Assisted fertility and IVF

If you have not been able to get pregnant after trying for 1 year (or 6 months if you are over 35) you should speak with your doctor about fertility help.

Assisted fertility services are not available through the public health system. There are a number of private clinics across Queensland, speak with your doctor for a referral.

As a private health service you will be responsible for the cost of your treatment, however you may be able to claim some of the cost back through Medicare or private health insurance.

Common fertility problems

For women

• ovulation issues, such as irregular menstrual periods or no periods at all
• blocked or abnormal fallopian tubes
• endometriosis—where the tissue that normally lines the womb (endometrium) grows outside the uterus. It can also affect the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the bowel
• polycystic ovarian syndrome—where ovaries develop more follicles than normal every month.

For men

• poor quality sperm
• low sperm count
• blockages in the tubes of the reproductive system.

Diagnosing infertility

To diagnose the cause of your infertility, specialists will check key areas including ovulation, sperm quality, egg and sperm union, and implantation. Tests may include:

• physical examination
• semen analysis—to check quality of sperm
• blood tests—to assess hormone levels
• ultrasound scans—to check the health of the reproductive organs
• laparoscopy—surgery to examine the female reproductive organs
• testicular biopsy—surgery to check the male network of tubes.

Assisted fertility options

If infertility is diagnosed, there are a number of assisted fertility options such as:

• Intrauterine insemination (IUI)—inserting sperm through the cervix and into the uterus close to the time of ovulation. It is a painless, non-invasive procedure, and is often successful when addressing fertility problems such as minor sperm abnormalities, hostile cervix and unexplained infertility.
• In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)—fertilising the egg in a laboratory. The process involves collecting eggs from the woman and placing them in a dish with sperm provided by the man. Embryos formed from fertilised eggs are then transferred into the woman’s uterus.

Find out more about fertility treatments by discussing referral options with your GP.