Hello to everyone on hitec journeys, i have been following you all for a few months now but was going to sway naturally so posted on there and gender disappointment.

Anyways i just can't get the hitec option out of my mind and i finally discussed it with DH who was most supportive, the difficulties i have been having in just going for it are to do with my religious beleifs.  I will have to give all viable embies a shot at life so i will really need to use MS to increase the number of girls, which of course means travelling to the US.

Can anyone tell me the best place to start looking for info, besides IG, of course.  

We are in a fortunate positon finacially but emotionally it seems to be a very tough road.  Does anyone know of any supportive obs in the Sydney area that i could start cycling with?  I am very scared about contacting people to tell them what i plan as deep down i feel so guilty for not being happy with the blessings i have so the thought of unapproving medical people terrifies me. 

i would love to be in contact with any other aussie mums planning on going to the US so please post even if you can't answer any of my questions.

I will continue to follow everyone and cheer them on and will be much more active on the hitec boards from now on.

Good luck to every single mum out there 

 Hi, great to see another Aussie here.  I'm new too and in a similar situation, thinking about IVF,PGD with MS.  My latest sweetheart is just 6 months.  I think HRC seems to be the place to go and I think it would set you back around 20 grand, I'm not positive about that -of course that doesn't take into account airfares and accomodation.  I would have to take my 3 kids with me which makes it a pretty overwhelming proposition but I think it might be something I regret not doing in the future.

The whole thing really is almost more than I can come to terms with but then the prospect of living without a daughter is even trickier for me to deal with!  All the women seem to speak of the emotional and physical toll, and I'm wondering just how bad is it physically?  Is it the ferrtility drugs? The actuall ER?   I never wanted it to come to this, I just trusted that I would get girls and boys, it just seems that that is what normally happens.  Well, not for us hey? 

It just seems like a dream come true when it works, but I think when you are at the beginning it feels very daunting - I keep thinking "I shouldn't have to do this!" when everyone around me is popping out girls left right and centre!  Sorry about all the !!s

I believe that to do MS you need to meet certain (relatively loose) criteria and that there is a waiting list so I think get yourself on that ASAP .  I am not an expert on this and hopefully the girls who are will get back to you.  Anyway ,You are not alone in your quest and if I can convince my DH that a 4th child is what he's always wanted I might be joining you on your journey.  I'm going to email HRC in the next couple of days and see what they say.  Good luck, I'm sure I'll see you around.

Opel

 

 

Hello girls,

I am also an Aussie and we are going to go High-Tech.  Altho the only option for us is Bangkok.  I am lucky in that My Dr is quite up with International high-tech and has assured me that the Drs in Bkk have had some great successes with very difficult cases.  One in particular was a 46 year old woman, no loger allowed to get IVF in Aus, she had undergone multiple cycles here and had a OHW in Thailand..........

I know that I will probably need at least 2 cycles, and we can do that in Thailand for the same as one in USA.  Also as the flight is closer hubby will just come for his deposit and come home to the boys and I will stay on.  Not ideal but not too bad for a dream come true.

I have not even had DS 4 yet, he is due in Jan and we will start cycles in July/Aug 2009.  Altho quick from what I can tell the younger the maternal age the better, and I will be 32 then so better to act quick.

Look forward to the road ahead, good luck.

hi opel and threeboys, i have contacted HRC and am in the process of setting up a phone consultation with one of the doctors to discuss all my options.  They have told me that they have people in Sydney who the collaborate with so that should make things a little easier as i won't have to do all the lead up stuff in US which will mean a shorter time away from home.

I have gotten estimate prices for PGD/IVf - it is 6900 per cycle or you can buy a 3 cycle package for approx $13000.  This is in US dollars so will be more depending on Aus exchange rate.  MS is seperate and is also quite expensive, i think around $3 500 but i am not too sure about this.

I too will be taking all the kids along at least for the first cycle, so we are looking at approx $11 000 just in airfares - this sounds so crazy as i type this, whowould spend this sort of money in the attempt to have a daughter?  But then i think What price for a dream!!  i mean my DH just spent $110 000 on a car so surely a daughter is worth it.  I am sure the whole money part would be easier to deal with if there was a guarantee that at the end you would have a baby girl, but as we can see from lots of the wonderful women on here that is not always the case.

Anyway that paragragh was kind of depressing and i am determined to be positive going into this process.

Threeboys i would go to Thailand too except that i really want to add MS to the plan and so US is my only option, but otherwise Thailand seems a much better choice for us Aussies.

To opel - i have been told that there is no waiting list for MS if used with PGD/IVF  and that it is possible to cycle within a month after initial bloodworks etc- i will let you know if this is correct when i have my consult.

IT is great to have some other Aussies starting out around the same time.

Good luck to both of you 

 

Good on you nearlyasoccerteam, those prices don't seem too bad really, I think the medications add a little extra, that's the scary bit for me  the drugs!  Aaaahhh!  Thanks for the info about the no wait list, I'm still breastfeeding my newest bubba so so I won't be readyto go for a while but a feel a bit less panicky knowing that.  I'm very excited for you as you take these first steps, keep us posted and good luck.

Opel 

ok - I'm hoping an Aussie can help me too.

