IVF & Fertility Clinic Melbourne  

Aiming to support your family’s growth through Fertility and IVF treatment.
 
 

Melbourne-Based IVF and Fertility Services With Dr Hugo Fernandes

For many Australians, fertility treatment often brings hope. Achieving your family goals may be a lifelong dream — and if unexpected obstacles stand in the way of your plans, it can be hard to find the right ‘next step’.

Dr Hugo Fernandes and his team are proud to support families through fertility treatment including ‘in vitro fertilisation’ (IVF), providing compassionate care and personalised treatment for fertility support.

IVF is the process of fertilising an egg with sperm in the laboratory rather than in the fallopian tube. As a co-founder and clinical director at Newlife IVF, an independent IVF provider, Dr Hugo is able to offer IVF cycles and specialist fertility care that is tailored entirely to the individual needs of the patient.

Are you Considering Fertility Treatment?

People visit a fertility specialist for a range of reasons. Whether you’re concerned about your fertility or have struggled to conceive for more than six months, visiting a fertility specialist offers peace of mind and access to modern treatments.

Fertility is complex and everchanging. The chances of success are different for every individual and every couple. Dr Hugo believes in always being honest and realistic in his assessment and treatment.

IVF Treatment Melbourne
Fertility clinic

Fertility and IVF Treatment

As someone who didn’t have the most straight-forward path to four children, Dr. Hugo has a unique understanding of the challenges faced by couples and singles in creating a family. He works with couples, same-sex couples and single women to offer personalised fertility treatment that meets your unique needs.

“It is a privilege for me to play such an important part in people’s lives, and it is always my number 1 priority to provide excellent, patient-centred care.”

IVF is a widely known treatment, however, there are many more fertility treatment options aside from IVF. Often good advice, careful planning, timing, and some simple medications are all that is needed for success.

As a fertility specialist and a gynaecologist with advanced endosurgical training, Dr Hugo is uniquely placed to offer fertility optimising surgery, including management of endometriosis, fibroids, uterine polyps and ovarian cysts, to maximise your chances of successfully conceiving. By undertaking these procedures using minimally invasive techniques, we aim to reduce the impact on your health and family life, helping you return to trying to conceive as soon as possible. Dr Hugo can also offer fertility preservation through egg-freezing at his IVF clinic in Melbourne.

Ready to start your fertility journey? Dr Hugo is ready to lend a hand.

IVF clinic in Melbourne

IVF Treatment

IVF is an effective option for many couples who are trying to achieve pregnancy but have been unsuccessful. IVF is utilised for many conditions that compromise fertility, such as tubal damage, sperm abnormalities, unsuccessful ovulation induction, endometriosis, or unexplained infertility. In addition to male infertility, male/female couples experiencing infertility, IVF may be a great option for same-sex, gender-diverse couples, and single women also wanting to have a family.

Your need for IVF is best determined by an IVF and fertility specialist with access to all treatments. There are many factors that may or may not make IVF the most suitable treatment for you and your partner, and all of these need to be considered and discussed to meet your needs. For many couples, other non-IVF fertility treatments may be a better option. To determine whether IVF or another fertility treatment may be right for you, book an initial appointment with Dr Hugo today.

Newlife IVF

“I feel so strongly about patient-centred care that I established my own fertility clinic. Newlife IVF aims to provide a personalised, caring and supportive fertility experience.”

Dr Hugo is the co-founder and a clinic director of Newlife IVF, an independent provider of specialist fertility care.

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IVF treatment

Independent and Dedicated to You

Newlife IVF is one of only a few independent IVF providers in Victoria. As clinicians, we deliberately chose to move our fertility practice away from a large, corporate-owned IVF provider to better reflect our preferred model of care.

Private ownership provides us with the freedom to heavily invest in the infrastructure, systems and processes required to truly support best scientific practice and evidence-based care. It also enables us to offer care that is reasonably priced, in line with our belief that IVF treatment should be accessible and affordable to all.

Modern Treatments at a State-of-the-Art Facility

We operate from a purpose-built facility in Box Hill, Melbourne. Our co-located services include a fully accredited, state-of-the-art laboratory, day surgery, specialist nursing, counselling services, medication dispensing, ultrasound, pathology, and a WHO Level 5 semen analysis facility. For those seeking top-tier fertility treatment, the Melbourne IVF Clinic at our specialised location is ready to provide comprehensive and tailored care.

