IVF treatment in Victoria to be reviewed by state government

POSSIBLE age limits for women and men seeking IVF, caps on the number of cycles and how costly add-on treatments are sold will be investigated as the state government reviews fertility treatment laws.

POSSIBLE age limits for women and men seeking IVF, caps on the number of ­cycles a woman should undergo and how success rates are published will be investigated as part of a wideranging ­review of the state’s fertility treatment laws.

The first review of Victoria’s assisted reproductive treatment legislation in a decade, to be announced by Health Minister Jill Hennessy today, is also expected to examine how costly add-on treatments are being sold to patients.

The review, to be conducted by Alfred Health chairman Michael Gorton, will examine if there “are adequate safeguards to protect consumers”, according to the minister.

It comes as demand mounts for so-called “three-parent IVF” and gene editing to be allowed here, two procedures offering hope to older couples overseas or those hoping to avoid passing on some genetic disorders.

“Everyone knows somebody with a story of assisted reproduction — and while there are stories of joy, many people’s experiences end in heartbreak,” Ms Hennessy said.

“From women who have been through dozens of rounds of treatment without success to those who, due to age or medical history, may need to look at alternative reproductive options, we’re determined to make sure our legislation gives women the care they deserve — and the best chance at a positive outcome.”

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She said she was determined to ensure women and families using assisted reproduction were receiving “realistic information” and were supported throughout the process.

Dr Karin Hammarberg, a researcher with Monash University’s School of Public Health, said there was a strong need for marketing of “adjuvants” ­(special extra treatments often recommended to patients) to be examined, as well as the way success rates were or were not portrayed to patients.

“We hear a lot from patients that they’re endlessly frustrated about how to interpret success rate figures and advertising that goes along with that,” said Dr Hammarberg, who has just conducted a comprehensive study of the marketing on all Australian IVF clinic websites.

She described the way success rates were communicated on clinic websites as “sometimes murky” and the benefit of add-ons such as “embryo glue”, “assisted hatching” and “sperm selection” as questionable.

Adjuvants can cost up to “$500 to $700 each” and are not covered by Medicare.

She said advertising should be examined in the Gorton review and it could consider the introduction of stricter rules.

“Competition between clinics has really accelerated, there’s a lot of almost warfare out there over patients, it’s a lucrative industry and has ­become corporatised.

“Hopefully (the review’s eventual recommendations) will help patients become more able to discern where their best chances are and what will best benefit them.”

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