Post your PCOS friendly Kiwi Dr, Herbalist, etc here!!

[Sapphire Spirit]

Let's share some information about where the best PCOS friendly Doctors, Naturopaths, Herbalists, Accupuncturists, etc are throughout New Zealand.
Please post the locality, name and speciality (and contact details if possible) of any health professionals who are helping you fight the symptoms of PCOS.
The more posts we get the more informed and assisted all Kiwi Cysters can be.
Amy (actioning Rhon's great idea!)

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EDIT: (Februarystar)
I will add to this list as other post. You may want to google the doctors names before you call them as some of the posts are years old and these doctors may have moved on.

Northland
- Dr Dianne Davis, Paramount Medical Centre, Tikipunga

Auckland
- Dr Marian Carter, Fertility Plus at National Womens Hospital
- Dr Stella Milsam, Fertility Associates (Endocrinologist)
- Dr Anshu Sharma, Epson (GP)
- Dr Dion Martley, Ponsonby
- Dr Geoff Braadvedt, Auckland Hospital (Endocrinologist)
- Dr Craig King, West Auckland (GP)
- Dr Mules, North Shore
- Dr Des Wong, Manukau City Medical Centre (GP)
- Wong Doo Health Clinic, Newmarket (Acupuncture)
- Dr Paula Weadon, Ponsonby Medical Centre

Hamilton
- Dr John Conaglen
- Dr Bula, Fairfield Medical Clinic

Palmerston North
- Dr Digby Ngan Kee
- Dr Ilse Hofmeyer

Wellington
- Dr Robyn Toomath (Endocrinologist)
- Dr Dean Drew
- Katrian Gascoyne (Chinese Medicine)
- Dr John Hutton, Fertility Associates, Newton (Reproductive Endocrinologist)
- Hanifa Koya
- Dr Penny Rowley, Khandallah Medical Centre
- Dr Barrington-Ward (Endocrinologist)

Christchurch
- Anna Fenton, Oxford Clinic
- Dr Anne Sissons

Dunedin
- Wayne Gillett, Dunedin Public Hospital

[voodoo_child]

I strongly recommend my Endocrinologist Dr Robyn Toomath. She works at Wellington hospital, Wakefield Hospital, and Johnsonville Medical Centre (all in Wellington).

She is an expert (according to my gynocologist) in PCOS and i find her to be absolutely fantastic. She explained everything to me that i needed to know, and gets straight to the point in her consultations.

She mainly works by private appointment only, and my first consultation with her cost $190 but worth it by far.

Cannot recommend her enough!

[Chilli]

What a great idea!!!

I had such a hard time finding a doctor...in fact I'm still looking for a PCOS friendly GP...in the end I referred myself to Fertility Plus at National Womens (Aucks)..I saw Dr Marian Carter in January and she seemed to be friendly and helpful...I don't see her again till May though.

[Appollonia]

Dr Anshu Sharma in Epsom, Auckland is a highly knowledgable G.P.

[Tusi2]

Hi Ladies,

Dr. Dion Martley at Ponsonby Medical Centre is great. He diagnosed me when all Family Planning wanted to do was give me another smear!!
He's also published some research of his own about PCOS, he's lovely and put me onto Stella Milsam (endo) at Fertility Plus in Greenlane, I went through the public health system and got to see her every 3 months.

[nzgirl]

Dr Dean Drew - Welington, New Zealand. Found him to be most helpful and understanding - he's been doing loads of research on PCOS too.

[tracy.lee]

I was Dx straight away, after blood tests and U/S, infact he told me he suspected PCOS from only my bloods tests, I had never even heard of PCOS before then.

Did not he did not hestiate to my request to try Glucophage

He is locatated in Palmerston North

[st@ce]

Dr Geoff Braadvedt @ Auckland Hospital is a great endocrinology specialist (if you can actually get time with him!). After one appt he unofficially diagnosed me with PCOS and has sent me off for an ultrasound.

The only problem to do with Geoff is Auckland's health sys in general. He is continually swamped with patients and their communication with patients is meagre.

I suspect he favors medical solutions too which leads me to my first question... anyone know any NZ specialists knowledgeable in alternative treatments? (For any PCOS symptoms i.e. increase progesterone, reverse [head] hair loss, reduce excess hair etc).

