Our Guide to Fertility for Single Women

Are you ready to potentially start or expand your family? There are several potential fertility options available for single women. With IVF and IUI treatments, anyone may be able to begin building the family they’ve always wanted.

But what can you expect on this journey? Pursuing fertility support on your own may feel overwhelming and complicated, but this guide details what you need to know to get started.

For personalised advice or to find out more about IVF for single women, contact our team at Dr Hugo Fernandes in Melbourne today.

Fertility treatments and you

When it comes to your fertility, it’s important to understand the different options available. In Australia, single women have the option to pursue two different fertility paths: IVF (in vitro fertilisation), and IUI (intrauterine insemination).

Understanding the differences between each may help you narrow down which one you may prefer as well as what may work best for you.

The impact of IVF

If you are considering fertility support, you have most likely heard of IVF. Australia has been a leading developer of this treatment since it was first successfully used in the 1970s. Australia was also the first country in the world to institute national IVF guidelines and procedures.

As such, we have had years to streamline and improve the process. It has been revolutionary in helping aspiring parents live their dreams.

The IVF process

There are several steps to the IVF process.

First, the aspiring mother begins taking fertility injections. This aims to prompt more eggs to grow, potentially increasing the chances of successful insemination.

Once ready, the fertility doctor will then carefully collect and place the eggs inside a laboratory where they may be fertilised. After selecting a sperm donor, the doctor will carefully inject the sperm into the egg and leave it to mature inside the lab for several days.

The embryo is then returned to the woman undergoing treatment. From there, it’s a waiting game to determine if the process was a success and if the woman is now pregnant.

Understanding IUI

The first successful IUI pregnancy in humans was in 1993, in London. In this instance, it was used to help a husband with fertility issues have a family with his wife. While, like IVF, this method has been in use for decades, it is not considered as reliable as IVF treatments.

Despite this, it is generally more affordable, often making it a more attractive option for more women, especially those without partners, to access fertility support.

The IUI process

IUI is a relatively straightforward process. Once a sperm donor has been selected, the sperm is then assessed in a lab. A professional will help separate healthy and more active sperm to increase the chances of insemination.

The process will then wait until the woman is ovulating. Once ready, the sperm is injected directly into the uterus. This is usually a fairly quick process.

Finding your sperm donor

There are several ways of finding who may be the right sperm donor for you.

Many women seek a known donor, who is usually a friend or someone they know. Doing this may help to reduce some of the overall costs as well as the wait times sometimes associated with unknown donors.

If you would prefer to avoid a known donor, that is generally not an issue. Sperm banks are available to offer more options for women seeking fertility support. However, there may be some legal considerations. For instance, in Australia children born from a sperm donor are entitled to know the donor’s identity once they reach the age of 18. This may or may not be a concern for you, but in any case, it’s something to be aware of.

Costs

The cost of fertility treatment will depend on the type of treatment you pursue. Usually, IUI is more affordable than IVF. However, IVF is generally seen as having a higher success rate than IUI treatments. So, before settling on a price, it’s important to consider which method you prefer.

Likewise, Medicare provides fairly limited support. You will only receive a rebate if there is a medical problem affecting your ability to conceive. In this case, it’s important to have a full understanding of your own reproductive health so that you can access these additional supports if you are eligible.

Start your fertility journey the right way

If you are still not sure about what direction to take, professional advice may help you narrow down your options and move forward with confidence. At Dr Hugo Fernandes, we have a highly qualified team with years of experience helping single women achieve successful pregnancies.

We’re happy to discuss your options, legal obligations, and even other support you are entitled to. Simply reach out to our friendly staff and book an appointment today.