Is egg freezing right for you?

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If you’d like to have a family one day, egg freezing offers a way to preserve some of your younger, healthier eggs by storing them for future use. This option can help protect your future fertility, giving you the freedom to plan pregnancy when the time feels right – without feeling rushed by your biological clock – while increasing your chances of conceiving if any challenges arise.

At Newlife IVF, we believe egg freezing should be an accessible and affordable option for all women, no matter their reasons for choosing this path.

Why do women freeze their eggs?

In some cases, egg freezing is about timing – the right time for you to have a baby may not be the right time in terms of your fertility. Whether you’re focusing on your career, furthering your education, travelling, waiting for the right partner or achieving financial stability, egg freezing offers flexibility for those who aren’t yet ready to commence trying to conceive. Freezing your eggs at a younger age, when they are more likely to be of higher quality, helps preserve your fertility by ‘pressing pause’ on the natural decline in egg quality that comes with ageing. This gives you the option to revisit your family-building goals when the timing feels right for you.

Egg freezing for medical reasons

Certain health conditions and medical treatments can affect fertility, making egg freezing a valuable option. For example, it may be recommended before treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy to help preserve future reproductive options.

Additionally, women with reproductive health concerns, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), may consider egg freezing as a proactive step in preserving their fertility. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, which can affect egg quality and reduce ovarian reserve. Similarly, PCOS, a hormonal disorder that disrupts ovulation, can lead to increased difficulties in conceiving. In these cases, freezing eggs may provide an option for future family planning, including the possibility of IVF if needed.

What is the best age to freeze your eggs?

Once you have made the decision to freeze your eggs, it’s best to get started as soon as possible – ideally in your late 20s or early 30s when you still have a reasonable number of good-quality eggs. The quantity and quality of eggs are the most important factors when going through fertility treatment.

Unfortunately, eggs collected from women over the age of 35 are not as successful when used in IVF cycles. Therefore, if you are over 35, we will typically try to collect a greater number of eggs which means that you may have to go through more egg freezing cycles. This increases the likelihood that one or more of the eggs we collect will be appropriate for IVF, should you need to go down this path in the future.

What does egg freezing involve?

This infographic outlines the various steps involved in egg freezing: obtaining a GP referral, consulting with a fertility specialist, meeting with other team members, awaiting your period before starting the medication, undergoing blood tests and scans, administering a trigger injection (to induce egg maturation), attending days surgery for egg collection, and freezing and storing eggs.

Step 1 – obtain a GP referral

You need a referral from your GP before seeing a fertility specialist to discuss egg freezing. This also allows you to access the Medicare rebate if you are eligible, e.g. where an underlying illness or medical treatment could impact your future fertility.

Step 2 – fertility specialist appointment

Your Newlife IVF fertility specialist will review your medical history, order any blood tests and ultrasounds required, and develop a personalised treatment plan based on your unique circumstances. Your specialist will also discuss with you the number of eggs they expect to be able to collect based on your age and other factors, the likely chance of pregnancy from using eggs frozen at your age, and whether multiple egg collection cycles might be beneficial for you.

Step 3 – additional appointments

You’ll have a session with one of our counsellors to ensure you feel informed and supported. We’ll arrange a finance meeting to provide a clear breakdown of all costs involved, and you’ll meet with one of our fertility nurses, who will guide you through the treatment process. Your nurse will tell you about the different medications involved in egg freezing, teach you how to self-inject the required hormonal medications at home, and let you know what to expect during the egg collection procedure at our day surgery.

Step 4 – preparing for treatment

Once your period begins (day 1), call the nursing team to inform them. On day 2, start your medication as directed to start stimulating your ovaries (see next step).

Step 5 – ovarian stimulation

In order to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs for collection, you will need to self-administer daily hormone injections over an 8–14 day period (we will show you how to do this safely and comfortably).

Step 6 – monitoring

Throughout the stimulation period, we will use ultrasound to monitor any developing follicles (which contain your eggs). This helps us determine the best time to collect your eggs.

Step 7 – egg collection

Once mature, we will collect your eggs while you are lightly sedated. Surgery takes 10–15 minutes and an average of 8–15 eggs are typically collected.

Step 8 – storage

From the eggs we collect, we will identify any mature eggs and freeze them. Your frozen eggs will be carefully stored in our quality-controlled facility until a time when you might choose to use them in the future (frozen eggs can be stored for up to ten years in Victoria).

What are the success rates for conceiving a baby using frozen eggs?

Egg freezing provides the potential for a future pregnancy, but success is not guaranteed. While over 98% of frozen eggs survive the thawing process, achieving pregnancy depends on several key IVF stages, including fertilisation, embryo development and implantation in the uterus – each with its own challenges.

The likelihood of a live birth from frozen eggs is further influenced by your age at the time of freezing and the number and quality of eggs collected. Age is the most reliable indicator of egg quality, with younger eggs generally having a higher chance of leading to a successful pregnancy. For example:

  • If a woman freezes 20 eggs before the age of 35, the estimated chance of having a baby from those eggs is around 80%
  • Freezing 40 eggs increases this likelihood to approximately 95%.

Therefore, if you are considering egg freezing, speaking with a fertility specialist earlier rather than later can help you explore your options. While each person’s fertility journey is unique, starting the conversation in your younger years typically provides more flexibility and choices for your future family planning. The natural biology of egg quality means that preserving eggs at a younger age may increase your chances of successful fertility treatment later on, should you choose that path.

The number of eggs collected in each cycle depends on a patient’s ovarian reserve and how their body responds to the medication. Because of this, egg freezing may require multiple treatment cycles to achieve an optimal number of eggs for future use.

What are the costs involved?

