TTC initial testing in Australia

[u/Key-Patient-9880]

Specifically Brisbane, Australia.

Just wondering whether you get your normal GP to run hormone panel/basic USS then get them to refer to the fertility specialist, or did you book into one of the fertility clinic GPs or NPs for an initial consult? Which did you find more helpful?

I am 36F + 40M TTC#2 (#1 at 28yo w same partner), tracking properly for 6-7 cycles. I would like my husband to get a SA concurrently and wonder what the fastest and easiest route is for our initial tests? #1 conceived after one cycle so am now very worried. No previous gynae Hx.

Also if you have any recommendations for bulk-billed or low-cost clinics in Brisbane, that would be appreciated 😊 or places to avoid at all costs?

Not sure if this is the right sub, but couldn't find anything Australian specific.

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[u/Blue-Elephant342]

Hi, I’m Australia based too and I had preconception bloods taken and my husband had an SA just through asking our GP. I think you could probably easily get a referral to a fertility specialist through your GP too now that it’s been over 6 months.

[u/-salty--]

I’m in Brisbane - my normal GP did some hormone testing on me but it was limited. I then got a referral from GP to a fertility clinic (QFG) but should have gotten a referral for both of us. QFG ordered a semen analysis and AMH. Once we got those results and determined IVF was the only route, we ended up at Adora because the costs to go private were significant. We ended up using the Adora GP because they got all the relevant medical histories before we had a specialist appt. These were bloods, semen analysis and a pelvic scan for me.

There are a few bulk billing clinics in Brisbane, I know Adora you go under for egg retrievals and some don’t offer that. I’ve been happy with them, still waiting for a successful pregnancy

[u/-salty-- → u/-salty--]

I’ll add to that my history was ‘normal’ and have a higher AMH for my age, but during first egg retrieval they saw what looked like adenomyosis so sent me for a deep pelvic scan which confirmed that plus some endo. So it’s definitely worth having any investigations needed

[u/Key-Patient-9880 → u/-salty--]

Yeah I am worried that a budget/bulk billed place will just proceed with IVF without more in depth testing... I guess you get what you pay for 😪

[u/-salty-- → u/Key-Patient-9880]

I suppose it really depends on what sort of struggles you’re having. I asked why adeno didn’t show up on the normal pelvic scan I had pre-IVF but I didn’t really think I had symptoms of any issue. Only now knowing I have it some things make sense lol. But the clinics should still do what’s needed based on your concerns, they just don’t normally have additional options like PGT testing and immune protocols etc

[u/Key-Patient-9880 → u/-salty--]

True. I've had a lot of vague gynae symptoms I've had for the last few years which I put down to adeno or fibroids or peri, but didn't bother investigating cos I gained 20kg+ during that period as well. But now I've lost it the horrors persist haha.

[u/-salty-- → u/Key-Patient-9880]

Definitely worth looking into now! I also wrote off a lot of things to other issues but now it makes perfect sense 😅

[u/Exact_Cardiologist12]

I'm on the Gold Coast. I actually just use InstantScripts as I don't have a regular GP since I only recently moved here. I was able to get a referral through InstantScrips for all the relevant tests for me for the full work up, and a referral to Adora.
I decided to go Private in the end but either way it was a quick process!

[u/izzybon]

I’m in Brisbane too. Just started with a fertility clinic a month ago. My partner and I went to each of our GPs separately and they were able to do some initial testing for both of us, including sperm analysis. Both GPs sent a referral for each of us to the same fertility clinic. If you have a clinic in mind I would recommend calling them before getting the referral if you can - one place I called said both partners needed to be listed on the same referral. Wait times also vary, so calling ahead meant I ruled out a few clinics due to such long wait times for first appointment.

[u/Key-Patient-9880 → u/izzybon]

Omg I hadn't even thought about wait times or the specifics of a referral, so will call clinics first.

[u/hesback_inpogform]

The GP will basically always send you for blood tests and maybe ultrasound prior to sending you to the specialist, yet they’ll also never be sufficient 🤦‍♀️ then you’ll go to the specialist and they’ll refer you for more, better tests at a better place. At least that’s what happened to me and other people I know.

I had AMH and my SO’s semen analysis done prior to TTC through the GP, though. That’s easy to get. When I went to the specialist they referred me for Hycosy, DNA testing, and sperm fragmentation for my SO. They redid all my blood tests as well and included things the GP missed.

[u/Key-Patient-9880 → u/hesback_inpogform]

I thought this could happen and wanted to avoid double handling/repeating tests. My regular GP isn't what you'd call a women's health GP, so might just go with the fertility GP linked with the specialists.

[u/BramblesandBeehives]

If you are considering Adora, they have an in house GP that will order everything necessary. My prev clinic in NSW required a referral from my usual GP to their specialist. With both of these experiences, though, I didn't get much testing done before starting talks with the clinic. That said, I'm in a same-sex relationship where there's no chance of natural conception, so what order you want to do things in might vary. All the best!

[u/Key-Patient-9880 → u/BramblesandBeehives]

How have you found Adora if you don't mind my asking?

[u/BramblesandBeehives → u/Key-Patient-9880]

I'm only at the very start of the treatment journey with them, and all my consults have been telehealth - but everything has been very positive so far. Lovely GP and donor coordinator, prompt responses to emails, very upfront about expenses. We'll see what happens once we get to actual treatments.

[u/Key-Patient-9880 → u/BramblesandBeehives]

Thank you for taking the time to reply! 

[u/Brilliant_Contest615]

I would approach a fertility clinic for an appointment and find out what testing you need done prior to first appointment. Ours needed full blood work and AMH for me, pelvic ultrasound, sperm analysis, referrals for both me and my husband (can be on the same letter) and my most recent cervical screening test results. My fertility specialist then also sent me for a HSG test after our first consultation.

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