Australia: a preferred destination for fertility treatments
Australia is a world leader in Fertility and IVF Treatments, with more than 13,500 IVF babies born in Australia in 2016/2017: the highest number ever recorded, according to a new report released by the Fertility Society of Australia in 2018.*
Furthermore, Australia has been ranked third among the countries with the highest-quality healthcare systems, according to the latest Human Development Index released by the UN in December 2020.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the number of people visiting Australia for medical treatment appears to be growing at a much faster rate than the total number of tourists. According to a report from the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Austrade, Australia has an exceptional reputation as a provider of high-quality healthcare that extends beyond to the post-operative and recovery stage.
City Fertility benefits
Established in 2003, City Fertility is one of Australia’s leading IVF and fertility service groups with 16 clinics, over 50 consulting rooms and over 60 fertility specialists nationwide. We provide seamless care across the full fertility spectrum, from the initial consultation all the way to ensuring the best possible outcomes through our precise protocols and science-based treatments.
Some of the benefits at City Fertility are:
You may request a doctor of your preferred gender
We understand that, sometimes, patients’ gender preferences matter when it comes to medical care. At City Fertility we have a wide range of doctors available for you to choose who you feel more comfortable with.
You may request a doctor of your preferred language
We have over 60 specialists available to you who are fluent in many languages including Cantonese, English, Greek, Hakka, Hindi, Hokkien, Kurdish, Indonesian, Italian Malay, Mandarin, Marathi, Punjabi, Russian, Sinhalese, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Urdu.
Consultations via Zoom or Teams available
If you are overseas when starting your treatment, you may request an initial consultation via Zoom or Teams or phone with one of our fertility specialists.
We are nation-wide
You can choose from a wide variety of locations in Australia. City Fertility has clinics in:
- Brisbane City
- Brisbane Southside
- Gold Coast
- Lismore
- Melbourne City
- Melbourne Bundoora
- Melbourne Notting Hill
- Perth Applecross
- Perth Claremont
- Sydney CBD
- Sydney Liverpool
- Sydney Miranda
- Toowoomba
We have over 50 consulting locations across Australia and over 60 dedicated fertility specialists here to help.
Fertility treatment process for international patients
Medicare eligibility
In Australia, residents that hold an Australian Medicare card are eligible for funding in the form of a rebate from the Government for IVF treatment. In order to be eligible for Medicare benefits you need to reside permanently in Australia, have enrolled with Medicare, have been diagnosed with an underlying medical cause of infertility and have a current referral from a Doctor to see a specialist for treatment.
International patients visiting Australia for medical treatment are not eligible for Medicare benefits and as such do not need a Doctor’s referral to access treatment.
For further information about Medicare eligibility, please visit www.humanservices.gov.au
To learn more, visit our Frequently asked questions page or contact us at contactus@cityfertility.com.au
In order to be able to claim the cost of IVF treatment through Medicare (if you are eligible for the Medicare rebates mentioned above) you will need a current referral to your specialist. Referrals from a GP last for 12 months, while a referral from a specialist is current for only three months.
Step-by-step process
Step 1. Contact City Fertility.
We will inform you about what requirements you need to meet in order to start your treatment. These include medical screening tests, counselling requirements and legislative obligations. We will also give you a step-by-step guide to undertaking your fertility treatment in Australia.
Step 2. Test to complete prior to your first appointment.
Prior to commencing treatment, it is a requirement for you and your partner (if applicable) to complete some screening blood tests.
Female patients
Female patients will need to complete the following tests:
- HIV
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Rubella
- Blood Group
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) testing (not mandatory)
Male patients
Male patients will need to complete the following tests:
- HIV
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Semen assesment
Step 3. Your first appointment.
Your initial consultation with a City Fertility specialist will allow your Doctor to gather all the relevant information regarding your circumstances, medical condition and previous care to provide the direction for your future treatment.
It may be possible to conduct this appointment via Zoom, Teams, or some other video-based conference call. Both partners are encouraged to attend this appointment.
Your specialist may recommend further tests and investigations to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your individual circumstances. These tests may be completed prior to you arriving in Australia and may include:
- Semen assesment
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Blood hormone testing
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Pathology screenings
If you have had tests done previously, or had treatment elsewhere, please provide the specialist with a copy of any information or results that you have and/or bring them along with you to this appointment. All documents provided to the specialist must be translated into English.
Please also advise the specialist’s rooms at the time of making the appointment if you require an interpreter to be present at this consultation.
Appointments available via Zoom or Teams
City Fertility offers you the option to have this initial appointment via Zoom or Teams. To see which City Fertility specialists offer this service, please visit Our Specialists page.
Specialists in more than 15 different languages
We have over 60 fertility specialists available to you who are fluent in Cantonese, English, Greek, Hakka, Hindi, Hokkien, Kurdish, Indonesian, Italian, Malay, Mandarin, Marathi, Punjabi, Russian, Sinhalese, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Urdu.
Please be aware that you may need an interpreter or translator to be present at this appointment. If so, please let us know when making the appointment so we can assist you in this matter.
