It's a secret of unspoken heartache doing the rounds in rural Australia.
Doctors like Nicky Purser know only too well the barriers facing remote couples, particularly when it comes to hormone and fertility tests.
"Sometimes the woman might need blood tests every two or three days, and if you are 300 or 400 kilometres from a blood collecting centre and you've got to do a 600- or 800-kilometre round trip every two or three days, that's just an enormous thing to have to undertake," she said. For testing in Darwin or Adelaide, the couple would have to spend two or three weeks in town, a trip many find logistically impossible.
"For a lot of people in IVF generally, often it is all too hard and [they] give up, besides all the extra issues that happen in the bush," Dr Purser said. Healthcare delivery across all areas of medicine is no doubt harder in the bush, but fertility experts say addressing limited ultrasound availability, reducing sluggish turnaround times on blood tests at remote clinics, and increasing access to financial assistance could make it easier.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Really frightening’: Life in a remote community as virus closes inFearful Indigenous elders are retreating to the bush, as coronavirus creeps closer to remote communities | EllaMareeAB
Read more »
'They always say kids don't get sick': Bettina's children were both diagnosed with coronavirusBettina Rowley's children, aged 5 and 3, were both diagnosed with coronavirus. She wants to make other parents aware that it can happen.
Read more »
Lonely Planet closes most of its Melbourne and London offices as coronavirus hurts salesThe travel publishing company announces it will close most of its operations in Melbourne and London, in response to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on its sales.
Read more »
Lonely Planet shuts Australian office, staff laid off due to COVID-19Global publishing giant Lonely Planet is closing its Australian and London offices 'almost entirely' as the coronavirus pandemic continues to cripple the travel industry | JoshDye91
Read more »
'Are we there yet?': WA's long road to post-pandemic normalityFor many in WA the Easter break means packing up the car and heading off to another part of this vast state, but this year we're on a whole different journey.
Read more »
These are the rules on where and why you're allowed to drive this weekendA roadmap to the rules for driving under coronavirus this Easter long weekend.
Read more »