Australian wanna be mum

historygirlaushistorygirlaus Posts: 11
in Single Mothers by Choice
I'm a 27 year old from Australia who is wanting to try this and was wondering if there are any other Aussie's on this board (especially from South Australia) that have been through the process.

Comments

  • lily75lily75 Posts: 3
    I'm an Aussie too! I currently live in Sydney. Haven't started yet, but planning to at beginning of 2012. I'm 34 but will be 36 when I start trying. Best of luck! Emma
  • MissNomesyMissNomesy Posts: 15
    Hey ladies,

    I am also an aussie girl who is very keen to start a family of my own, although single, makes it ALMOST impossible.. :D

    Please let me know if you have made any further progess in your plans.

    I would love to know how you go??

    Naomi
  • lily75lily75 Posts: 3
    Hi Naomi,

    Welcome! It is quite daunting considering doing this on your own, but we can do it!

    What are your plans for conceiving? I'd like to stay in touch aswell. My plans are still a way off (work comittments involving a strange nomadic lifestyle!)

    Take care a all the best! :o)
    Emma
  • MissNomesyMissNomesy Posts: 15
    Hey there Emma,

    Well this has been a quick decision for me, I have always joked about it, but have suddenly given it great thought.

    I have been doing so much research and am so determined! I have been through a couple of profiles and narrowed my search to two possible donors. My problem is this.. it seems one has such an amazing personality, and same values as me, but to the description of CCB, he is "large" in frame and average looking.

    While the other donor is meant to be extremely good looking, great smile and body, he seems to be very ambitious, and possibly a bit arrogent?

    I have just ordered their full histories, and Mr Good Looking's family history isnt very impressive!!

    Tomorrow I will book myself in to see my doc so I can get a referral to my OB so we can chat about my options.

    I am planning to do "Family Today, Family Tomorrow" so I have a chance to get my finances in order!

    So hopefully in a year, I will be all set to go!!
  • LilyM138LilyM138 Posts: 32
    Hi all,

    I am a Sydney girl who's been thinking about this for a while - given that this city seems to be appalling, in terms of meeting Mr Right :)

    Anyway, I am heading down the DIY road too - hopefully next month, so I'll let you know how it goes!
  • MissNomesyMissNomesy Posts: 15
    I am still waiting to hear about shipping info.. can you give me any hints on the expense??

    Thanks..
  • LilyM138LilyM138 Posts: 32
    Re the shipping expense, I don't know, to be honest, because I'm going to have the first couple of IUIs done in America, and if that doesn't work, I'll investigate options closer to home. (so, in other words, the shipping expense is whatever a Virgin airfare is to get me there!)

    When I was looking into this last year, it was just when the laws re donor sperm in NSW were about to change, and nobody knew what was going to happen, whether or not the US sperm would still be available. That's why I looked into having the procedure done overseas.

    Now that the laws have come in, I think in NSW it's somewhat limiting in terms of what donor you can pick, which is the part of it I don't like. I figure if you're making a decision as big as this, you kind of want a little bit of control about whose DNA is making up your kid :)

    I don't know what the laws are like in other states, though ... And I'm basing this all on info I've been given from two clinics - there might be other doctors who have different information????

    Anyway, if anyone wants to email me, you can do so at: lilym1388@gmail.com
  • MissNomesyMissNomesy Posts: 15
    Hey there ladies, have finally heard from CCB in regards to shipping costs, it is around $550 in shipping costs, plus another $500 for the tank.

    My problem is, because of law, they can't ship to Victoria, which means they can only ship to NSW.

    Sometimes it feels like all odds are against me!

    And reading all the other ladies about how many IUI's they have, when I really would prefer to do ICI! I am feeling hopeless and perhaps this is going to cost me more than an arm and a leg.

    I also feel like a real idiot when speaking to my doctor about what I want to do.??
  • LilyM138LilyM138 Posts: 32
    Geography does make it a whole lot harder for us, which sucks, big time.

    Do they have to ship the sperm to a doctor in NSW, or can they ship to a private address? Could you get it sent to someone in NSW, who can then Fedex it down to you? (apparently 'the goods' can survive in the tank for a week - or more, maybe, I'm not sure)

    I read somewhere that, even though the success rate for ICI is less than IUI, if you do two inseminations in the one cycle, it can increase the success rates???

    I know it's easy to feel hopeless - and I think the internet is a double edged sword - it's great for information, but at the same time, sometimes you can't help but feel disheartened... There are success stories, though, that's what I always try and tell myself.

    In terms of the cost - if you want to compare -- the charges for IUI at the clinic I investigated in NSW were something like: $1900 for the first attempt, and then $500-something-ish for the second, and any following attempts. (that doesn't include the sperm).

    Is the $500 charge for the tank refundable (like, is that the security charge, to make you send it back, or is it the actual cost of sending it back?) If it was refundable, and it only cost you $550 in shipping each time, then you could do 4 goes at ICI, for (just over) the price of one IUI?
  • Pamela MariePamela Marie Posts: 39
    Usually for people that live outside the U.S the shipping costs are much more. A shipping within the U.S is less than $300, pretty cheap. But for the ones that live anywhere outside the U.S you have to pay an additional $500 for the tank, plus the actual shipping that's about $600 or $700(depending where you live). So its at least $1000 just for the shipping costs.
  • lily75lily75 Posts: 3
    Ladies,

    Here is a copy of the email I received form CCB. No go for NSW I'm afraid. SA, ACT, QLD and TAS only.