Newlife IVF is committed to offering reasonable pricing, reflecting our belief that egg freezing should be accessible to all. While elective (non-medical) egg freezing isn’t covered by Medicare, egg freezing for medical reasons is. You can visit our fees page for a general overview of the costs involved. We recommend booking an appointment with one of our fertility specialists for personalised advice and a clearer understanding of the costs based on your specific circumstances.

Your timeline, your choice

Life doesn’t wait for anyone – but you can make your eggs wait for you. Be fertility ready when you’re ready.

Talk to us about egg freezing.

How embryos develop – from egg retrieval to blastocyst

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After retrieval, the egg and sperm are combined, and if fertilisation is successful, your embryo spends the first few days growing in the lab under the expert care of our team. This blog will help guide you through these early embryo development steps before transfer or freezing.

Factors affecting embryo development

Embryo development is a complex process that requires a combination of genetic, environmental and physiological factors to progress successfully. To achieve good embryo development, we require:

Healthy egg and sperm

The egg and sperm provide the genetic blueprint for development. Each embryo needs a complete set of 46 chromosomes – 23 from the egg and 23 from the sperm. Some embryos inherit incorrect genetic instructions that can impact embryo development and make it harder for them to divide and grow as expected.

Mitochondrial energy

Embryos need energy to divide and grow, which is provided by mitochondria (tiny energy-producing structures in cells). Poor mitochondrial function can slow or stop embryo development.
Efficient metabolic function:

An embryo’s metabolic function provides both energy and the building blocks needed for development. This includes the creation of protein and fats, and the removal of waste products that can be toxic to the embryo. Together, these provide what the embryo needs for growth, cell division and viability.

Timely cell division

Embryos should ideally divide at a regular pace (2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, etc.). Uneven and/or delayed division can mean the embryo is of suboptimal quality and may not develop as expected.

Embryonic genome activation

Around Day 3 (see diagram below), embryos start using their own DNA instead of relying on maternal DNA (genetic code from the egg). If this DNA transfer is inadequate, interrupted or missing, this can slow or stop the development of an embryo.

Stable conditions

Embryos need the right temperature, oxygen and pH balance to grow. These factors are carefully assessed and monitored continuously in the laboratory environment.

Difficulties or inaccuracies in any of these processes can affect the way an embryo grows and can impact whether an embryo will reach the blastocyst stage (where it has divided into many cells), making it suitable for transfer or freezing.

Safeguarding your embryos is our highest priority

We understand how important every embryo is to your journey. That’s why we use the most advanced technology and scientifically proven methods to create the ideal environment for embryo development. From carefully performing every procedure to closely monitoring each embryo’s progress, our highly trained embryologists work tirelessly to give each embryo the best possible chance to grow and thrive.

We maintain strict laboratory conditions, including precise temperature, humidity and air quality control to mimic the natural environment as closely as possible. Our team carefully observes each embryo’s development at every stage. Even though not all embryos will reach the blastocyst stage, please know that we do everything in our power to maximise their potential. Your dream of building a family is at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to providing the best possible care every step of the way.

If you have any questions about embryo development or your fertility journey, please reach out to Newlife IVF. In the meantime, let’s walk through the different stages of embryo development to help you better understand the process.

 

Building resilience during IVF – how to cope with the highs and lows

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Building emotional resilience during IVF treatment can help you manage these emotions, recover from setbacks and cope with life’s difficulties and uncertainties.

What is resilience?

‘Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress.’1

Being resilient does not mean avoiding feelings of stress or emotional pain – rather, it is adapting to difficult or unexpected circumstances and bouncing back from the experience.

Resilience improves your wellbeing during fertility treatment

Concerning fertility, research has shown that higher levels of resilience among couples struggling with fertility are associated with enhanced quality of life and emotional stability, as well as lower fertility-related distress.2
Beyond helping you cope during fertility treatment, building resilience can have a positive impact on your overall health and wellbeing, leading to3:

    • Fewer depressive symptoms
    • Improved adaptation to stress
    • Enhanced ability to cope during distressing experiences
    • Improved physical health.

 

How to build resilience during fertility treatment

Like progressively strengthening a muscle, you can learn to become more resilient to life’s challenges over time. Here are some examples that may help.

Grow supportive connections

Drawing on the support of those around you, including your partner (where applicable), family or friends, can help share the emotional load of your experience as you continue with your fertility treatment.4 Help is a two-way street – in addition to accepting help, supporting your loved ones through difficult moments can help you feel connected to others while giving you a sense of satisfaction, in turn strengthening your resilience. Small and simple gestures like checking in with a friend or lending an empathetic ear while others are dealing with stress can also distract you from an inward focus where you feel stuck in your own problems.

Manage uncertainty

During fertility counselling sessions, we often dive into how to navigate feelings of uncertainty and lack of control that can be experienced during fertility treatment. This is because learning how to accept uncertainty – not just during fertility treatment but throughout life in general – can help develop resilience.

But merely accepting the unpredictability and ‘unknowns’ of your fertility care is not an easy thing to do, which is why we recommend practising mindfulness. Instead of latching onto feelings of uncertainty when these thoughts arise, acknowledge their existence and try to move through these feelings. This is one of the hardest things to do, so be kind to yourself while you work on this.

Set small, achievable goals

The pride and sense of accomplishment you feel when achieving a goal is motivating and energising, helping you to feel more optimistic. Research has shown that breaking down your overarching goal into smaller short-term goals can help reframe your mindset while also relieving feelings of disappointment after a negative fertility treatment cycle.4

So ensuring that your goals are achievable is a great way to build resilience. In this instance, the importance is not the goal itself but the process of setting small goals and noticing your progress.

