Initial Appointment: IVF and Donor Process
Walking into my first IVF appointment felt surreal. Sitting in the waiting room surrounded by hopeful faces, I realised this was no longer just an idea — it was real.
The experience itself was very informative, and I felt supported the whole way through. One of the first things the specialist mentioned was that many single women are going down the path of IVF. Hearing that made me feel less alone — I wasn’t the only one exploring this option.
She explained the different treatments. IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) is a simpler, less invasive procedure where the doctor inserts sperm directly into the uterus close to ovulation. IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation), on the other hand, involves combining an egg and sperm outside the body in a specialised laboratory. Once fertilised, the embryo goes back into the uterus to hopefully begin a pregnancy. After thinking it over, I decided on IVF. At my age, I felt it gave me the best possible chance.
Next came the referrals: I needed several blood tests and ultrasound scans to check my fertility health. One key test, the Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), gives an idea of egg reserves. I decided to get the blood tests done right away, while I was still at the clinic, and would book the ultrasounds later.
From there, I went to the IVF nursing team to learn about the donor process. Joining the donor waitlist meant paying a $300 fee and choosing between local and international donors. After some thought, I chose the international route.
Why? I wanted someone with traits similar to mine — fair skin, brown hair, and green eyes — so that if I do have a child, they might look a little like me. At the moment, not many local donors match that, and the wait time is six months or longer. With international donors, there’s no waitlist, so I could move forward more quickly.
The cost difference is significant. With local donors, you pay per cycle. With international donors, you pay upfront for multiple cycles. It’s a major expense to factor in.
Now that I’m on the donor list, my next step is counselling. Because I’ve chosen an international donor, I’ll need two counselling sessions before I can even view potential donors (compared to just one session if I’d gone local). My first session is in a couple of weeks, and I’m both nervous and excited about it.
With the donor process underway, the last piece of the puzzle is figuring out how I’ll fund IVF treatment and donor costs. One step at a time, it’s all beginning to take shape.
📖 If you missed it, you can read my previous post about Should I consider IVF as a single woman?
💬 Next, I’ll be sharing more about Access Superannuation for IVF— the next step before treatment begins.
For more information on IUI and IVF, as well as fertility tests, visit the links below.
What is IUI? – IVF Australia | What is IVF? – IVF Australia | Fertility tests – IVF Australia
