Key Points
- Data from all IVF clinics in Australia are available on a government-funded website
- Experts advise examining various factors when choosing a fertility clinic
- Make sure to check if you are eligible for government-funded fertility services
- Fertility counselling helps you understand and prepare for any possible outcome of yours or your partner’s fertility treatment
- How do I choose an IVF clinic?
- Who provides my IVF treatment?
- Is IVF expensive?
- Is IVF the only option?
- Will I receive support when choosing?
In the years since the world’s first successful IVF application in 1978, it is estimated that between 10 and 13 million babies have been born via In Vitro Fertilisation across the globe.
Australia is among the countries with the highest rate of IVF cycles undertaken per capita.
According to latest available statistics, one in 16 babies born in Australia in 2022 were conceived through IVF.
This number is based on information collected by the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database (ANZARD).
Professor Georgina Chambers directs the research unit at the University of New South Wales that operates this national IVF registry.
“We get 100 per cent of IVF cycles reported to us by clinics,” Prof Chambers says, “because otherwise they would not be in accordance with their code of practise and their licencing agreement.”
ANZARD data are publicly available on yourivfsuccess.com.au, a website run independently of any clinic and funded by the Australian government.
Beyond national statistics and information about IVF treatment, site visitors can make use of personalised online tools.
One such tool is an estimator for females undergoing IVF treatment to calculate their chances of success.
“It allows people to enter information about themselves, such as their age, their partner's age, their diagnosis if they've got one, any previous history of IVF treatment that they've had,” Prof Chambers explains.
How do I choose an IVF clinic?
There is also an online database for IVF clinic success rates, compared to the national average of all IVF cycles in Australia.
“Patients can search by the name of the clinic, or they can pop in their postcode and search for clinics that are near them.”
But choosing a clinic that suits your individual needs is a complex decision that should not be merely based on success rates.
“A common misconception would be that the most expensive clinic is the best or that newer technology always guarantees success,” Petra Wale, President of the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand, says.
“The right clinic will be the one that listens to you, explains your options clearly, makes you feel supported every step of the way and can identify your needs and try to meet them.”
Dr Wale, whose background is in clinical embryology, encourages people to ask fertility clinics about their approach, including questions about:
- the level of personalised care offered
- transparency and scientific rigour safeguards
- support services available
- whether they tailor the treatment for their specific needs
- whether they tailor for cultural requirements
Who provides my IVF treatment?
When undergoing fertility treatment, you will work directly or indirectly with a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals.
They include your fertility specialist who will examine you and recommend an intervention, the fertility nurse, the clinical embryologist working in the laboratory, and the fertility counsellor.
Is IVF expensive?
Fertility treatments, including IVF, can be costly. Most people will have to pay the full, or at least some of the costs, through their private health insurance.
Eligible patients may be able to claim Medicare rebates. Your state or territory’s health service may also provide government-funded services.
Make sure to check with your doctor what applies in your individual case.
Associate Professor Alex Polyakov is a senior fertility consultant at the Royal Women’s Hospital, one of the service providers in Victoria offering fertility services through the public health system.
“The Public Fertility Service accepts referrals from GPs and then patients come in and have all the investigations. And that is usually followed by treatment, whatever is required.
Is IVF the only option?
“What’s important to remember is that IVF is not the first step. It is actually the last step in a sort of sequence of treatments,” Associate Professor Polyakov says.
Ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination are some other types of fertility treatments.
Will I receive support when choosing IVF?
Depending on your state or territory, fertility counselling may be mandatory by law for certain assisted reproductive treatments.
Mental health support is important, as it helps people address challenges in their relationships and decision-making during fertility treatment, Dr Wale says.
“Support can make all the difference.
“If patients are struggling, this is not a failure—it is just a sign that they need to reach out.”
And remember, infertility is not uncommon, nor something to be ashamed of.
“It's experienced by every aspect of our society and every culture and every ethnicity,” Dr Wale says.
“Somebody’s desire to pursue the right to have a family should be encouraged and supported, which is what fertility treatment is all about.”
Disclaimer: This information is general in nature. Contact your health practitioner for clear advice on your condition.
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