Break down each step in your fertility treatment cycle into mini-goals – this might include taking your hormone injections each day, completing your blood tests and scans, having your embryo transfer or intrauterine insemination procedure, or getting through each day of the two-week wait before finding out whether the treatment resulted in the outcome you were hoping for.

Sprinkle in some joy

There can be moments of sadness and loss when trying to conceive, which can make it harder to appreciate other joys in life, particularly if your fertility journey is regularly on your mind (as it’s very easy for treatment to become a sole focus).

Try to maintain some ‘normality’ in your life by engaging in activities that bring you joy.4 Humour is also effective in helping to develop a more resilient nature, so exploring activities that make you laugh while giving you a break from treatment can help you stay connected to day-to-day life.

Take the time to reflect

Think back on obstacles that you have previously overcome and recognise that you have already been developing resilience over the years, perhaps without knowing it. Reflect on past situations that have caused you stress, grief or trauma and ask yourself:

      • What worked in helping you to cope during these times?
      • What didn’t work well?
      • Who were the best people to help you at those times?

Take these learnings about building resilience during your IVF journey and draw on them when working through any disappointing or unexpected outcomes.

Connect with our supportive counselling team

Our compassionate Newlife IVF counsellors are here to guide you through every step of your journey.

At Newlife IVF, we are committed to supporting our patients the best we can, which includes providing you with additional counselling sessions at no extra cost. To book an appointment with one of our counsellors, call (03) 8080 8933 or email us at [email protected]. And to make things easy for you, we are more than happy to consult with you over the phone so you don’t have to take time off work.

Remember, you have made it through rough times before. You’ve got this.

References

  1. American Psychological Association. Building your resilience. American Psychological Association. 2020. Accessed 20249. https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience ↩
  2. Herrmann D, Scherg H, Verres R et al. Resilience in infertile couples acts as a protective factor against infertility-specific distress and impaired quality of life. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2011;28(11):1111–1117. doi:10.1007/s10815-011-9637-2 ↩
  3. Quyen G, Vandelanotte C, Cope K, et al. The association of resilience with depression, anxiety, stress and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health. 2022;22. ↩
  4. Bailey A, Ellis-Caird H, Croft C. Living through unsuccessful conception attempts: a grounded theory of resilience among women undergoing fertility treatment. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2017 Sep;35(4),324–333. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2017.1320366 ↩ ↩ ↩

Victoria’s leading fertility clinic results – Newlife IVF recognised for excellence again

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Based on figures published by the Herald Sun, sourced from the Federal Government’s Your IVF Success website, Newlife IVF recorded the highest pregnancy rates in Victorian patients under 35 years (per treatment cycle attempt in 2024), achieving a 52% pregnancy success rate (compared with the national average of 41%). Exceptional outcomes were also achieved across older age groups, with pregnancy success rates of 43% for women aged 35–38 years (the national average is 35%) and 31% for women aged 39–42 years (the national average is 25%).

Newlife IVF also excelled in live birth rates across Victoria, achieving an outstanding result of 52% for patients under 35 years (46% is the national average), and 27% for 35–42 year olds (the national average is 24%).1 Notably, since its establishment nearly seven years ago, Newlife IVF has consistently delivered outcomes that surpass the national average.

‘We’re proud of what these results mean for our patients, with pregnancy and birth outcomes that continue to exceed the national average,’ said Dr Nicole Hope, fertility specialist and Medical Director at Newlife IVF. ‘Our approach is built on precision and care at every stage. Our specialists focus on optimising conditions for egg quality and embryo development and implantation, while our embryologists bring exceptional attention to the care of eggs, sperm and embryos. Alongside this, our wider team – including nurses, counsellors, genetic counsellors and administrative staff – provides dedicated support across the many aspects of fertility care that influence wellbeing and outcomes. Together, this depth of expertise creates a strong foundation for patient success.’

Outstanding success rates backed by best-practice patient care

Results like these are not achieved by chance. They reflect a clear and consistent philosophy that has guided Newlife IVF since its inception.

Newlife IVF was built on a shared vision to do things differently. From the beginning, the goal was to create a fertility clinic that puts patients before profits, combining best-practice science with genuinely personalised care and support. Every decision and every advancement have been guided by that principle.

As a clinician-owned and led fertility clinic, Newlife IVF is proud to be an independent specialist fertility centre. This independence enables a more supportive and patient-focused experience than is often possible within large corporate-owned clinics.

‘Our results are a reflection of how we work as a connected team,’ said Dr Tiki Osianlis, Managing Director and Scientific Director at Newlife IVF. ‘Clinical expertise and best scientific practice are essential, but they are only part of the picture. What truly sets our care apart is the way our team collaborates around each patient. We take the time to listen, to understand their circumstances, and to adapt treatment accordingly. That shared commitment across every role allows us to deliver care that is both highly individualised and deeply supportive as patients work towards building their family.’

A patient-first approach to fertility care

Every aspect of care at Newlife IVF is designed with patients in mind. From our state-of-the-art laboratory to the use of advanced scientific tools and techniques, expert-led care is combined with cutting-edge technology to maximise each patient’s chance of success.

At Newlife IVF, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to build their family. That belief underpins our commitment to making high-quality fertility treatment as accessible as possible. We remain focused on delivering outstanding results alongside compassionate, personalised care, supporting our patients every step of the way as they work towards building the family they dream of.

Appointments with one of our fertility specialists are available for those ready to explore their next steps. Call us on (03) 8080 8933 or book an appointment online.

Footnotes

  1. These measures represent the births per completed egg retrieval cycle. Success rates are based on the number of live births that resulted from the eggs collected from women in 2022 that were fertilised and implanted as embryos in 2022 and 2023. Source: YourIVFsuccess. ↩

Budget versus premium-priced IVF clinics: does success cost more?