Second question... does your local GP have to see evidence of PCOS (i.e. ultrasound data) to prescribe progesterone cream?

Thanks for any help.

P.S. Tusi2 I think I'll have to try Stella

[wahine toa]

Kia ora all, I definately tautoko Katrina Gascoyne/ B.Ac, Dip, Ch. Herb/ Clinic of Oriental Medicine/ 60 Mana Esplanade, Paremata Wgtn.....She practices chinese medicine, is a source of information and strong advocate for woman surrounding fertility issues. I would recommend her professionalism highly+. Her background is extensive and she has a hx of chinese medicine since 1986..She is Awesome, Understanding and Listens to what you have to say.......depressed, happy, sad, manic, etc

Me....age 40, dx 5/11/03, PCOS, 1st week November commenced chinese medicine and 1st week of December commenced western fertility treatment , I start chlomid 50mg x3 months so hope and pray that all goes well at the early stages......Kia kaha Kia Manawanui Cysters!! :o

I would love to hear from any cysters out there who wanna chat

[Bren]

I have been diagnosed for 4 years. I've had several GPs in that time who all said there was nothing to be done about my PCOS. I found the name of a doctor on this message board (Dr Deane Drew) and saw him a couple of days ago.

I was so amazing to see a doctor who took this seriously and knew about it. He put me on Metformin straight away. And gave me advice about exercise etc.

I'm having blood tests and after the new year we are going to talk about what can be done. This is just the greatest thing. Thankyou so much.

[kiwikelly]

Hi there Kiwi cysters, didn't realise there were so many of us.
I found a great doc last year Dr. Dianne Davis of Paramount Medical Centre, Tikipunga, Northland.
She is ready and willling to listen...she is still learning about pcos herself but is willling to give anything a go, if you are.
I am her for pcos patient to go on metformin which i started a year ago.
I want to hear from anyone else who has had to be on the contraceptive pill whilst not trying to get pregnant, they recommend i stay on it to help with ovulation but won't metformin do this anyway?

My meds are:
Estelle 35-'the pill'
Metformin 1500mg per day
fluox fo depression associated with pcos
endless treatment to relieve psorarisis of the scalp(anyonw else out there suffer from this who has pcos?)
Pain killers for gallstone-which they say may be realted to pcos and 'the pill'
Kelly

[klbear]

I would love to here from anyone in Christchurch who knows of a good doc,spec anything that could help.I used clomid to have my son but then was just put on estelle.Ihave come off this hoping to try for baby {clomid here I come}but i had been told i couldnt have met that in NZ it wasnt used for PCOS.
My specialist is Peter Benny and hes great havent asked him yet anyone hopping too get preg go see him he is private nice guy and really good

[finn]

Hello

I just went to see Dr John Hutton at Fertility Associates in Adelaide Rd, Newtown, he is a reproductive endocrologist and is meant to be one of the best in NZ. He was very good, friendly, helpful. I think he specialises in PCOS, so that was good to know. He prescribed metformin & clomiphene, doesnt think they will work and wants to see us in 3 months to start IVF, so there is no mucking around (we have only been ttc for 6 months). It was $150.00 to go and see him and $120.00 for each follow up visit - so it is quite expensive, the drugs cost $45.00 all up, for a 3 month supply (I dont have a community services card and they arent covered by health insurance). He also said that being on the pill was the best thing i could have done.

ttfn

[Tigernz]

Hi there,

I have been seening Hanifa Koya at Wakefield for about 5 years.
She had been realt good to me. As I have PCOS and Endometriosis.

Deals with Endometriosis, Reproductive Endocrinology (infertility, PCOS eta)

Hanifa has also ref me to see Dr John Hutton at Fertility Associates in Adelaide Rd, Newtown. For IVF.

As they sometimes work together.

Hanifa also can be seen at Mana Specialist Center and Kapitit Radiology and At wakefield specialist Medical Center
0800 277 646

[Silverfern]

Hey there.

I've been seeing Anna Fenton at the Oxford Clinic in Christchurch. She's a tad expensive ($250 for the initial consult and $125 for followups) and has a long waiting list for new patients but definitely worth the wait and cost. At the moment I'm just on Flutamide and calcium. I tried Fluox for PMS associated depression but had very bad results with that (panic attacks and suicidal thoughts). That's one of the reasons she doesn't want to put me on Metformin.

Tanya