Interpreters
City Fertility recommends that you use a professional interpreter if your spoken English is limited or is not adequate to discuss your medical details with the specialist. It is extremely important that you understand the treatment process completely, and are able to provide informed consent regarding your treatment.
At the time of booking your appointments please indicate that you require an interpreter to be organised for you and the language that you require.
Step 4. Things to complete before you come to Australia.
Once you have completed your initial appointment with the specialist, the City Fertility clinic will contact you to organise the following:
Completion of patient registration form.
Following your initial consultation with the specialist, you will be required to complete a City Fertility registration form.
Please ensure that this form is completed in English.
Appropriate screening blood and medical tests to complete (if applicable)
Prior to commencing treatment, it is a requirement for you and your partner (if applicable) to complete some screening blood tests (please refer to Step 2). If you wish to get this test done in Australia, the appropriate Pathology form can be obtained from your specialist or through our fertility nurses and the pathology company will invoice you directly for these tests.
Counselling appointment (s) if undertaking treatment with donor gametes
If you are considering using donated sperm/eggs, you will need to attend a minimum of two counselling sessions with a nominated City Fertility counsellor. This is a legal/regulatory requirement. The sessions are an opportunity to receive information and to have any questions answered concerning social and legal issues of using donated sperm/eggs. The clinic will provide you with the details for a counsellor. Please visit our Donor Programs page for more information.
If you reside overseas, either one or both of these sessions can occur via Zoom or Teams prior to you coming to Australia.
Patient information pack specialised to your treatment plan
To ensure that you are well informed throughout your journey, once your treatment plan has been received by the clinic, you will either be sent an individualised information pack or be contacted by City Fertility to organise a one-on-one appointment with one of our experienced fertility nurses. All aspects of your fertility treatment, including the cost structure, will be discussed with you at this time.
If you reside overseas this information session can be carried out via Zoom or Teams prior to you coming to Australia.
Please let us know at the time of making this appointment if you require an interpreter to be present at this consultation.
Treatment and financial consents
As with any medical procedure, there are several treatment consent forms that will need to be completed prior to you commencing your IVF cycle. These are legal documents and need to be signed by each partner and witnessed by an independent person.
If you have any questions regarding your consent forms please do not hesitate to contact City Fertility or your specialist for clarification. It is important that you understand all aspects of your care and that you are making an informed decision regarding your treatment.
City Fertility is unable to proceed with treatment without correctly completed and signed consent forms.
Guidelines on the timeframes for treatment
Please click on the image below to view in full and download our infographic.
Things to consider if you are having treatment in the state of Victoria
Due to different States within Australia being governed by different legislation, if you decide to undertake IVF treatment within the state of Victoria you will be required to complete the additional step of undertaking counselling prior to commencing treatment.
We recommend all patients wishing to undertake treatment in Victoria to contact our patient services team at the City Fertility clinic to organise an appointment with one of our City Fertility affiliated counsellors. Please note that the required counselling must occur prior to any medication being dispensed.
Step 5. Travelling and staying in Australia.
At City Fertility you may request a patient care coordinator. To learn more about this service, contact us at contactus@cityfertility.com.au
Please allow at least 26 days in order to complete your City Fertility Treatment Plan.
Step 6. Back home
Once you return to your country of residence, our nurses will contact you to ensure everything is going as expected.
City Fertility fees
At City Fertility we do not charge an initial registration fee for standard IVF services.
Your treatment costs will vary depending on the level of assistance you require.
The fees charged by City Fertility for an IVF cycle include:
- Comprehensive education on the treatment process.
- Comprehensive financial quote.
- The intensive support of a specialised team of fertility nurses and scientists.
- Blood tests (pathology) during your IVF cycle.
- Quantitative hormone testing (blood tests) during your IVF cycle.
- Ultrasounds with your City Fertility Specialist during your IVF cycle.
- Standard laboratory scientific services including extended culture.
- Semen preparation.
- Supportive counselling with a City Fertility-affiliated counsellor during your IVF cycle.
The following is a summary of the current City Fertility fees for international patients:
| Type of treatment | Cost of treatment* |
|---|---|
| Initial registration fee | AU$0.00 No Registration Fee |
| Initial consultation fee for City Fertility Specialist | AU$200 – AU$375 |
| IVF Cycle | AU$9,900 – AU$10,200 |
| IVF Cycle with ICSI | AU$10,970 – AU$11,270 |
| Fertility Preservation | AU$5,200 |
*These amounts exclude the fees charged by the treating specialist, anaesthetist, private hospital and pharmacy.
If you are eligible for Medicare, please click here to see your fertility treatment costs.
External fees
Specialist fees
Please contact the office of your specialist, whose details can be found in the Specialist team section of this website, for further information regarding his or her consultation and cycle fees.
Fertility medication
The cost of the medication used throughout your cycle is to be paid directly to the pharmacy that dispenses the medication. The price of this medication will vary depending on your treatment plan, but our estimate is AU$3000.
Anesthetist fees
If the egg collection is performed under general anaesthetic, your anaesthetist will bill these fees directly to you.