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The first point to make is that the cost of fertility treatment will always vary from couple to couple. This is because the type of treatment offered depends on the specific cause(s) of a couple’s fertility issues. But even when treatment is similar (e.g. standard IVF), the total cost of treatment can still differ because not every couple will achieve success straightaway. One couple may achieve success in just one treatment cycle while another couple may require two or more cycles. The latter scenario will lead to additional costs for storage of frozen embryos and repeat stimulation cycles or frozen embryo transfers (FET). Further, the cost of a round of treatment and ancillary costs, like storage fees, vary by provider.

In Australia, private fertility clinics typically fall into one of two service models: ‘budget’ or ‘premium’. So how do you choose between them – and is there an alternative to a low-cost or high-cost clinic? Before I answer that, let me explain some important differences between low and higher-cost clinics.

How do budget clinics differ from other providers?

A budget clinic is typically able to offer fertility treatment at low or no out-of-pocket costs by restricting the types of services they provide. For example, they may not offer care for all types of fertility issues, excluding those that incur a higher cost to the clinic. They may also choose not to offer specialised services such as pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT), donor conception (requiring donor eggs, sperm or embryos), surrogacy, or embryo freezing and storage.

Some budget clinics may also only offer standard medication protocols. For example, a woman who is 30 years old, within a specific weight range and has a certain number of eggs, may be assigned ‘Protocol A’ treatment without the option for an individualised treatment plan. Further, the doctors who consult at budget clinics are often on rotation, so you may see a different doctor for each of your appointments, much like an outpatient clinic at a public hospital. Budget clinics may also limit the number of IVF cycles that the clinic can start at any given time, which can lead to significant delays in treatment initiation and sometimes even a missed opportunity to conceive.

In contrast, non-budget clinics are more likely to offer all types of fertility treatment and extend their care to patients with more complex fertility issues. These clinics may also offer additional services such as PGT. The other benefit of these clinics is that you can choose which fertility specialist you want to manage your care. This specialist will provide personalised care specific to your needs and remain with you throughout your entire treatment journey. Lastly, these clinics don’t usually restrict the number of IVF cycles they can run at any one time, meaning you will be able to start treatment when you’re ready, rather than when the clinic can fit you in.

Do success rates vary between low-cost and higher-cost clinics?

Variations in each clinic’s patient populations make it difficult to draw a direct comparison between the success rates of two clinics. For example, some clinics may have a higher proportion of easy-to-treat patients versus patients with complicated fertility issues, which is likely to impact their success rates. Further, clinics can report ‘success’ in different ways, e.g. pregnancy rates may be reported as per egg collection OR per embryo transfer. Similarly, some clinics may report ‘success’ as a positive pregnancy test at the end of a treatment cycle, while others may report success only when a live pregnancy is seen on an early ultrasound (clinical pregnancy) or if a baby is born (live birth rate). Thus, if you are comparing ‘results’ between clinics, it’s important to check that they are using the same definition to report success.

Success rates may also not reflect the different ways patients can journey through IVF. For example, if a couple has all their embryos frozen because the woman is at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation, some clinics may record this stimulated cycle as one where the woman failed to proceed to embryo transfer. This doesn’t reflect that a fresh transfer was deliberately not attempted and that embryos were frozen for use in future FET cycles. Likewise, if pregnancy rates are reported after a FET cycle, it is not always clear if the embryo underwent PGT, which is likely to increase the chance of success.

I can only afford fertility treatment with a budget clinic – is it worth it?

Despite some limitations, there is a definite place for budget fertility clinics in Australia. If cost alone is the only barrier to starting fertility treatment, then a budget IVF clinic may still offer you a better chance of starting a family than trying to conceive on your own.

However, you should be mindful that the prices listed on a clinic’s website may not accurately reflect the total costs that you will incur throughout your care. The following questions are a great place to start when enquiring about treatment costs:

  • Are there additional fees for freezing surplus embryos?
  • What ongoing costs are associated with storing frozen embryos?
  • How much does a frozen embryo transfer cycle cost?
  • What fees do you charge for advanced lab procedures, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or PGT?

How do Newlife IVF’s fees compare to other providers?

One of the reasons we established Newlife IVF was so that we could offer patients high-quality fertility care at reasonable prices. As a doctor-owned clinic, we do not have the pressure of shareholders nor the need to meet the same profit margins required by larger, corporate fertility clinics. Not only do we offer premium fertility care at an affordable price, but our ‘routine’ treatments also include advanced lab techniques that some clinics may bill as ‘add-ons’ on top of their standard service costs.

Some of these advanced techniques include the use of the EmbryoScope time-lapse system, sequential media and EmbryoGlue for all IVF treatments, as well as egg spindle visualisation for all ICSI procedures. These extra lab techniques help us to select the best embryo to transfer into the womb, improve the chance of the embryo implanting, while also providing more information about egg quality and embryo development. We include these techniques as standard because we want to give our patients the best chance of success, right from their very first treatment. If the first cycle is not successful, we use information gathered from the EmbryoScope and/or egg spindle visualisation to provide our patients with meaningful feedback, and to help inform future treatment decisions.

What additional value does Newlife IVF offer?

At Newlife, we pride ourselves on offering our patients a highly personalised fertility treatments at our IVF clinic in Melbourne. We find our patients’ feedback speaks volumes about the exceptional standard of care we provide. Below are the top three things our patients say differentiate Newlife IVF from other IVF providers:

  1. Our fertility specialists and supporting clinical, technical and administrative teams all have a wealth of experience in caring for patients who need help building a family.
  2. Our attentive and caring staff offer regular feedback and support throughout a patient’s treatment journey, so they feel confident we are looking after them and their embryos, which makes them feel less like a ‘number’.
  3. Our patients appreciate coming to the same fertility clinic and seeing their dedicated doctor for all of their appointments. Since Newlife IVF isn’t located in a large hospital, it feels less clinical and more personal.

