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Fertility Assessment & Treatment Planning

Starting your fertility journey can feel uncertain, particularly if you are unsure what may be affecting your ability to conceive or what your next steps should be. A comprehensive fertility assessment provides clarity, helping you understand your reproductive health and the treatment options available to you.

With Dr Daniel Lantsberg, fertility care begins with a careful, individualised assessment and a clear treatment plan tailored to your goals. Whether you are trying to conceive, planning ahead, or navigating a known condition such as PMOS (PCOS), endometriosis, or recurrent miscarriage, the focus is on providing a structured and evidence-based pathway forward.

When to See a Fertility Specialist

Many patients are unsure when to seek help. While some conceive quickly, others benefit from early assessment and guidance.

You may consider seeing a fertility specialist if:

  • You have been trying to conceive for 12 months without success
  • You are over 35 and have been trying for 6 months or more
  • You have irregular or absent menstrual cycles
  • You have been diagnosed with PMOS (PCOS) or endometriosis
  • You have experienced miscarriage or recurrent pregnancy loss
  • You are considering egg freezing or future fertility planning
  • You are planning pregnancy as a single parent or same-sex couple
  • There are known or suspected male fertility concerns
  • You would like to better understand your fertility before trying

Seeking advice early can help identify potential issues and guide appropriate treatment, often improving outcomes and reducing time to pregnancy.

What Happens at Your First Appointment

Your first consultation is designed to build a clear and comprehensive understanding of your fertility health and your goals.

This typically includes:

  • A detailed medical and reproductive history
  • Review of menstrual cycles and ovulation patterns
  • Discussion of any previous pregnancies or fertility treatments
  • Assessment of relevant medical, lifestyle, and genetic factors
  • A clear discussion of your goals, preferences, and timeline

Consultations are intentionally thorough, allowing time to explore your situation in detail and begin forming a personalised treatment plan from the outset. This initial step often provides clarity and direction, even before formal testing is completed.

Common Causes of Fertility Challenges

Fertility can be affected by a range of factors, and in many cases more than one issue may be involved. Identifying the underlying cause is an important part of developing an effective and personalised treatment plan.

Common causes of fertility challenges include:

  • Ovulation disorders, particularly conditions such as PMOS (PCOS) that can affect regular egg release
  • Endometriosis, which can impact the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and overall reproductive function
  • Age-related decline in egg quality and quantity, particularly from the mid-30s onwards
  • Male fertility factors, including reduced sperm count, motility, or morphology
  • Structural issues affecting the uterus or fallopian tubes
  • Recurrent miscarriage or underlying genetic or hormonal factors
  • Unexplained infertility, where no single clear cause is identified despite thorough investigation

A comprehensive fertility assessment helps identify which of these factors may be relevant in your situation, allowing treatment to be tailored accordingly.

Fertility Testing

Fertility testing helps identify factors that may be affecting your ability to conceive. Investigations are tailored to your individual circumstances, ensuring that testing is appropriate and not excessive.

May include:

  • Hormone blood tests to assess ovarian reserve and function
  • Pelvic ultrasound to evaluate the uterus and ovaries
  • Assessment of ovulation
  • Screening for conditions such as PMOS or endometriosis

Typically includes:

  • Semen analysis to assess sperm count, motility, and morphology

Where required:

  • Assessment of fallopian tubes
  • Evaluation of uterine structure
  • Further hormonal or medical investigations

Testing is approached in a structured and evidence-based way, ensuring important factors are identified while avoiding unnecessary complexity.

Genetic Testing in Fertility Care

Genetic factors can play an important role in fertility, particularly in cases of recurrent miscarriage, unexplained infertility, or when planning certain fertility treatments.

Genetic testing may be recommended to:

  • Identify inherited genetic conditions that could affect future children
  • Assess potential causes of recurrent pregnancy loss
  • Guide treatment decisions in IVF, including embryo selection
  • Provide reassurance where no underlying genetic issue is identified

This may include carrier screening, chromosomal analysis, or other specialised tests depending on your individual circumstances.

Not all patients require genetic testing, but when indicated, it can provide valuable information that helps refine your treatment plan and improve outcomes. Genetic counselling may also form part of this process, ensuring you understand the implications of any findings.

Early Fertility Treatment

For many patients, treatment does not begin with IVF. Simple and lower-intervention approaches may be effective depending on your individual circumstances.

Medications may be used to stimulate ovulation, particularly in patients who are not ovulating regularly.

Careful monitoring of ovulation can help optimise timing and improve the chance of conception.

IUI involves placing prepared sperm into the uterus at the optimal time and may be appropriate in selected cases.

If early treatments are not suitable or have not been successful, IVF may be recommended as part of your treatment plan.

How Treatment Planning Works

Following assessment and testing, a personalised treatment plan is developed based on your individual circumstances.

This takes into account:

  • Your age and ovarian reserve
  • Any underlying conditions
  • Male fertility factors
  • Genetic considerations where relevant
  • Your goals and timeline
  • Previous fertility history

Rather than following a standardised pathway, treatment is tailored to your situation to ensure the most appropriate and effective approach is taken.

Why Choose Dr Daniel Lantsberg

Dr Daniel Lantsberg is a highly experienced Melbourne fertility specialist with over a decade dedicated exclusively to fertility medicine. He combines advanced subspecialist training, international experience, and academic leadership with a genuinely personalised approach to care.

  • 10+ years in fertility medicine — 3,000+ IVF cycles, 2,000+ babies
  • Sub-specialist fellowship trained in reproductive endocrinology and infertility
  • Clinical Director at Melbourne IVF and Senior Lecturer at the University of Melbourne
  • Featured fertility specialist on Channel Nine's Big Miracles
  • Longer consultations, fewer patients, fully tailored treatment plans

Your Possible Fertility Pathways

Depending on your circumstances, your fertility plan may involve one or more of the following pathways:

Management of Fertility Conditions

Conditions such as PMOS (PCOS), endometriosis, male infertility, and recurrent miscarriage can significantly impact fertility and are carefully managed as part of your overall treatment plan.

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Fertility Treatments & IVF Options

IVF is a highly effective treatment for many patients, particularly where there are multiple contributing factors or previous treatments have not been successful.

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Donor Conception

For single women and same-sex couples, donor conception provides a structured pathway to parenthood using donor sperm, eggs, or embryos.

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Fertility Preservation

For those not ready to conceive now, fertility preservation may be an important option. This includes egg freezing for women, as well as sperm freezing for men, allowing individuals and couples to plan for future family building.

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Take the First Step

Taking the first step towards understanding your fertility can feel significant, but it is also an important and empowering decision.

You do not need to have all the answers before seeking advice – the purpose of a fertility assessment is to provide clarity, direction, and a personalised plan. To begin your fertility assessment and treatment planning, book a consultation with Dr Daniel Lantsberg.

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