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Answers to the questions our patients ask most, so you know what to expect before you book your first appointment.
Questions are grouped by where you are right now, whether that’s general booking logistics, getting started with testing, exploring treatment, working through something more complex, or a gynaecological concern. Jump to whichever section is relevant, or read through all of them.
Before you book
No referral is needed and you’re welcome to book directly, however, only those patients with a GP or specialist referral can claim a Medicare rebate.
Costs vary depending on the type of appointment. Our team can give you an accurate estimate, including any Medicare rebates you may be eligible for, before you book.
Dr Maree consults in Bella Vista, Westmead and Wahroonga. All three locations offer the same premium level of care and, where relevant, access to advanced fertility technology through our partnership with Genea. Where appropriate, Maree is also able to offer fertility care in the public setting through Westmead Fertility Centre.
Dr Maree can offer in person consultations to patients in Sydney and telehealth consultations for interstate patients. Unfortunately, Dr Maree cannot offer consultations to patients living overseas.
Yes, telehealth may be available for some appointments, particularly follow ups or results discussions. Your first consultation is generally recommended in person, though this can be discussed based on your circumstances.
Bring any previous test results, imaging or referral letters you have, along with a list of questions you want answered. There’s no need to have everything figured out beforehand.
Dr Maree consults in English, but she is fluent in conversational Mandarin.
Just starting out
If you’ve been trying to conceive for 12 months without success, or six months if you’re aged over 35, now is a good time to see Dr Maree. If you’d like an assessment or testing before you start trying, or you just want answers sooner, that’s also a good reason to book your first appointment now.
Fertility assessment usually includes bloodwork, an ultrasound, and sometimes genetic carrier screening, depending on your circumstances. None of this requires a referral or a prior diagnosis, but a referral may help with Medicare claims, if applicable.
In many cases, yes. Male factors are involved in around half of all fertility difficulties, so testing both partners early can save time and help rule things in or out sooner.
A single test, like a semen analysis or hormone blood work, looks at one piece of the picture. A full assessment looks at the whole picture together, which usually gives a clearer sense of what’s actually going on.
Exploring your options
IVF involves stimulating your ovaries to produce eggs, collecting them, fertilising them with sperm in a lab, and transferring a resulting embryo back into the uterus. Dr Maree will explain each stage as it applies to you.
A full cycle, from starting injections to a possible embryo transfer, generally takes around three weeks (two weeks if stimulation alone without transfer), though this varies depending on your individual protocol.
There are many reasons people may want to freeze their eggs and not being ready for children is just one of them. Some people freeze eggs because the timing isn’t right, others ahead of medical treatment that could affect fertility, and some are unsure but want the option for kids still on the table later.
This depends on your age and your goals. Dr Maree will give you a realistic estimate based on your circumstances rather than a generic number.
No treatment can guarantee an outcome, and Dr Maree will always be upfront about realistic chances based on your specific situation, rather than overselling any option.
In Australia, initial freezing periods are up to ten years, though this can be extended by application.
When fertility is more complicated
Current guidance recommends starting the conversation after two losses. If you feel ready sooner than that, you’re still welcome to come in.
This is one of the hardest parts of recurrent pregnancy loss. In around half of cases, no clear cause is found even with full investigation, which may be because current testing has limits. Despite this, valuable insights can still be gained that can inform treatment options.
It means standard testing hasn’t found a clear cause, not that nothing is wrong. It often calls for a more individualised approach rather than a generic next step.
Not necessarily. Surgery, like removal of endometriosis or hysteroscopic surgery is only recommended when it’s likely to actually help, and Dr Maree will always discuss the alternatives first.
Yes. Previous results and treatment history are valuable information, not a setback, and Dr Maree will use them to inform what happens next rather than starting from zero.
Yes. Dr Maree is committed to fully investigating complex cases and is open to providing second opinions where you want to be sure your previous doctor has made the right call.
Beyond fertility
Though a referral from your GP isn’t a requirement, you will need one in order to access Medicare rebates. If Medicare doesn’t apply to you, no referral is needed.
Irregular periods, sleep disruption, mood changes and hot flushes are common signs, though symptoms vary widely and some people experience none at all. There’s no single test that confirms perimenopause on its own, it’s usually based on your symptoms and history.
Yes. PMS is common and generally mild to moderate. Premenstrual Mood Disorders involves much more severe mood symptoms that significantly interfere with daily life, and it’s specifically tied to the luteal phase of your cycle.
No. Most ovarian cysts are harmless and resolve on their own, so many just need monitoring. Surgery is considered only when a cyst is large, persistent or causing symptoms.
The Pap smear was replaced by the HPV-based Cervical Screening Test in 2017, which is more accurate and only needs to be done every five years instead of two.
Yes. This provision was introduced several years ago and can be as accurate as in-practice testing.
If you can’t find what you are looking for here, get in touch directly and we’ll help you find the answer.
Whatever brought you here, Dr Maree is ready to listen and help you find the answers that are specific to you.