How can Newlife IVF help individuals and couples who have not found success elsewhere?

If you’ve not been successful elsewhere, one of our highly-skilled fertility specialists can offer a fresh perspective and a second opinion.

Further, our in-house laboratory was specially designed to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and harmful blue light in order to provide ideal conditions for embryo growth. We also employ extra lab procedures that you may not have had access to at your previous clinic. These procedures are included as standard to optimise embryo development and give your embryo the best chance of successfully implanting in the womb.

Last word

Our best advice is not to take treatment fees at face value. Not all IVF clinics are equal, and the cost of care doesn’t necessarily equate to the overall value a clinic provides throughout your fertility journey. You can receive premium fertility care at affordable prices by choosing an independent provider with leading fertility specialists and a commitment to best scientific practice. At Newlife IVF, we offer high-quality care at reasonable prices, so you can focus on the task of falling pregnant without the worry of undue financial duress.

You can book an initial fertility consultation with one of our fertility specialists by calling (03) 8080 8933 or booking online.

Further reading

 

 

 

Curious about embryo optimisation? Dr Tiki Osianlis shares her expertise on the Conceive Baby Podcast

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Understanding embryo development

Although IVF and embryo development can be complex topics, Tiki and Tasha endeavour to make the science more accessible. The podcast episode breaks down the laboratory advances that Newlife IVF embryologists use day-to-day, in a way that’s easy to understand.

During the episode, host Tasha asks Tiki about the details of embryo development that patients often seek more information about. Sharing plenty of embryology pearls of wisdom along the way, Tiki describes the differences between a day 3 and day 5 embryo, the top factors that stop embryo growth, and the fine details of embryo grading and ranking.

However, as Tiki put it: ‘don’t agonise over grading’. Instead of getting too caught up in embryo grading, patients are encouraged to rely on the expertise of an embryologist, who can provide valuable insight into what their results truly mean.

Tiki also explains what mosaic embryos are, whether they are suitable for implantation, what PGT testing is and the special circumstances when PGT testing may not be recommended.

‘Genetic testing of embryos, including insights into mosaic embryos, offers a window into chromosomal normalcy but must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis,’ says Tiki.

Blending expertise in fertility care

You may notice from the podcast that Tiki and Tasha talk with an easy flow. This is not just their communication skills shining through – they have shared conversations in the past over their mutual passion to educate and inform patients.

As a naturopath and nutritionist, Tasha has a wealth of experience and specialist expertise in overcoming fertility challenges. She is passionate about supporting patients to achieve their best fertility health before ovulation and she regularly shares this expertise on ‘Conceive Baby Podcast’, as well as through media appearances, speaking seminars and journal publications.

As for, Tiki, she oversees our state-of-the-art laboratory – drawing on a wealth of experience in embryology and IVF. She is a driving force behind Newlife’s commitment to best scientific practice. Tiki is passionate about ensuring that the latest scientific fertility advances are offered to patients to help them achieve a healthy family as soon as possible.

‘Behind the laboratory doors, there are so many people that are hoping for our patients to have a fantastic outcome,’ says Tiki.

Putting patients first

If there was one thing that shone through from Tiki and Tasha’s conversation, it was the care that every team member has for their patients. This is integral to the ethos both Tiki and Tasha bring to their fertility work. Over a patient’s fertility journey, the team is cheering them on – they share in the highs and the lows and are deeply invested in supporting each patient to achieve their fertility goals.

‘And I do want to say that every embryologist that I’ve ever come across – and I’ve seen many of them – genuinely care about what they’re doing and they care so much about the patients,’ says Tiki.

Tune in now!

Whether you’re on a fertility journey yourself or simply curious about embryology, be sure to listen to the embryo optimisation podcast episode.

Witnessing systems at Newlife IVF

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What is IVF witnessing?

Witnessing in IVF refers to the process of confirming that the correct eggs, sperm and embryos are used for the correct patient at the correct time. It mitigates the risk of mismatched or misidentified samples.  At Newlife IVF, we take this responsibility extremely seriously, which is why we use both electronic and manual methods for accuracy and traceability.

RI Witness – electronic tracking for your peace of mind

Newlife IVF employs the RI Witness electronic witnessing system, which uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to track and verify all eggs, sperm and embryos in the laboratory. Each patient is assigned an RFID card and every patient vessel (e.g. tubes, dishes and cryo-vessels) is labelled with a matching RFID tag, all of which are programmed with each patient’s unique IVF code and three points of identification.

How RI Witness works at Newlife IVF:

  • Patient RFID card: you are assigned an RFID card that is linked to your profile. This is used for identification during key procedures, such as egg retrieval and embryo transfer
  • RFID tags on all labware: all test tubes, dishes and cryo-vessels used to hold your biological material are labelled with RFID tags matched to your unique code and profile
  • Real-time monitoring: all lab workstations have RI Witness receivers that detect these tags automatically. The system logs and monitors every sample movement during the procedure in real-time
  • Mismatch protection: if a mismatch ever occurs – for example, if two different tags are brought into an area at the same time – RI Witness triggers an audible and visual alarm, and the procedure is stopped immediately to investigate and correct the issue. To further reduce the risk of mismatches, our embryologists strictly work with the biological materials of only one patient at a time at each workstation.

Cryostorage tracking

All biological material placed into cryostorage is barcoded and tagged using the RI Witness system.

