FEMALE FERTILITY
The effects of time.
Science tells us that a woman’s fertility peaks in her late teenage years to early 20’s, but for many women this timing doesn’t align with their goals in modern life. While experts agree that the best way for a woman to achieve spontaneous fertility is to try for a baby as early on in her adult life as possible, planning for a family isn’t always practical or desired during this life stage. We’re here to help you understand your options and empower you with all the knowledge you need to make the best choices for your future.
EGG FREEZING
Over the past decade we’ve seen revolutionary developments in the technology of egg freezing, cementing its place as a life-changing treatment opportunity for modern women. Freezing a good number of eggs at a young age (as close as possible to a woman’s peak fertility) can create an amazing resource for any woman to call upon later in her reproductive years. Vitrification is a proven freezing method where more than 85 per cent of frozen eggs now survive the warming process for use in IVF, allowing eggs to retain their fertility potential (relative to the age a woman was at the time of egg-freezing).
As the founder and Medical Director of Women’s Health Melbourne, Dr Raelia Lew is highly specialised in egg freezing and remains a leading academic researcher in the field. She is also the author of the ANZSREI (Australian and New Zealand Society of Reproductive Endocrinologists and Infertility Subspecialists) consensus guideline on elective oocyte cryopreservation. Raelia has developed effective, forward-thinking strategies to maximise each patients’ treatment success, so you can feel confident in our care.
IN-VITRO FERTILISATION (IVF)
In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technology, where sperm and egg are united outside of the body (in-vitro). Embryos formed are assessed and compared, before a woman’s strongest and best embryo is replaced through her cervical canal into her uterus. IVF is recommended to couples struggling to overcome a variety of fertility barriers, including fallopian tube blockage or post-surgical absence.
Women’s Health Melbourne is Australia’s leading boutique fertility clinic, with a highly respected team of multi-disciplinary practitioners that are experts in their field. While IVF treatment can seem a difficult or daunting task, we believe in providing all our patients with the most advanced, personalised care to ensure the best possible experience and outcome.
PRECONCEPTION GENETIC EMBRYO TESTING (PGT)
Preconception Genetic Embryo Testing (PGT) is the genetic testing of embryos created by IVF, which can identify embryos affected by an inherited genetic condition. PGT can also be utilised to detect random whole chromosome errors that become more common in women aged 35 and over. This process ensures that only embryos clear from the genetic disease or DNA imbalance are transferred for a healthy pregnancy, which is particularly beneficial for families at risk of having a baby with a serious or lethal genetic disease.
The PGT process involves the biopsy of an embryo, with the removal of approximately 5 to 7 cells for testing. To ensure the removal of cells does not impair the embryo’s potential to result in a pregnancy, the biopsy is usually conducted between days 5 to 7 of development (the blastocyst stage), where the embryo has more than 200 cells. The area of the embryo that is sampled is the trophectoderm – destined to become the baby’s placenta – so that the inner cell mass, which is to become the baby itself, remains untouched.
Sophisticated genetic diagnostic techniques – including Polymerase Chain Reaction, Karyomapping, massively parallel gene sequencing, comparative genomic hybridization and single nucleotide polymorphism arrays – are used to determine both the chromosome makeup of the embryo (PGT-A) and whether an inherited genetic mutation (PGT-M) or chromosome structural rearrangement such as a translocation or chromosome inversion (PGT-SR) is present.
INTRA-UTERINE INSEMINATION
Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI) is categorised as a less invasive alternative to IVF, where sperm from a male partner or donor is washed, prepared, concentrated and optimised before being inserted directly through a woman’s cervix into the womb. At Women’s Health Melbourne, we plan your treatment to perfectly align with your ovulation, allowing the sperm to reach the fallopian tubes and find an egg with increased aim and accuracy.
