New Service - Blood Testing without a GP or Specialist Referral | Paige Waters
BBTNew Service – Blood Testing without a GP or Specialist Referral

New Service – Blood Testing without a GP or Specialist Referral

We are really lucky in Australia to have such a great public health care system. Blood testing is one of the most valuable tools in understanding health. They’re great to provide a baseline, diagnose medical conditions, provide guidance for treatment and track progress of treatment. 

However, it does still have it’s flaws when it comes to investigating causes of infertility, recurrent miscarriage, implantation failure, poor IVF outcomes and male factor infertility. There are some tests that can only be done after three pregnancy losses, some GPs won’t test progesterone levels in early pregnancy or look further at immunological causes of infertility or pregnancy loss. Most IVF clinics won’t do ‘nutritional blood tests’ either. 

Also, the references ranges for absence of disease vs optimal health are so different. When you’re told everything is fine based on bloods but you’re still unable to conceive, we need to be able to look at them differently. 

We need better solutions that don’t involve you having three different doctors to get blood test referrals.

I think we’re seeing a big shift from the idea that GPs and specialists are our only way to access testing.

The biggest factor that affects your ability to have whatever bloods you want done, is Medicare. Medicare, via research and consultation with medical professionals decides what can be tested for certain symptoms and conditions and family history. Specialists have a wider scope than GPs when it comes to pathology testing, but they are still limited. 

The catch is, the cost. GPs or specialists referring for blood tests allows Medicare to pay for those blood tests. If you don’t have a GP or specialist referral, then you need to pay out of pocket. 

But a huge source of stress for women and families trying to conceive is to take a list of bloods from their naturopath or fertility acupuncturist to their GP, only to be berated for asking for them. Which is neither helpful or supportive. A simple explanation of why they can’t be done is all that’s needed. 

However, it is now possible to have whatever blood tests you would like done, privately. There are some limits but the lab I’m working with is open to adding more with feedback. You can order them yourself or I can order them for you. If you are a client of mine, I will want to order them so I have easy access to the results. But you will have complete access to them as well. 

I’m looking for optimal health and I’m looking at complex patterns and I’m wanting to show these to you so you feel educated and supported throughout your treatment plan. I want you to feel confident in your decision making and conversations with your health professionals.

Independent blood testing helps your Wildly Capable Fertility Story by:

  • Empowerment and autonomy 
  • Deeper self knowledge
  • Proactive health management
  • Informed conversations with practitioners and medical specialists
  • Holistic integration 
  • Confidence in your choices 
  • Tracking progress
  • Freedom and flexibility
Independent blood testing is another tool, not to replace professional care, but to enhance integrative care, to fill the gaps in knowledge from standard care and tailor treatments specifically for each woman and family. 

We want to know as much as possible, as early as possible without roadblocks. 

If you have any questions, please email me at hello@paigewatersacupuncture.com.au