Each cryo-vessel is labelled with:

  • Your full name
  • Date of birth
  • Unique IVF code
  • Date of freezing
  • Barcode is specific to the eggs, sperm or embryos stored inside.

These cold-resistant tags ensure identification is maintained even at ultra-low temperatures. When the material is removed from cryostorage, the barcode is scanned and cross-verified with RFID data and RI Witness, and double-witnessed by embryologists to confirm all points of identification.

Embryologist double-witnessing

In addition to RI Witness, every procedure is manually witnessed by two embryologists. This human double-checking system complements electronic witnessing and adds a layer of human judgement, visual verification and accountability.

Manual witnessing includes:

  • Verifying three patient identifiers (full name, DOB and patient unique IVF code)
  • Cross-referencing all vessel labels, barcodes and RI Witness tags
  • Confirming the procedure that is to take place
  • Checking the freeze dates and, for embryos, specific embryo numbers
  • Confirming the correct sample before and after thawing.

This step is essential when biological material is entering or exiting the laboratory, and before every procedure such as insemination, embryo transfer, embryo biopsy or cryopreservation.

Cryostorage safety – cryo-vessel monitoring and audits

Biological materials such as eggs, sperm and embryos are stored in specially designed devices (cryo-vessels) that are specific for very cold temperatures.  The cryo-vessel is tagged with a special tag that withstands very cold temperatures. The cyro-vessel includes the patient’s name, date of birth, unique IVF code and the date of the freezing, along with a unique barcode that is specific to that patient’s egg, sperm or embryo held within the individual device.

Every sample is:

  • Uniquely identified and traceable
  • Matched at any time using the RI Witness system and barcode
  • Manually verified when moved or thawed.

Regular audits are conducted, comparing all stored material against patient records, to ensure that what is in storage precisely matches what is documented in each individual file and the RI Witness log.

Thawing of stored biological material

When biological material is removed from cryostorage, the barcode is scanned and linked to the patient’s vessel via an RFID tag.  Removal of eggs, sperm or embryos from cryostorage is also witnessed manually by the embryologist performing the procedure and a second embryologist.  Before thawing the biological material, the embryologists will witness the three points of patient identification on the cryotag, the freeze date and, in the case of embryos, the specific embryo number on the cryotag. This is cross-referenced with the vessel the biological material will go into after thawing, and the RI witness system. A mismatch at any point will sound an alarm.

Only once all of these steps have been completed will the thawing of the eggs, sperm or embryos proceed.

Summary of witnessing measures at Newlife IVF:

  • Only one patient’s material is handled at each workstation at any time
  • All vessels and labware are RFID tagged and barcoded
  • The RI Witness system and the embryologist manual double-witnessing are used to confirm all details at every procedure
  • Cryostored material is linked to the patient via a barcode and the RI Witness system.
  • Regular audits verify that frozen material in storage matches patient records and the RI witness system.

Please ask us!

We understand IVF can be a time filled with both hope and uncertainty. Our systems are designed to mitigate risk and ensure your biological material is being managed with the highest levels of care, security and accountability. If you have any questions, please speak to a member of our team. We’re always happy to help you feel supported and informed.

Single and ready to have a baby – what are my options?

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I’m a single woman – what are my options?

Donor sperm – clinic-recruited versus known donors

Essentially, there are two options for obtaining sperm: accessing donor sperm through a fertility clinic’s sperm bank, or using a sample provided by someone you know.

At Newlife IVF we have an on-site sperm bank containing samples recruited from local and international donors. The benefit of using sperm from our clinic-recruited donors is that it is thoroughly tested for infectious diseases and common genetic problems. After we freeze the sperm, it is then quarantined before donors are retested to make sure it is high quality and safe to use.

When you use a clinic-recruited donor, you also have the advantage of very clear legal boundaries. The donor has no legal connection to your child – they are not entitled to custody and do not have to pay child support. They also remain anonymous to a large extent; that is, you will not know the donor’s identity (but you will know their family medical history and some of their traits). However, your child can request that the donor’s identity be revealed to them when they turn 18.

If you choose not to go the clinic-recruited donor route, you may consider using a sperm sample from a friend or acquaintance. A benefit of using a known donor is you will likely have a good understanding of their appearance, background and traits. However, the social and legal boundaries are not as clear-cut as they are when using a clinic-recruited donor. Discussing expectations and creating firm boundaries with a known donor requires careful negotiation, and you may wish to seek legal advice on how best to proceed.

If you do decide to use a sample from someone you know, it’s best to involve a fertility clinic. That way, you can have the sample rigorously tested for safety and quality in the same way we test donor sperm.

In this video, Dr Chris Russell talks about donor sperm and its use in IVF and IUI procedures.

Insemination – how egg and sperm meet

The next consideration is how best to introduce the sperm sample to your egg. There are a few different options for insemination, and the most suitable will depend on your specific circumstances.

One possibility is home insemination. In this method, sperm is injected into the vagina using a syringe at home. As this mimics the natural fertilisation process, home insemination is effective when the donor has a normal sperm count. It is also one of the most cost-effective options. However, it does not afford the same degree of protection from infectious disease as undergoing a similar process via a fertility clinic.

The clinic-based alternative is intrauterine insemination (IUI). This is where a sperm sample is concentrated to contain a very high number of sperm. It is then injected directly into your uterus soon after your ovaries release an egg. Using a concentrated sperm sample increases the chances of a sperm fertilising your egg. Depending on your circumstances, your specialist may recommend combining IUI with a medication to stimulate the release of an egg from your ovaries, further increasing the chance of success.

The last option is in vitro fertilisation (IVF). In this process, several of your eggs will be introduced to sperm in laboratory dishes. When utilising clinic-recruited donor sperm, the best sperm may be selected and a single sperm injected directly into each egg, a process called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). One of the best embryos resulting from IVF insemination will then be transferred back to your uterus. The rest can be frozen and stored for later use, if necessary.