I have 4 boys and desperately want a little girl.  Hubby has agreed to USA next year but I need to know what's involved.

We also have religious problems with 'left over' embyros... so would do MS and IVF/PGD.

Anyone have any info for me on how, when, where, how much, etc.

I'm in Adelaide!

 Hey lovehugs

You and i are in the exact same position.  I have been thinking about high tech for a few months and this week decided to put my spiritual issues  aside and go for it. I have found great info on the website www.havingbabies.com,  and have scheduled a phone consult.

Anyways i was on cloud 9 for a few days thinking that i was going to finally get my girl, it was such a releif to have a plan but  i have now realised that no matter how much i want a girl i can't sacrifice my spiritual beleifs.  i have spent the last day crying but am feeling a little better today as i am going to go on the waitlist for MS/IUI, it is no where near 100% but at least it gives me hope and if i still have a little boy then he was really meant to be with me.

I've been thinking how great it would be to be able to partner up with women wanting boys so that there was no issues with left over embies, i for one have no need for a bio dd i just so desperately want the chance to raise a dd.

i have posted on the general high tech forum a question relating to how many embryos people had after cycling and some of the wonderful ladies on there were kind enough to post their numbers on there for me, it may help in your decision.

Good luck 

Hi,

Have you thought of embryo adoption.  There is a program in the states I believe where you can donate the embies to an infertile couple?

 

Just a thought

 Hi threeboys

I looked into a programme called snowflakes which organises both open and closed adoption of embryos, the parents can even select the people they wish to adopt their embies.  It is a brilliant programme and the people who donate are very brave and giving, i think they are amazing. 

Unfortunately i just can not do it, i wish i could but i wouldn't be able to live in peace knowing that my child was out there in the world somewhere.  I am a big hypocrite though because i would willingly become pg using someone elses embie.

I have come to the conclusion that MS/IUI is the only possible high tech procedure i can be comfortable with, but thanks for the imput.

By the way i see you have changed you siggie,  Does that mean you have definetly decided to go High Tech?  i hope now that you have made the decision you are happier and able to enjoy the rest of this pg alot more, maybe even get excited about meeting your new little boy.

 

Hi Soccer,

Yes, my hubby and  I have decided that we have to give it a go.  I am so scared that it will not work, and altho we are not financially struggling it will mean going in to debt and the lack of success scares me to bits.......But I have to.

I have been seeing a psychologist this last week and thankfully I no longer have any issues with the beautiful boy coming, or having more kids for that matter.  Its just that it has now dawned on me that emotionally I can't ever try again naturally and that is so crushing.

So on to High-Tech..............Do you ever wonder tho if its a "pipe dream"? Logistically, financially and medically it just seems like such a huge rock to climb.

Well done on your IUI decision.  I have a GF.  She is 38 and due to her hubby sperm count can only get pg with IUI and she was a OHW x 2.

So maybe your boys will get a fab holiday to Disneyland and Mummy gets a DD!!! 

 

nearlyasoccerteam:

I looked into a programme called snowflakes

Is it like an exchange programme; You donate spare embies in return for cheaper PGD? I did donate eggs, free, years ago but I also don't know how I'd feel now about having kids somewhere in the world - now that I've had 1 myself I think I feel differently about it, more protective. Tho' it isn't guaranteed the donation would result in a success.

merlinmoose:

Is it like an exchange programme; You donate spare embies in return for cheaper PGD?

Hi Merlin,

No.  Its an adoption program for left over frozen embies that you do not need.  The concept helps a lot of women who have religious issues with IVF and the problem of what to do with the ones not needed.

Guess I'm selfish too - I just couldn't know my biological daughter was somewhere else in the world and not with me...  even if I had 5 others.  I'd rather have 6 or 7 and have them with me.  Am I crazy?

 Hi  Soccer

i'm happy you've one up with a plan that you feel peaceful about.  My first choice was MS/IUI but I'm nearly 38 and the 15% pg rate is too scary for me!  If I had a little more time up my sleeves.... Anyway GL!

Opel 

Hi all

Just wanted to say hi and welcome.

I'm an Aussie (from Melbourne) and I am going to the States early next year (Jan/Feb/March) to do IVF PGD.

I initially hoped to go to Malaysia but they banned it just last month.

To go to the States is going to cost $9,900 (this varies depending on your age) for a 2 IVF cycle plan at HRC. This is so if it doesnt work first go we will give it one more go (at this stage) at no additional cost. To do PGD on top of that will cost a few thousand dollars. Cant remember exactly how much. I'm doing Microsort for the 1st cycle because there has been some suggestion that doing both Microsort and PGD on the little ole embies is a little too much for SOME people. And I guess I'm just hoping we'll have one boy in there. Probably change this around if it doesnt work 1st time.

Then we have to add the price of flights and accommodation to that. I checked out prices and to fly to the states at that time is about $1,500. We are also taking our 2 daughters with us so add a bit more to that. Then I havent checked out accommo yet but envisaging it will be about $2000.

Phew!

Wish you all the best.

PS Yes it is a bit miserable when we think about how this is not exactly the natural way. But I would so love to have 2 girls and one boy that I'm not willing to take the risk. What else can we do. If it was at least available in Australia....... but that's not gonna happen any time soon.