FAQS

It is important to call with as much time as possible to change an appointment if you are unable to attend. We will re-schedule accordingly and a non-attendance fee may be charged.

Our practice actively purses overdue accounts. Accounts overdue between 30 and 60 days will be actively pursued, and an explanation sought for non-payment. Regrettably, accounts overdue for longer than 60 days may be placed in the hands of a collection agency. Appointments may be denied in this case until the account has been paid.

Self funded and overseas insured patients are most welcome.

Our practice will give you a quote for estimates out of pocket expenses. We may request that your account be settled prior to your surgical procedure or the delivery of your baby.

Our Planning & Management Antenatal fee is included in the Medicare schedule for a pregnancy that has progressed beyond 28 weeks. This Antenatal Fee is an out-of-pocket amount for providing care throughout the whole pregnancy by a specialist obstetrician and reflects the true costs of providing private obstetric care. This includes 24 hour availability of expert advice and care every day of the year, providing access to midwifery support during pregnancy, providing access to up to date and fully accredited ultrasound facilities, and the cost of medical indemnity. After this there are no more out of pocket fees from the primary obstetrician apart from your usual antenatal visits.

– A referral from your GP
– Copies of recent blood tests
– Copies of recent ultrasounds
– Your Medicare card
– Your Private Health Fund details
– New Patient Paperwork

Approximately 30 minutes. Please allow longer for your first pregnancy visit. We know your time is important and we will aim to run on time. Delays are very possible due to the nature of our job. We always aim to give patients the time they need for each appointment. Ringing ahead to ask if your specialist is running on-time is one way of avoiding long waits.

Be assured that when you need us, we will be there for you.

A referral from a GP is only current for 12 months and you will require a new GP referral if care is required after 12 months.

A referral from another specialist is only valid for three (3) months.

It is appreciated if you could give us as much notice as possible to cancel or re-schedule an appointment. Our practice retains the right to charge a fee for non-attendance at a booked appointment. This is not eligible for a Medicare rebate.

Please refer to our discharge information sheets in Patient Information section here

Our Bank Details are:
Account Name: Ritu Rana Medical Pty Ltd
BSB: 014 023
Account No: 6426 16325
Reference: Full Name

What are the causes of pain and bleeding in early pregnancy?
Some women experience pain and bleeding early in their pregnancy. This can be common and many women go on to have a healthy baby without further issues. In some cases it can be signs of complications or even a miscarriage so it is vital to visit your GP or a hospital to determine what treatment may be required),

What is a threatened miscarriage?
A threatened miscarriage is when vaginal bleeding is present but your pregnancy seems to be otherwise progressing well. Please visit your GP or a hospital to determine if the bleeding is a threatened or possible miscarraige.

What do the blood test results mean?
We utilise blood tests to determine how the pregnancy is progressing but monitoring the risting and falling levels of the pregnancy hormone HCG. If the levels are too high, too low or not increasing, it may be identified that the pregnancy is not progressing normally.

What are the treatment options for ectopic pregnancies?
In the rare event that the fallopian tube ruptures, women experience extreme pain, internal bleeding and shock. As a medical emergency, this requires immediate medical treatment and you should call 000 or present to accident and emergency at the hospital.

Ectopic pregnancy can be manages conservatively, medically or surgically depending on individual case.

COVID-19 is more dangerous for women who are pregnant. The best way to reduce your risk is to get vaccinated. Real-world evidence has shown that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are safe if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy. You can receive the vaccine at any stage of pregnancy.

For more information visit > QLD Health

What does the IUI treatment involve?
It’s important to obtain blood tests prior to the treatment to rule out potential infections, to identify when ovulation is due and as part of the antenatal screening.
The sperm is then prepared before the insemination process which is under the supervision of our doctors and medical staff.

Are there any risks of IUI?
As with any medical procedure, there are risks involved. There can be a small risk of infection in the fallopian tubes with this process and some patients report slight discomfort but it is minimal and not long lasting.

What happens when you undergo an OI cycle?
Whilst undergoing this cycle, you will be monitored very closely with ultrasounds and/or blood tests to check the number of follicles developing, this is essential to reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy.

You will be given a leaflet with instructions prior to your day 1. Letrozole is generally taken on days 3-7 of your cycle with an ultrasound between days 8-11 with your fertility specialist. At this ultrasound, you will be advised of when you will likely ovulate and the window in which you should undergo “timed intercourse”.

It is important to bear in mind that once an egg ovulates it will live for 12 hours (maybe up to 18 hours) unless it is fertilised and sperm lives for 2-3 days (maybe even up to 5 days). So ideally it is best to have sex just prior to ovulation.

What is IVF?
In vitro fertilisation or IVF is a series of procedures where oocytes (eggs) are placed in a dish of nutrient fluid with the sperm and allowed to fertilise and develop for up to 5 days, creating an embryo. The embryos are either transferred to the uterus of the woman or frozen for later use

When would you need IVF?
IVF is used for a number of reasons. The most common are blocked or absent fallopian tubes, endometriosis, and unexplained infertility or if the male partner has poor quality sperm. IVF may also be used for couples who carry genes which place their unborn children at risk of genetic abnormality

What’s involved in IVF?”
The IVF procedure is comprised of a series of steps, these include:
1. The ovaries are stimulated to produce follicles, hopefully containing eggs (Not all follicles will contain an egg). The aim is to achieve as many eggs as possible, without compromising the woman’s health risk and quality of eggs achieved. This is done using FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) by an injection, for roughly 11 days.
2. During the stimulation of ovaries, you will undergo at least 2 TVS (trans-vaginal scans) and blood tests to determine the date for egg collection.
3. At the selected date, you will undergo a general anaesthesia and your eggs are collected using a trans-vaginal scan with a very fine needle attached.
4. The eggs are placed in a sterile culture dish and placed into an incubator.
5. The semen, whether fresh or frozen on the day will be prepared by the scientist. The prepared semen and eggs are placed into the culture dishes and into the incubator overnight.
6. The following day, the fertilised eggs are then cultured for 2-6 days in an incubator, before the best quality embryo is transferred to the uterus. The remaining embryos will be frozen for future use.
7. Injections and or vaginal gel pessaries containing progesterone will be taken from day of egg collection.
8. A pregnancy test will be performed by blood approximately 7 days after embryo transfer.

What is the process of transferring a frozen embryo?
The endometrium (lining of the uterus) needs to be thickened prior to transfer in order to support the embryo. There are a number of ways this can be achieved; the individualised method for this will be discussed with your specialist.
Once the endometrium has achieved the desired thickness, seen by ultrasound throughout your cycle, the embryo is thawed and warmed on the day of transfer. The transfer takes place at the Mackay Specialist Day Hospital without any anaesthetic. Most women report it is much like a pap smear.