City Fertility recommends that you obtain a quote from the anaesthetist rooms as this is not a City Fertility fee.
If the egg collection is performed under conscious sedation, then the cost of the medication utilised will be charged to you directly from the pharmacy.
Hospital admission and bed fees
If the egg collection is performed in a private hospital, the theatre and bed fees are payable directly to the private hospital.
If you have overseas private health cover, we recommend that you liaise directly with them to see if you are covered for your treatment in a private hospital in Australia. For those who are uninsured, the full hospital fees are payable on admission.
If the egg collection is performed in a day procedure centre, the fees are payable directly to the procedure centre. These fees may or may not be eligible for private health fund rebates.
Additional laboratory services
The majority of laboratory services are included in the fees charged by City Fertility. However, depending on your circumstances, your specialist may recommend other specialised laboratory services to improve your chances of achieving a successful pregnancy such as Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing (PGT), specialised embryo media and donor sperm or eggs.
Please contact our friendly staff at the clinic for more information regarding the cost of these specialised laboratory services.
Payment
All City Fertility fees are payable up-front prior to the collection of any medication and your cycle commencing.
We accept the following credit cards for payment: Visa and MasterCard.
FAQ
Seeking fertility treatment outside of your home country can be sometimes confusing and it’s normal to have questions. Please see below where we have answered some of the most frequently asked ones.
If you can’t find an answer to your question, please complete our Contact form to get in touch with us and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.
Alternatively, you can call our friendly staff on 1300 354 354 or email us at contactus@cityfertility.com.au
Can I access fertility treatment in Australia?
Yes. City Fertility can provide treatment in Australia for international patients.
For more information, visit our International patients page.
When can I start my fertility treatment?
The first step accessing fertility treatment at City Fertility is to arrange an appointment with one of our specialists.
We understand that at the time you wish to start your fertility treatment, you may be living overseas. City Fertility offers you the option to have this initial appointment with a Specialist via Skype. To see which City Fertility Specialists offer this service, please visit our Specialists page.
If you require an interpreter to be present at this appointment please let us know when making the appointment so that we can arrange this for you.
For more information, visit our International patients page.
How many days do I need to be in Australia for the treatment?
The length of the process depends on which fertility treatment you undertake. The average cycle length is between 21 and 26 days.
Our nurses will be able to provide you with a more accurate time frame once you have had your consultation with the specialist.
For more information, you can download our Fertility info pack here.
When can I see the specialist?
The initial consultation with the specialist can normally be arranged within two weeks of your enquiry.
Please contact us directly at contactus@cityfertility.com.au to help you find the availability for the specific specialist that you would like to seek treatment with.
Do you offer Skype consultations for the first meeting with the specialist?
Yes. Some of our specialists do offer Skype consultations.
Please contact us directly at contactus@cityfertility.com.au to help you find the availability for the specific specialist that you would like to seek treatment with.
What does the initial consultation with the specialist cost?
The cost is usually around AU$200-AU$375.
For more information, visit our International Patients page or contact us directly to get an estimate for your treatment.
If I have already completed medical tests in my country, can I provide these to the Australian specialist?
Yes. Please provide any previous test results and fertility treatment history to the specialist at your first consultation. Your results must be in English.
Do you treat single women?
Yes. City Fertility can assist single women with fertility treatment.
For more information, visit our Single women page
Do you treat same-gender couples?
Yes. City Fertility can assist same-gender couples with fertility treatment.
For more information, please visit our Same-sex couples page and our Surrogacy page.
What is the waiting time to access donor sperm?
City Fertility has a range of donor sperm available for immediate use. This is only accessible as part of the fertility treatment in our clinics.
For more information, please visit our Using donor sperm page.
What is the cost of an IVF cycle?
The estimate of out-of-pocket costs for treatment with City Fertility for a standard IVF cycle is approximately AU$9,900-$10,200. In addition, there may be external fees including hospital costs (for egg collection), anaesthetist fee, medications and fertility specialist’s fees.
For more information, please visit our International patients page or contact us directly to get an estimate for your treatment.
What is the cost of an egg/oocyte freeze cycle?
The estimated cost of an egg freeze cycle with City Fertility is AU$5,200, with ongoing storage fees of AU$515 per year. In addition, there may be external fees including hospital costs (for egg collection), anaesthetist fee, medications and fertility specialist’s fees.
For more information on costs, please visit our International patients page.
What is the cost of genetic testing?
The cost of Genetic Testing depends on the type of Genetic Testing you’d like to do. The estimated cost is approximately AU$700 for each embryo tested, with a biopsy fee of AU$700.
For more information about genetic testing, please visit our Genetic testing page.
Is gender selection available in Australia?
Gender selection is not available in Australia when undergoing ART treatment.
Please contact us directly at contactus@cityfertility.com.au for more information.
Are we able to do egg sharing or partner IVF at City Fertility?
Yes. We are able to support you with egg sharing, also known as partner IVF, at our clinic.
At City Fertility, we are here to help. Please contact us if you have any questions:
- Call 1300 354 354.
- Email contactus@cityfertility.com.au.
- WhatsApp (messages only) +61 0414 182 104