Fertility Assessment
Your gynaecologist or fertility specialist will want to assess both male and female partners. A full medical history with special attention to fertility factors such as menstrual history, timing of intercourse, any sexual issues and previous pregnancy history, will be taken.
Male assessment usually involves a semen analysis and in some cases, physical examination.
Female assessment usually includes ovulation testing, assessment of pelvic organs and tubal patency (usually by ultrasound scan or laparoscopy), hormone measurements and other gynaecological investigations as required.
Getting started
There are several preliminary steps you need to take in preparation for starting fertility treatment with us:
1. Initial Fertility Specialist appointment
The first step is to organise an appointment with one of our fertility specialists, who will review your medical history, organise initial investigations and discuss treatment options with you and your partner.
Please bring a doctor’s referral from a GP (valid for 12 months) or specialist if they are referring you for treatment (valid for three months). This will also ensure you are eligible for Medicare rebates.
Depending on the level of testing already performed, the fertility specialist may order further pathology tests. A number of investigations prior to treatment and planned pregnancy are routinely performed including: for women, rubella immunity (German measles), chicken pox immunity, syphilis serology, Full blood count, blood group and antibody status, hepatitis B and C, HIV and current pap smear and breast check (within last 2 years); and for men, hepatitis B and C, HIV and semen analysis. You may need to attend a follow up appointment to discuss the results of these tests and for our specialist to explain in detail your recommended treatment plan.
Pre-pregnancy screening for some genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis is available and can be discussed with your specialist.
2. New patient appointments
After the fertility specialist appointment(s), a member of our Patient Liaison Administration team will contact you to arrange your new patient appointments with appropriate Melbourne IVF staff sothat your treatment can proceed. Alternatively you can call them on (03) 9473 4444.
These appointments can be undertaken at one of our Melbourne IVF clinics most convenient to you.
The initial appointments include:
- an accounts session to explain the costs associated with your treatment, and to answer any questions you have related to these. This will help you understand the fees involved, and explain the complexities of the Medicare Safety Net, Medicare rebates and your final, out-of-pocket expenses.
- a meeting with a nurse who will explain what to expect in your upcoming IUI/IVF/ICSI treatment cycle, including any specific treatments, injection techniques and medications. It is best to arrange for the appointment to be about a week before you expect your period in the cycle that you plan to start a treatment cycle.
- a mandatory (Victorian legislation) counselling session with both partners, to discuss treatment options and various aspects of IVF, to sign consent forms, and to meet our counsellors. Most couples find this useful and informative. You may have faced many frustrations, disappointments and investigations before coming to Melbourne IVF. Once started, the treatment can be physically and emotionally challenging, and waiting for results can be stressful. Our counsellors are here for you at any stage of your treatment, even at short notice, if you need to discuss things or explore ways of coping.
3. Criminal Record (Police) Check and Child Protection Order Check
Current Victorian law (Infertility Treatment Act 2010) requires all patients to undertake a Criminal (Police) Record and Child Protection Order Check before commencing their treatment.
> Learn more about undertaking Criminal Record and Child Protection Order checks
> Meet our fertility specialists
> Find out more about IVF costs
