow paced and laid back.

CarolynSG · 11-27-2006, 08:20 AM

Wombat Woman, thanks for the reply! Yeah i have actually just contacted my doctor now, and he wants to try the FSH injection now in December. Luckily they are not too expensive (around R400 for one cycle).
I will deffinatly let you know if i need any more information. Thanks again!