While pregnancy success rates with IUI are lower than that of IVF, your WHM specialist may feel that it’s a worthwhile treatment to combat milder male factor concerns (such as sperm problems, or sexual dysfunction with erectile and ejaculatory disorders) and vaginismus, where natural sexual intercourse is hard to achieve. Depending on the strength and available quantity of frozen donor sperm, in some IUI may also be used for donor sperm conception.
SECONDARY INFERTILITY
Secondary infertility is a term used for a woman or couple who have had one or more children together, but are now having difficulty conceiving another baby. As we age, both men and women’s fertility can change with time, along with many other medical and environmental factors.
While many women often assume that it’s their fertility at fault, both male and female infertility factors can occur. At Women’s Health Melbourne our approach involves a thorough investigation of both partners, which allows for the most timely diagnosis and solutions-focused treatment plan.
DONOR CONCEPTION
Donor conception is the use of sperm, egg and sometimes both (or a donated embryo) to conceive and have a baby. At Women’s Health Melbourne, we know that families come in all shapes and sizes, which is why we aim to facilitate options to suit your unique goals. Donor conception, in some circumstances, is the right (and sometimes the only) way for many women and couples to start a family.
POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that affects between 8 to 12 per cent of Australian women. PCOS is characterised by a combination of insulin resistance and elevated androgen levels, which can cause a number of issues throughout the body. In relation to fertility, women with PCOS are prone to developing multiple small, hormonally active follicles on each ovary – a so-called polycystic ovarian appearance.
In actual fact, these follicles are not true cysts but represent numerous ovarian follicles, each containing an egg cell. Each follicle is also a small hormone-making factory, working together to produce high levels of ovarian steroid hormones, which can perpetuate a vicious cycle of irregular periods or anovulation (failure to ovulate) and make achieving pregnancy very difficult.
PCOS can also trigger peripheral androgen effects, such as unwanted hair growth, skin pigmentation and acne. Some women with PCOS may also experience significant scalp hair loss, which can be distressing. At Women’s Health Melbourne, we understand the far-reaching impact that PCOS can have on a woman’s life. Our holistic team of doctors and allied health experts work together seamlessly to help each of our patients take back control and solve any associated problems.
OVULATION DISORDERS
If you’re experiencing irregular, heavy or prolonged periods, your ovulation may be impaired. This could be due to a variety of factors, including thyroid or adrenal gland issues, stress, eating disorders, excessive physical exertion, genetic conditions and systemic illnesses. Without regular ovulation, the chances of falling pregnant natural can be greatly reduced, which is why our team work with you to identify the cause and problem-solve for the best outcome.
OVULATION INDUCTION
Healthy ovulation is crucial to conceive naturally, but there are a number of common causes that can disrupt your menstrual cycle rhythm. PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent, but irregular ovulation may also be related to a variety of other factors, including your genetics, nutrition, stress and environment. However most patients struggling with these issues can successfully conceive with ovulation induction treatments (OI).
OI involves a range of techniques that work in conjunction with cycle monitoring and accurately timed sexual intercourse to ensure ovulation occurs, giving you the best chance for a natural pregnancy. At Women’s Health Melbourne, we provide you with the option of carefully monitoring your cycle with ultrasound follicle tracking, blood tests and luteal phase progesterone support to ensure your best chance of conception.
Our team of specialists and nurses are experts in OI treatment, providing innovative OI techniques with a proven track record of helping women to successfully conceive naturally. While OI can be linked to an increased probability of twins (and more rarely, higher-order multiple pregnancies such as triplets), our team are equipped with the experience to ensure the lowest possible risk of multiple pregnancies.
IVF FOR SINGLE WOMEN
Advancements in technology have greatly expanded the choices for women when it comes to starting a family. Women are now empowered to decide when and how they would like to conceive, which for many means exploring the path of single parenthood.
Whatever your circumstances, becoming a parent is a lifelong dream for many that is no longer reliant on having a partner. Our Women’s Health Melbourne team believe that pursing motherhood without a partner is a brave and deeply personal choice that should always be supported without stigma, which is evident in our empathetic, individualised patient care.