    Hello Emma-

    We do not have a list of clients who perform donor insemination. You will need to do the research to find a doctor that can work with you. We are only able to send donor semen to the following areas in Australia: South Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, and Tasmania. Please let me know if you have any other questions.



    La'Trice A. Allen

    Consultative Services Manager



    lallen@cryobank.com

    Direct: 310.496-5694

    Fax: 866.625-7336



    California Cryobank, Inc.



    Reproductive Tissue Services

    California Cryobank, a leading reproductive tissue bank, is the leading choice of fertility specialists worldwide. www.cryobank.com



    FamilyCord

    Family Cord Services provides cord blood banking services for families worldwide.

    www.familycordbloodservices.com




    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: Emma Rose Sills [mailto:groovegoddess@internode.on.net]
    Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 1:51 AM
    To: ccbgeneral
    Subject: [Cryobank Inquiry] Contact Us



    Name

    Emma Rose Sills

    Email

    groovegoddess@internode.on.net

    Day Phone

    +61404227317

    Category

    international

    Best Time to Contact

    Preferred Contact Method

    Email

    Zip Code

    2113

    Comments

    Hi, Could you please inform me which IVF / fertility clinics in Sydney, Australia you have had previous dealings with and who are happy to have their clients utilise your services? This would assist me greatly in deciding which clinics to approach. I'd like to be treated by a clinic that is familiar with your procedures. Thanks for your time and assistance. Regards Emma.

    Page Visited

    http://www.cryobank.com/About-Us/Contact-Us/E-Mail/

    `
  • LilyM138LilyM138 Posts: 32
    Emma, I am in NSW but am investigating using Canberra Fertility Centre, who can import from CCB, as long as you choose an open identity donor.
  • yueyueyueyue Posts: 10
    Yes I have used Canberra Fertility and just done an unsuccessful cycle - aggh. I am single and had to go interstate. I had the shipment sent straight to CF and there was a tracking number that I had to ask CCB for so I could follow where it was at. They then returned the tank and eventually I got the refund.
  • LilyM138LilyM138 Posts: 32
    Hi Yueyue, sorry to hear about your BFN - hopefully it works out for you next time! I've got an appt with CFC in August.

    (with the refund - is that the $500 charge, that you do get back?)
  • yueyueyueyue Posts: 10
    Hi LilyM138
    Yes the $500 is the tank refund. The whole process is pricey by the time you add in bringing in the sperm and fluctuating AUD. Actually once I got to CFC they told me they could offer some sperm, which initially on the phone they said I would have to come up with my own - hence my purchase from here!! Make sure you choose an open donor - again something they didn't spell out clearly initially and meant I chose a donor that was annonymous and had to pay the fee to switch.

    The waiting before you start is not good, but it gave me time to work on minimising caffeine/coke.

    I am just thrilled the CFC tried, and that I was able to choose a donor with all the info here!!

    Good luck. I have to wait 2 months perhaps before they will let me have another go - very busy clinic.
  • yueyueyueyue Posts: 10
    Actually can any Aussies here tell me if you claimed your cost of sperm on your tax?? I have added it in and it works out over $5k - what will the tax man think of that???
  • LilyM138LilyM138 Posts: 32
    My accountant is so conservative she would probably have a heart attack on the spot if I told her I was claiming sperm! :-)

    But I do think there should be some sort of government compensation for the lack of available men in Sydney (and elsewhere!) so maybe give it a try! (although if they ask how it's a work related expense, what are you going to say?)

    Bummer re CFC being so busy with appointments!
  • Sarah CSarah C Posts: 1
    Hi Ladies,
    Am from Australia too. Melbourne Victoria.
    I am having trouble finding a doctor who will agree to use the Calif Cryobank IUI/ICI, besides the Canberra Fertility Clinic, are there any other Clinics in Australia that any one has had luck with ?
    If so, can you please relate your experience and how you went about getting the Aussie clinic to agree to use the Cali Cryobank iui/ici's.
    Good luck BTW!!
    thanks
  • yueyueyueyue Posts: 10
    OK well I claimed all the costs including information costs on my tax, and lucky didn't need to show any accountant. It is a medical cost, not work related and you only get 20% deduction off amounts over $1,500 - but it still came out worthwhile.

    Sarah I asked a few different places and only wanted to do this if I had control over who the donor was and CFC was the only option. Albury were prepared to try after a 6 month wait for a sperm donor, but excue the pun, but I didn't want to take the only Tom, Dick or Harry they could comeup with!!

    CFC are good, just a few things they could streamline with interstate clients.
  • LilyM138LilyM138 Posts: 32
    Hey Yueyue - I didn't know that about medical costs - hmm, maybe I will give it a try after all!

    Sarah - I agree with Yueyue re wanting control, and not wanting to go with any old Tom, Dick or Harry! I researched a few places - there's Fertility First in NSW, and Fertility East, but neither would let you use a donor from CCB. I also emailed a place in Queensland, and it was the same story. CFC is the only place I've found so far.
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