In general, couples under 35 should consider seeing a fertility specialist after 12 months of trying to conceive without success. For women over 35, assessment is often recommended after 6 months. Earlier assessment may also be appropriate for patients with irregular cycles, endometriosis, PMOS (formerly PCOS), recurrent miscarriage, male infertility concerns, or previous fertility issues.
Infertility can result from female factors, male factors, or a combination of both. Common causes include ovulation disorders, age-related fertility decline, endometriosis, sperm abnormalities, tubal problems, hormonal conditions, and unexplained infertility.
Infertility is very common and affects approximately 1 in 6 couples. Fertility challenges can affect people of all ages and backgrounds and are often more common than many patients initially realise.
Yes. Age is one of the most important factors influencing fertility, particularly for women. Egg quantity and quality gradually decline over time, with fertility typically declining more rapidly after the mid-30s.
Yes. Male fertility factors contribute to approximately 40–50% of fertility challenges. Problems may involve sperm count, sperm movement, sperm shape, hormonal factors, or sperm DNA quality.
Unexplained infertility occurs when fertility investigations appear normal despite difficulty conceiving. While no obvious cause is identified, many patients with unexplained infertility still achieve successful pregnancy with appropriate fertility treatment.
Yes. PMOS (formerly PCOS) commonly affects ovulation and can make conception more difficult. However, it is also one of the most treatable causes of infertility, and many patients achieve successful pregnancy with the right treatment approach.
Yes. Endometriosis may affect fertility through inflammation, scarring, hormonal disruption, or changes to egg quality and the pelvic environment. Fertility treatment options depend on the severity of symptoms and reproductive goals.
Recurrent miscarriage may be associated with genetic factors, hormonal conditions, uterine abnormalities, immune factors, age-related egg quality decline, or unexplained causes. Careful fertility assessment may help identify contributing factors.
Fertility assessment may include hormone blood tests, semen analysis, ultrasound imaging, ovulation assessment, ovarian reserve testing, and other investigations depending on the individual situation.
Ovarian reserve refers to the estimated number of eggs remaining within the ovaries. It is commonly assessed using AMH blood testing and ultrasound assessment of antral follicle count.
Yes. Factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake, obesity, poor sleep, high stress levels, and some medical conditions may negatively affect fertility in both women and men.
Stress alone is not usually the sole cause of infertility, however prolonged stress may affect hormonal balance, ovulation, sexual health, and overall wellbeing during fertility treatment.
No. Many patients conceive with simpler treatments such as ovulation induction, cycle tracking, lifestyle optimisation, or insemination treatments. IVF is recommended when appropriate based on the underlying fertility issue.
This depends on age and medical history. Earlier fertility assessment is often recommended for women over 35, patients with irregular cycles, known fertility conditions, recurrent miscarriage, or male fertility concerns.
Egg freezing is a fertility preservation treatment where eggs are collected, frozen, and stored for future use. It allows women to preserve eggs at their current age and potentially improve future reproductive options.
In general, egg freezing is most effective in the early to mid-30s, when egg quality and quantity are typically higher. However, every patient’s fertility situation is different.
The egg freezing process usually takes around 2–3 weeks from the start of treatment to egg collection.
The ideal number depends on age, ovarian reserve, and future family goals. In general, freezing more eggs increases the likelihood of future pregnancy success.
Success rates depend heavily on the age at which eggs are frozen, the number of eggs stored, and embryo development following thawing and fertilisation.
Yes. Many women freeze eggs in their late 30s and early 40s, although outcomes become less predictable with increasing age.
Yes. Egg freezing is considered a safe and well-established fertility preservation treatment. Most patients complete treatment without significant complications.
No. Egg freezing does not usually reduce future natural fertility, as eggs collected during treatment would otherwise naturally be lost during that cycle.
Egg freezing involves storing unfertilised eggs, while embryo freezing involves fertilising eggs with sperm through IVF before freezing the resulting embryos.
Yes. Male fertility preservation may include sperm freezing or sperm retrieval procedures prior to medical treatment or future fertility planning.
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can affect fertility. Fertility preservation may involve egg freezing, sperm freezing, embryo freezing, or tissue freezing before treatment begins.
In many cases, yes. Patients with endometriosis, cancer, autoimmune conditions, or hormone-related disorders may still be suitable for fertility preservation treatment.
Modern vitrification techniques allow eggs to remain frozen for many years without significant deterioration in quality.
IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) is a fertility treatment where eggs are collected from the ovaries, fertilised with sperm in a laboratory, and transferred into the uterus as embryos.
IVF may be recommended for age-related infertility, endometriosis, male infertility, blocked fallopian tubes, recurrent miscarriage, unexplained infertility, same-sex family building, and donor conception pathways.
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) involves placing sperm directly into the uterus around ovulation, while IVF involves fertilisation occurring in the laboratory before embryo transfer.
ICSI is an advanced IVF technique where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg. It is commonly used for male infertility or previous fertilisation problems.
Mini-IVF is a lower stimulation IVF approach using reduced medication doses. It may be appropriate for selected patients seeking a gentler treatment pathway or women with lower ovarian reserve.
Needle-free IVF refers to modified fertility treatment approaches designed to minimise injections, often using more oral medication and lower stimulation protocols where appropriate.
Natural cycle IVF is performed with little or no ovarian stimulation medication and focuses on collecting the naturally selected egg from that cycle.
A typical IVF cycle generally takes around 4–6 weeks from the beginning of ovarian stimulation through to embryo transfer.
IVF success rates vary depending on age, fertility diagnosis, egg quality, sperm quality, and embryo development. Younger age is generally associated with higher success rates.
Yes. IVF and ICSI have significantly improved pregnancy outcomes for many couples experiencing male fertility challenges.
Yes. IVF can support a range of family-building pathways, including same-sex couples, reciprocal IVF, donor conception, and single parents by choice.
Reciprocal IVF is a treatment pathway commonly used by female same-sex couples, where one partner provides the eggs and the other partner carries the pregnancy.
Yes. In selected situations, embryos can undergo genetic testing prior to transfer to assess for specific genetic or chromosomal conditions.
Egg collection is a minor procedure usually performed under light sedation. A fine needle guided by ultrasound is used to collect eggs from the ovaries.
This varies significantly between patients. Some patients conceive during their first cycle, while others may require multiple cycles depending on age and fertility factors.
In some situations, frozen embryo transfer may improve implantation rates by allowing hormone levels and the uterine environment to normalise before transfer.
IVF can be emotionally and physically demanding for some patients. A highly personalised and supportive treatment approach can help patients feel more informed and supported throughout the process.
No, however a GP referral is generally required to access Medicare rebates for specialist consultations and fertility treatment.
Eligible patients may receive Medicare rebates for selected fertility investigations and treatments, including IVF procedures.
IVF costs vary depending on the treatment type, medication requirements, laboratory procedures, and whether additional services are required.
Private health insurance may assist with some hospital-related costs depending on your policy and level of cover.
Initial consultations with Dr Daniel Lantsberg generally exceed 1 hour, allowing time for detailed fertility assessment and personalised treatment planning.
It is helpful to bring previous fertility test results, referral letters, imaging, pathology reports, and a list of current medications where available.