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Fertility Treatment Guide

We will support you with information you need to help you make right decisions.

We will support you with information you need to help you make right decisions.

Information

What is Fertility Treatment?

There are many types of fertility treatment available, ranging from simple interventions such as, medication to help a person ovulate, to more complicated procedures known as assisted reproductive treatment (ART). ART refers to medical and scientific methods used to help people conceive.
Fertility treatments can be used: • to treat subfertility and infertility • to help people who identify as LGBTQIA+ have children • to help single people have children • for people who are unable to become pregnant, carry a pregnancy or give birth • to reduce the chance of a child inheriting a genetic disease or abnormality • to preserve fertility

Questions before Treatments

When considering fertility tests and treatments, ARTFam recommends asking the following five questions, designed by Choose Wisely Australia by NPS Medicine Wise:

1. Do I really need this test, treatment or procedure?
2. What are the risks?
3. Are there simpler, safer options?
4. What happens if I don’t do anything?
5. What are the costs?

Additionally, ARTFam recommends asking your doctor a sixth question:
6. Will it improve my chance of having a baby?

Information

Costs of ART treatments

In Australia, Medicare and private health insurers cover some of the costs associated with IVF but there are also substantial out-of-pocket costs.
Note: If you have the appropriate level of coverage, private health insurers typically only cover in-patient item numbers. For the specific item numbers, you will need to contact your clinic.

Medicare also covers some of the costs associated with IUI procedures. This includes blood tests, ultrasounds scans, some treatment medications, sperm preparation, and insemination procedures but there are out-of-pocket costs associated with IUI treatment.
The difference between the Medicare contribution and the amount charged by the clinic is the ‘out-of-pocket cost’. These costs vary depending on the treatment, the fertility clinic and whether you have reached the Medicare Safety Net threshold.

For OI, ICSI, PGT and procedures with donor gametes (eggs, sperm or embryos) costs vary between each clinic and depend on the treatment plan and medications prescribed.
For more information regarding costs it’s best to speak to your fertility clinic.

Information

Summary

Your chances of achieving a successful pregnancy and healthy birth depend on making your way to what amounts to a significant obstacle course.
Your health is obviously a major factor, as is your determination to succeed. So is a clear understanding of the causes of your infertility and how best to circumvent them.

In evaluating and choosing the fertility tests and treatments that meet your specific needs, important considerations obviously include a close look at costs, risks, necessity, and the potential availability of simpler, safer options. Your personal medical history and circumstances are major factors in making the right choices and decisions.

Additionally, accessing fertility treatments involving donors or surrogates requires careful consideration of medical history, legal agreements, and the possibility of future contact between all parties.
When considering treatment overseas, it is crucial to understand the laws and regulations of the chosen country and to seek local medical advice first.

Using fertility treatments within Australia offers legal protections, regulated healthcare, and support networks that may not be available abroad. Other complications involve formalising arrangements in writing, ensuring compliance with regulations, being especially mindful of overseas laws and other potential problem areas.
Treatments in Australia provide easier communication, legal recognition of parentage, limits on donor usage to prevent excessive offspring from one donor, cultural alignment with donors and surrogates along with access to regulated healthcare and support networks.

Resources

Helpful Resources & Support

Bookshop and Resources

Bookshop
Donor Conception Conversations with Rhiannon

Free Downloadable Guides

Using Superannuation for Treatment

VARTA Guides

Possible health effects of IVF Cost of IVF Understanding IVF success rates ICSI and its possible health effects Preimplantation genetic testing explained The pros and cons of preimplantation genetic testing of aneuploidy (PGT-A) Healthtalk Australia: Experiences of fertility treatment

NB: These resources where created by the now closed Government organisation VARTA : Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (Closed 2024)