Frequently Asked Questions

IVF

  • The number of eggs retrieved during one round of IVF varies depending on the patient's age, ovarian reserve, and response to ovarian stimulation, but here are some averages based on age:

    · Under 35 years old: 10-15 eggs in one cycle.

    · 35-37 years old: 8-12 eggs in one cycle.

    · 38-40 years old: 6-8 eggs in one cycle.

    · Over 40 years old: 4-6 eggs per cycle.

  • For women under 35, the success rate of IVF is around 40% on the first round. For women between the ages of 35 and 37, the success rate typically drops to about 30-35%. For women aged 38-40, the success rate tends to be around 20-25%, and for those over 40, it can be as low as 10-15%. While IVF success on the first try may not be guaranteed, the cumulative success rates improve over time, and women over 35 see a 60-70% chance of success after multiple rounds.

  • The most recent data indicates that over 20,000 babies were born via IVF in 2022, which is around 1 in 16 births. Additionally, in 2022 the multiple birth rate decreased to a record low of 2.7%, attributed to the increasing practice of single embryo transfers, which now account for over 94% of IVF cycles.

  • This is the wrong way to look at it. Our approach is to achieve a pregnancy in the least amount of steps. If an IVF cycle is unsuccessful, you normally need to take a one month break before starting again.

  • Stage 1, Ovarian Stimulation (10-14 days): Hormone injections are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This phase is monitored through regular blood tests and ultrasounds.

    Stage 2, Egg Retrieval (20-30 minutes under light sedation): Once the eggs are mature, a minimally invasive procedure is done to collect them from the ovaries.

    Stage 3, Sperm Collection (performed simultaneously as egg retrieval): Sperm is collected from the male partner or a donor and processed in the lab to select the healthiest sperm for fertilisation.

    Stage 4, Fertilisation (3-5 days): The eggs are fertilised with sperm either naturally (conventional IVF) or via ICSI (injecting a single sperm into an egg).

    Stage 5, Embryo Transfer (10-15 minutes): The healthiest embryos are selected and transferred into the uterus using a simple catheter. A pregnancy test is done 10-14 days later.

  • For the most part, preparing for IVF means staying fit and healthy—7-9 hours of sleep a night, a balanced diet, regular but light exercise only, and mindfulness. You should also be taking any supplements recommended by your doctor, which might include folic acid up to three months before starting IVF.

  • IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilisation, a type of assisted reproductive technology (sometimes called ART) where an egg is fertilised by sperm outside of the body, in a laboratory dish, and then implanted for gestation.

  • The cost of a full IVF cycle starts at $10,000 and can run up to $14,000. The good news is that Medicare rebates are available, which can offset the cost. With the Medicare rebate, out-of-pocket expenses are likely to be $4,000-$7,500. If this is out of reach, then there are a number of avenues to explore, including clinics that offer bulk-billing, state-specific additional rebates, and coverage under private insurance.

  • A Medicare rebate is available for IVF, which can cover as much as half the total cost. This includes expenses like blood tests, ultrasounds, laboratory costs, egg retrieval, and embryo transfers. However, some costs, like cryopreservation, and certain diagnostic genetic tests, aren't covered by Medicare. To access these benefits, you’ll need a referral from your GP.

    Additionally, some clinics offer bulk-billing, and those in NSW can access the Fertility Rebate-2, which grants an additional $2,000 to those undergoing fertility treatments.

  • In Australia, gender selection is only permitted for medical reasons, meaning to avoid passing on specific conditions. For example, if parents are likely to pass on genetic conditions like haemophilia or muscular dystrophy (which primarily affect males) then they may be given the option to choose a female embryo through pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. A non-medical preference for male or female will not be taken into consideration.

  • The entire process, including ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation and embryo culture, embryo transfer, and a blood test 10-14 days later to check for the presence of the pregnancy hormone, can take around 4-6 weeks. However, for many people, it takes multiple cycles.