There are a few reasons you may be advised to undergo IVF. If you have known infertility, you’re in your late 30s or early 40s (when female fertility naturally declines significantly), or you struggle to get pregnant through other forms of insemination, your specialist may recommend this procedure. Likewise, IVF may be advisable if you’re using a known sperm donor with low sperm quality or quantity for other methods of insemination. If you wish to do preimplantation genetic testing, which is the process of genetically testing your embryos before they are transferred to your uterus, IVF will be necessary. For more information about these procedures in relation to your particular circumstances, chat to your fertility specialist.

I’m a single man – what are my options?

To have a baby as a single man, you will need the help of an egg donor and a surrogate. According to Victorian law, these must be two different women.

You may choose to use a clinic-recruited egg donor, or a known donor, i.e. a friend, acquaintance, or a family member (note: the last is only okay if you are not using your own sperm). Egg donation must be altruistic in Australia, meaning no financial compensation is paid for providing eggs. Once the donor eggs are ready, your sperm will be introduced to them using IVF (discussed earlier in this article), and the best resulting embryo will be transferred to your surrogate’s uterus. If you are not using your own sperm, donor embryos may be an appropriate option for you.

It’s common to ask a friend, acquaintance or family member to be a surrogate. Surrogacy is also an altruistic process in Australia, however ‘reasonable’ medical costs can be paid by you. Keep in mind that in Victoria, multiple medical consultations, counselling sessions and legal advice are required for both you and the surrogate prior to proceeding. You will also need to seek permission from the Patient Review Panel (this is a legal requirement in Victoria), and the sperm or embryos must be quarantined. This process can take several months.

Seeking a surrogate overseas may also be an option. However, according to Australian law, this is only legal if it is altruistic. Be aware that this is a very expensive route and you will need to plan to potentially be overseas for a few months after your baby is born to organise their entry into Australia.

For advice related to your particular circumstances, you may wish to seek legal advice and talk to a fertility specialist. Unfortunately, Newlife IVF is not permitted to assist you in finding a surrogate (nor can any other IVF provider). However, our counsellors can certainly orientate you to the Victorian surrogacy community and provide support and information as you look for a potential surrogate.

Ready to have a baby on your own?

Make an appointment with one of our caring and experienced Newlife IVF fertility specialists to discuss the most appropriate way forward based on your medical history, circumstances and preferences. Call (03) 8080 8933 or book online and take the next step towards your dream.

Assisted conception for LGBTQ+ couples

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For lesbian (or assigned female at birth) couples

Your first step is to decide how you wish to access donor sperm. You will then need to select a method of bringing egg and sperm together, a process called insemination.

Donor sperm

There are two main ways of obtaining donor sperm: through a known donor or a clinic-recruited donor. Many fertility clinics maintain a sperm bank. For example, Newlife IVF has an on-site sperm bank with samples from local donors. We are also able to access donor sperm from an international sperm bank.

Using clinic-recruited sperm has several advantages. There are very clear-cut legal boundaries in place. The donor has no legal connection to the child, so they are ineligible for custody and do not pay child support. Additionally, the donor and the recipient do not know each other’s identity. However, details of the donor’s medical history, background and traits will be shared with you. Once your child turns 18, they can request information about the donor’s identity.

Another advantage of using a clinic-recruited donor is that the sperm undergoes a rigorous testing process before it is declared fit for use. Sperm samples are initially screened for quality, infectious diseases and genetic problems, before being frozen and quarantined. After three months, the donors are retested to ensure that the sample they provided is safe to use. The sperm is made available for use only after all of these checkpoints have been cleared.

The second alternative is to ask a friend or acquaintance to donate sperm. If you and your partner long for a child that is genetically related to you both, you may wish to approach a relative. Of course, the sperm donor cannot be related to the partner who will provide the egg and carry the baby.

A benefit of using a known donor is that you are aware of their background, appearance and other important traits. However, there is the potential for social and legal grey areas when using a known donor. For example, you and the donor might have conflicting expectations about their level of involvement in your child’s upbringing. It is important to set clear boundaries and discuss expectations with your donor before trying to conceive. You may wish to seek legal advice on the best way to do this.

If you do choose to use a known donor, we suggest involving a fertility clinic. We can check your donor’s sperm count and motility (movement) and recommend the most appropriate method of insemination with this in mind (discussed further below). Additionally, the sample can be thoroughly tested for safety in the same way we would test clinic-recruited sperm.

Insemination

The next consideration is how to introduce the sperm to your egg (or your partner’s egg). The most appropriate method will depend on several factors. These include the health and medical history of the partner who will carry the baby, the quality of the sperm sample you choose to use, and your specific circumstances and preferences.

The simplest method is home insemination, where sperm is injected into the vagina using a syringe at home. As this method is similar to natural fertilisation, it may be an appropriate option where sperm count and motility are normal. It is also the most cost-effective option. However, if the sperm donor or the partner who will carry the baby have fertility issues, other treatments are likely to be more appropriate.

Another option is intrauterine insemination (IUI). In IUI, the sperm sample is concentrated before it is used. This means that a very large number of sperm are introduced into the uterus directly after an egg is released, increasing the chance of fertilisation. In some cases, you may be advised to take medications to stimulate the release of an egg. This increases the chance of an egg being available at the time the sperm is introduced.

