Here’s why more Aussies are turning to IVF to grow their families.

Unlike only a few generations ago, Australians are choosing to have children later in life, instead using their twenties and thirties to focus on their passions, careers and relationships. 

But with a woman’s peak reproductive years in her late teens and early twenties, fertility begins to decline from age 30 onwards. By age 45, conceiving naturally is considered extremely unlikely for most women. 

However, thanks to the decades-long dedication and innovation of scientists in the field, natural conception is no longer the only option available for couples and individuals looking to expand their families.

According to the Body+Soul Health of the Nation survey findings, 9 per cent of millennial women report experiencing infertility or reproductive challenges in the last 12 months. While only 5 per cent of Aussies were revealed to be currently undertaking IVF treatment or to have used it in the past, the overall consideration for IVF is growing rapidly across the country. 

37 per cent of Gen Z women and 28 per cent of Millenial women say they would consider freezing their eggs for the purpose of improving their fertility outcomes in the future. 

While IVF consideration is growing, 1 in 4 Gen Z and Millenial women reveal feeling unsure about the process, indicating perhaps a lack of awareness and education around the issue. According to Connect IVF Scientific Director Lauren Hiser, while our nation’s acceptance and understanding of IVF still has room for improvement, we’ve come a long way since the game-changing conception method first surfaced in Australia.

“Since the inception of IVF in Australia in 1980 with the birth of Candice Reed, society’s understanding and acceptance of IVF has changed dramatically. When IVF first commenced and became a practical treatment for infertility in Australians, there was intense moral debate and scrutiny over whether IVF should be allowed to be performed at all,” says Hiser. 

“Fortunately, common sense and science prevailed, and IVF treatment is now a mainstream medical treatment for infertility in both men and women. It is now a treatment well accepted by Australians, who have the expectation that they should have affordable access to it should they medically require it.”

Why is IVF growing in popularity?

It’s no coincidence that the growing popularity of IVF treatment in Australia coincides with both the rising cost of living and people’s decision to start a family later in life, says Hiser. 

“We as a society are leaving starting a family to much later. This is driven by both more life options than previous generations which is a good thing, but it’s also being driven by the recent years' rise in inflation and reduced affordability for housing, living costs and affordability of starting a family,” she explains.

Additionally, IVF success rates have continued to increase as new medical breakthroughs and IVF technology improvements have given people increased confidence to use IVF. “With the introduction of bulk-billed and lower cost IVF providers, Improved affordability I believe has driven, and will continue to drive, improved access and use of IVF in Australia,” Hiser adds.

How has IVF technology improved to increase success rates?

While there’s no denying the IVF industry and research units are constantly striving to improve success rates – as seen in the yearly ANZARD data report – Hiser urges prospective IVF users to be cautious of any technologies and therapies that promise success.

“Many of these new technologies and therapies could be considered as “IVF add-ons”, which offer an increased chance of success if the service is added onto the IVF cycle and of course at an additional cost,” clarifies Hiser. “The reality is most of these “IVF add-ons” are either shown to be not effective or even detrimental to a patient’s chance of success per cycle.”

Some examples of these services could include:

• PGT (Pre-implantation genetic testing)
• Time-lapse incubation
• AI embryo selection
• Sperm preparation devices
• Advanced insemination techniques
• Use of specific culture media or embryo transfer media
• Endometrial receptivity tests
• Immunotherapies 

“As the IVF industry (like many health-related industries) is more and more consumer-led, patients come to demand these services even when it is explained that the requested service may not be beneficial to their individual treatment,” Hiser says.

“In terms of the industry as a whole, we are committed to continued research looking for the next big leap forward in IVF success rates, but currently no proven leap has been identified.”

What are the biggest misconceptions about IVF

#1. People will only require one IVF cycle

Fact: “They may require more than one cycle, depending on their individual fertility health.”

#2. The IVF journey will be quick, just a month or two.

Fact: “It will take longer due to all of the complexities around donor IVF, sourcing sperm and the testing of genetic material.”

#3. Women can easily have babies in their 40s and 50s these days

Fact: “ In reality, while it is true some women can have natural fertility in their early 40s and even later, this is the exception to the rule. Fertility drastically declines from 37 onwards and many trying to conceive from this age onwards will require fertility treatment. The reality is that above the age of 40 a woman using her own eggs has a 5 per cent chance of a live birth per IVF cycle started, this reduces further to 1 per cent for each woman above 45 years.”

#4. Alcohol, smoking, vaping and recreational drug use don’t impact a couple’s ability to get pregnant

Fact: “All these lifestyle factors increase the free radicals or reactive oxygen agents in the body, these molecules, in turn, can damage cells, cause inflammation and chronic illnesses. This has an impact on male and female fertility and the chances of a healthy child.”