    On average, the success rate for the first cycle of IVF is about 40% for women under

    Many undergo 2-3 cycles to achieve pregnancy, and after two cycles, the cumulative success rate can be up to 91%.

    For women over 40, IVF may take multiple cycles and can be more challenging, with success rates falling to around 8-10% per cycle. Again, the cumulative success rate rises after multiple rounds.

  • You can use YourIVFSuccess, a site funded by the Australian Government, to find independent success rates for all accredited IVF clinics in Australia. When weighing up clinics, you should look at some key metrics, including live birth rate per complete egg retrieval cycle (which indicates the percentage of egg retrievals that result in a live birth), and live birth rate per embryo transfer (which shows the success rate of transferring an embryo leading to a live birth. You should also consider factors that influence those metrics, like if the clinic treats a disproportionately high number of complex cases.

    Since being established in 2024, Minerva Fertility Clinic has reported some promising early data, including a 75.9% clinical pregnancy rate for PGT-A tested embryos created in-house, which is above the national average.

PGT

  • Of course, the price of Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing varies based on the type of test, and the clinic chosen. However, in general:

    · PGT-A (aneuploidy screening) is approximately $750 per embryo, capped at $5,250 for up to seven embryos from the same IVF cycle.

    · PGT-SR (structural rearrangements) is around $780 per embryo, with a cap of $5,460 for up to seven embryos.

    · PGT-M (monogenic disorders) ranges from $2,730 to $2,960, depending on the complexity. The analysis costs $945 per embryo, capped at $6,615 for up to seven embryos.

  • Yes, Medicare rebates are available, provided you are undergoing PGT for specific genetic or chromosomal variations. Your fertility specialist or genetic counsellor can determine if you qualify for these rebates based on the type of genetic conditions being tested, and the number of embryos.

  • The success rate of Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) often depends on the age of the woman, the quality of the embryos, and the fertility clinic’s expertise.

    · PGT-A (which tests for tests for chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome, and Turner syndrome) can increase the chances of a successful pregnancy by 10-20%. For women under 35, the success rate of IVF with PGT-A can range between 55% to 75% per embryo transfer.

    · PGT-M (used to screen for single-gene disorders like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anaemia) generally has an accuracy of over 99% in terms of identifying unaffected embryos.

    · The success rate of PGT-SR (which tests for structural chromosomal abnormalities like translocations) depends on the nature of the chromosomal rearrangement, but in general, PGT-SR can improve the chances of pregnancy by reducing the risk of miscarriage.

Fertility Specialist

  • Basic fertility testing can be done by your GP, and costs no more than a standard visit. This testing can check general health and hormone levels. For more comprehensive testing, including sperm analysis and ovarian reserve testing, hormonal panels, or fallopian tube assessments, the costs can range from $80to $500. These tests often need to be performed by a fertility specialist or at a fertility clinic. If you're seeking genetic testing or Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) as part of fertility evaluations, these tests can cost significantly more. However, many fertility tests are eligible for a Medicare rebate, provided you have a referral from your GP.

  • Yes, your GP can perform an initial fertility assessment and order basic tests to check hormone levels, ovulation and sperm production. Any more complex exams (like ovarian reserve testing, hysterosalpingography to check the fallopian tubes, or semen analysis) will need to be performed by fertility specialists, whom you can access with a referral from your GP.

  • Fertility is a big umbrella, and fertility testing and treatment look different for everyone. That being said, many fertility treatments are fully or partly covered under Medicare with a referral from your GP.

    You can expect partial coverage for the following fertility treatments:

    · Intrauterine insemination, when performed in conjunction with ovulation induction and under the supervision of a fertility specialist.

    · IVF treatment, which is up to 75% covered by Medicare.

    · Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is covered by Medicare as part of an IVF cycle.

    · Egg and sperm freezing, particularly if it is done for medical reasons, like before cancer treatment.

    Medicare does not cover all of the cost of fertility medications, but some medications may be subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), especially for medications used in IVF.