In the baby business

While assisted reproduction can be a prolonged and expensive process, for many women it’s well worth it

- NICOLA FIELD

In the time it takes for you to read this article, 11 newborns will have made their way into the world across Australia. Close to 300,000 babies are born annually around the nation, making pregnancy and childbirth a commonplace event. What’s extraordinary is that one in 20 of those babies relied on in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Forty years ago, Australia was an IVF pioneer. Today IVF and assisted reproductive technology (ART) are big businesses, supporting a wide variety of private clinics, many of which are owned by publicly listed companies.

These companies have followed the money trail. IVF is not cheap and it’s not widely available through the public health system. The cost varies between private clinics, but as a guide expect to pay around $220 to $350 for a first consultation. From there, an initial IVF cycle can cost $8680. After allowing for a Medicare rebate and Medicare safety net (more on this later), the likely out-of-pocket cost to the patient can be about $3800.

These figures may be base estimates only. For couples relying on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ISCI), which can be used to assist with male infertility, the cost of an initial cycle can rise to $9560, with the out-of-pocket expense likely to be in the order of $4200.

The real clincher is that it can take multiple cycles to fall pregnant. According to the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA), most people who go through IVF, regardless of age, do not have a baby after just one cycle.