The final option is in vitro fertilisation (IVF). In IVF, several of your eggs (or your partner’s eggs) are introduced to sperm in laboratory dishes. Depending on your circumstances, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may also be recommended. In this procedure, the best sperm are selected and a single sperm is injected into each egg. ICSI is always used with clinic-recruited donors. However, if you are using a known donor with low sperm count and motility, ICSI may also be appropriate for you. Once the fertilised eggs have developed into embryos, one will be chosen for transfer into the uterus of the partner who will be carrying the baby. The remainder can be frozen and stored for future use, if required.

IVF is the most appropriate option if one or both partners has any fertility issues. It may also be recommended if other insemination methods have been unsuccessful, or you’re in your late 30s, early 40s or beyond (when fertility naturally declines).

IVF also enables egg sharing, where an embryo resulting from one partner’s egg is transferred to the other partner’s uterus. This allows both partners to have a biological connection with their child – one partner conceives the child with their genetic material, the other partner carries and delivers the child. In this process, the partner donating the egg will take medications to help mature several of their eggs. These mature eggs will then be collected in the clinic. The partner who will receive the fertilised egg (embryo) takes the oral contraceptive pill to synchronise their cycle with their partner’s. Medications are then taken to prepare the uterus for embryo transfer.

Before egg sharing can commence, both partners must undergo a health check and counselling. This may include blood tests and ultrasounds to check general health and fertility. It should be noted that egg sharing can involve a significant financial investment, as both partners require treatment.

For gay (or assigned male at birth) couples

To have a baby, you and your partner will need to find an egg donor and a surrogate. According to Victorian law, the surrogate and egg donor cannot be the same person.

Donor eggs

There are two options for obtaining donor eggs. You may choose to utilise a known donor, such as a friend or acquaintance, or a clinic-recruited donor. If both you and your partner want a genetic connection to your child, you may wish to approach a relative of the partner whose sperm is not being used.

In Australia, egg donation must be altruistic. That is, the egg donor cannot be financially compensated. Donor eggs and sperm will be introduced to each other using IVF (discussed earlier in this article) with one of the resulting embryos then transferred to your surrogate’s uterus.

Surrogacy

You may wish to ask a friend, acquaintance or family member to be a surrogate. Like egg donation, surrogacy must be altruistic. However, ‘reasonable’ medical costs can be paid by you. It is important to note that multiple medical consultations, counselling sessions and legal advice are required for both you and the surrogate prior to proceeding. You will also need to seek permission from the Patient Review Panel (this is a legal requirement in Victoria), and the sperm or embryos must be quarantined. This process can take several months.

Seeking a surrogate overseas may also be an option. However, according to Australian law, this is only legal if it is altruistic. Be aware that this is a very expensive route and you will need to plan to potentially be overseas for a few months after your baby is born to organise their entry into Australia.

For specific advice on finding a surrogate, you may wish to seek legal advice and see a fertility specialist. IVF clinics are not permitted to help you find a surrogate. However, our counsellors can connect you with the Victorian surrogacy community and provide support and information as you look for a surrogate.

Note that sperm mixing, where sperm samples from both partners are mixed together and introduced to an egg, is not legal in Australia when using a surrogate.

Take the next step

If you are ready to begin your fertility journey, book an initial consultation with one of our fertility specialists. At this appointment, we will discuss your preferences and expectations, take a detailed medical history from both of you, then advise you on the best way to proceed.

To book a consultation, call (03) 8080 8933 or book online.

Putting patients first – the secret to exceptional results

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Today, that vision, combined with the collective expertise and experience of our fertility specialists and support staff, has earned Newlife IVF recognition as one of Victoria’s top-performing IVF clinics.

According to the latest figures reported by the Herald Sun (sourced from the Federal Government’s Your IVF Success website), Newlife IVF holds the highest IVF success rate in Victoria for women under 35, with an impressive 62.5% of embryo transfers resulting in live birth.

For women aged 35 to 42, Newlife IVF also leads with the highest birth rates per embryo transfer in Metropolitan Melbourne (31.7%), placing us third overall in Victoria for this age group.

‘We are delighted to share that we have had another great year for our patients, with our pregnancy and birth success rates consistently above the national average. Our fertility specialist team focuses on providing the best possible milieu for eggs to mature and embryos to implant, and our amazing embryologists focus on every aspect of the egg, sperm and embryo care to provide a nurturing environment to achieve their developmental potential,’ said Dr Nicole Hope, fertility specialist and Medical Director at Newlife IVF.

A vision for exceptional fertility care

As a clinician-owned and led fertility clinic, we’re proud to be one of the few independent specialist fertility centres in Victoria. This independence allows us to offer a more personalised, supportive experience than corporate-owned clinics.

‘We feel so privileged to play a part in our patients’ journeys. Being able to provide a level of care that helps them achieve their dream of starting a family is truly an honour for us,’ said Dr Tiki Osianlis, Newlife IVF’s Managing Director and Scientific Director.

Every aspect of our practice is designed with our patients’ needs in mind. From our state-of-the-art laboratory to our use of advanced scientific tools and techniques, we combine expert-led care with cutting-edge science to give our patients the best possible chance of building the family they dream of.

‘Our IVF success rates highlight how effective our approach is. It’s not just about the science – it’s about the people. The entire team, from our fertility specialists and nurses to our embryologists, counsellors and admin staff, take the time to truly understand each patient’s unique journey. We adapt our care to fit their needs, and every single one of us is genuinely invested in helping our patients achieve their dream of becoming parents,’ said Dr Tiki.

Giving you Newlife in a different way

At Newlife IVF, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build their family, which is why we’re committed to making quality fertility treatment in Melbourne as accessible as possible. We remain committed to delivering outstanding results and compassionate care, empowering our patients with the best possible chance of success.

If you’re ready to explore your options for having a baby, you can make an appointment with one of our specialists by calling (03) 8080 8933 or by booking online.