SA Senator criticises two SA IVF clinics for opting out of database

Two IVF clinics have not consented to having their success rate data published on a public database. Senator Stirling Griff says he is disappointed in them.

Two South Australian IVF clinics have been criticised for not allowing their success rates to be published on a new public database that aims to provide greater transparency within the fertility sector.

The clinics are among six eligible facilities across Australia that did not consent to having their data featured on the YourIVFSuccess website.

However, the clinics have defended their decision, with one raising concerns about the integrity of the new website and the other saying they planned to have their data on the site later this year.

Senator Stirling Griff, who advocated for the creation of the YourIVFSuccess website, told Federal Parliament on Wednesday he was “disappointed” that Fertility SA and Flinders Fertility decided against permitting their statistics to be published on the site.

South Australian Senator Stirling Griff, who advocated for the creation of the YourIVFSuccess website, told Federal Parliament on Wednesday he was “disappointed” that Fertility SA and Flinders Fertility decided against permitting their statistics to be published on the site.

All IVF clinics in Australia must submit their success rates to the Australia and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database, which is managed by the University of NSW.

During the creation of the YourIVFSuccess rate website, clinics were asked for their permission to publish their ANZARD data on the new website.

Of the 85 clinics that exist across Australia, 76 have been operating long enough to have their data published and of these, 70 consented to having their statistics displayed on the website.

The website was launched on Monday and features success rate data from these clinics as well as an “IVF success estimator”.

Mr Griff said the information on the website was rigorous and “cannot be manipulated by clinics to game the system”.

“Both (Flinders Fertility and Fertility SA) state they are proud of their clinics,” he said.

“I would argue that if they are as good as they say they are they should be proud to display those results on the website alongside their peers.”

Fertility SA medical director Dr Bruno Radesic said Fertility SA decided not to submit data for theYourIVFSuccess website “at this time”.

“We are concerned about the integrity and accuracy of data volunteered as there appears to be no evidence that the Your IVF Success public website validates published data for completeness against Medicare records,” he said.

Dr Radesic said the clinic published its success rates on its own website.

Flinders Fertility chief executive officer Lee Battye said her clinic wanted to “wait and see” how the YourIVFSuccess website developed.

“Judging from what we have seen so far, we plan to join later this year,” she said.

“In the meantime our current success rates are available on our website.”

Repromed is the only SA clinic that has allowed its data to be published on the YourIVFSuccess website.

Repromed medical director Professor Kelton Tremellen said patients had a right to information about IVF clinic success rates.

“Patients want to have that data,” he said.

Grace Stefanato, 37, of Rostrevor, went through seven failed IVF cycles before switching clinics and having success on her first cycle with the new facility.

She is now the proud mum of Max, 6, and Alex, 2.

“If there had been a place to go for... statistics, we probably would have gone with Repromed sooner,” she said.

Adelaide-based Family Fertility is also listed on the website as not providing data, however the clinic has not been operating long enough to have sufficient statistics for display.