IVF

In Australia, infertility affects 1 in 6 couples trying to conceive. This journey can be isolating and difficult, causing significant emotional distress to both partners. Fortunately, modern medicine in the form of assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), is available to give many of these couples – as well as single women – a chance to grow their families.

Dr Simon Nothman is a highly trained fertility specialist consulting out of the leading Genea IVF clinic in Bondi Junction and Sydney CBD. In addition to providing expert advice and oversight to your IVF journey, he is also experienced in managing a range of women’s health issues that may be contributing to infertility.

The IVF process

Your initial consultation with Dr Nothman involves an in-depth assessment of the health of both you and your partner, with particular focus on factors that contribute to fertility. This involves a review of your general medical history, as well as additional tests such as blood tests, ultrasounds, and semen analyses, on which basis Dr Nothman will advise on possible options to help you build the family you desire.

If it’s decided that IVF is your chosen route forward, Dr Nothman will explain the process in depth: Ordinarily, you, as the female partner, will be prescribed hormone medications to stimulate your ovaries to develop more eggs than they would naturally. Your male partner will have the opportunity to provide a fresh sperm sample to fertilise the eggs, or you may choose to use donor sperm.

During the stimulation phase of your IVF treatment, which usually begins after you get your period, Dr Nothman and his team will continue to monitor your body’s response through blood tests and ultrasounds. Other than ensuring your general wellbeing is maintained throughout the process, these review appointments allow Dr Nothman to determine whether changes in medications or dosages are required, and to identify the best time to collect your eggs.

At the right time as determined by these tests, you’ll be given an injection of another hormone medication – the “trigger”. This stimulates the final maturation of eggs in the ovaries, which will be collected about 36 hours later.

Retrieving your eggs is performed as a day procedure under general or local anaesthesia and usually takes about 15-20 minutes. With a fine needle and internal ultrasound, Dr Nothman can access your ovaries to collect the eggs.
In Genea’s world-leading laboratory, the eggs are prepared for fertilisation with either your partner’s or a donor’s sperm under controlled conditions.

The resulting fertilised eggs then grow into embryos. The healthiest embryos are selected for transfer into your uterus or for freezing. Some couples may choose to have preimplantation genetic testing to assess for genetic anomalies before the transfer.

Who should consider IVF?

IVF is a type of assisted reproductive technology, designed for people who are unable to conceive naturally. Infertility is defined as being unable to achieve a pregnancy within 12 months of unprotected, regular sexual intercourse.

Dr Nothman may suggest you consider IVF if:

• You have had a past sterilisation procedure, such as tubal ligation for women or vasectomy for men
• Your egg count is lower than expected
• You are a woman with severe endometriosis or other gynaecological condition associated with infertility
• You are a single woman wishing to bear children with donor sperm
• You are a couple affected by male factor infertility or unexplained infertility
• You have tried other fertility treatments without success
• You are under 35 and have been trying to conceive for over 12 months, or over 35 and have been trying to conceive for 6 months, depending on the results of investigations, testing, and your reproductive desires