IVF clinic Melbourne
IVF clinic

Potential Risks and Side Effects of Fertility Treatments

Overall, IVF and the egg collection procedure are generally well tolerated by patients. As with any medical care, assisted reproductive treatment such as IVF does have some risks and side effects. Most side effects are limited to the short time on medication and resolve quickly once these are stopped.

The risks you need to look out for often depend on your age, medical history, and personal circumstances. Fertility specialists such as Dr Hugo aim to provide personalised advice regarding the risks most relevant to you, however the possible issues to be aware of can include:

  • Soreness/bruising from injections
  • Nausea and/or bloating
  • Breast tenderness
  • Hot flashes
  • Fatigue
  • Allergic reactions
  • Pelvic infections or pain

Your IVF and Fertility Questions Answered

What is the process of IVF?

The IVF process is complicated and extensive, but it all starts with a simple appointment.

Dr Hugo Fernandes is a Melbourne-based specialist in IVF and other fertility treatments, and with an initial appointment he will be able to help you navigate your options. If IVF is the right path forward, there are six steps that you will then be walked through. This includes egg retrieval, sperm preparation, intrauterine insemination, embryo development, embryo transfer, and finally blood tests to confirm whether your IVF cycle has successfully resulted in a pregnancy.

What is the cost of IVF treatment?

While IVF involves a large highly trained team and advanced technology, Newlife IVF is committed to affordable treatment that is accessible to most people. Many of the ‘add-ons’ at other clinics are actually part of our standard level of treatment, and we use best-scientific practice first go.

As of 1 January 2023, the estimated out-of-pocket cost for a typical IVF cycle ranges between $3,500 and $4,600 after Medicare rebates. It may be difficult to understand or compare costs online, so for more comprehensive information regarding our IVF charges, contact our clinic today.

Does Medicare cover IVF?

Medicare contributes to the overall cost of IVF by subsidising consultations, investigations, fertility treatment, and most medications. In some instances, Private health insurance may also help with costs.

Is there an age limit for IVF?

Yes. In Australia, IVF is not performed after the age of 46 years old. This was decided because the chances of conceiving after that age using a woman’s own eggs are exceedingly small. Patients that already have frozen eggs, embryos, or use donor eggs may keep transferring these until they are 52 years old.

What is the difference between IVF and ICSI treatment?

In natural fertilisation, an egg is exposed to many sperm in the fallopian tube, one of which enters the egg and fertilises it. IVF or ‘In-Vitro Fertilisation’ is a technique where this same process occurs outside of the body, in a laboratory dish.

During IVF, semen from the partner or donor is prepared in a laboratory so that only the best sperm remains. A drop of this highly concentrated solution is then placed with each egg, allowing it to fertilise naturally.

During ICSI (IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection), the same concentrated sperm sample is further analysed under a microscope by a scientist to select a single sperm. This sperm is then carefully injected into each egg using a microscopic needle. ICSI is the preferred technique when sperm counts are low, highly abnormal, or have been frozen.

What is PGT?

‘Pre-implantation genetic testing’, or PGT, is a way of analysing the genetic material in an embryo before it is transferred into the uterus.

At fertilisation, DNA from the mother and father join into a new set of chromosomes unique to that embryo. Occasionally there is too much or too little DNA, or small mutations are passed on. This can result in the embryo failing to grow, not implanting, or in a miscarriage.

After an embryo is created, and before transfer, a biopsy can be taken and tested for these changes. By transferring only ‘normal’ embryos, we can help prevent medical conditions from being passed on, increase pregnancy success rates, and decrease the risk of miscarriage.

How do I prepare my body for IVF?

IVF may be taxing and it’s important to have both a healthy body and a healthy mind. If you’re planning to undergo IVF, it’s important to prepare your body so as to increase your chances of a successful pregnancy. You should aim to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and begin taking prenatal vitamins to ensure you have all the necessary nutrients for conception.

Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight is crucial, as being over or underweight may both negatively impact fertility. Smoking, alcohol, and recreational drug use also all have a significant negative impact on fertility results, as well as potentially harming any ongoing pregnancy. You should make sure all your vaccinations including flu and COVID shots are up to date, and avoid potential exposure to infectious diseases that can delay or result in the cancellation of your treatment. Exercise, yoga, and meditation are all great ways to calm your mind and help you relax during treatment. By following these tips, you can give yourself the best possible chance of success during your IVF journey.

Are twins more common with IVF?

IVF increases the chances of having multiple pregnancies mainly as a result of more than one embryo being transferred. Generally, this is not recommended as multiple pregnancies carry a higher risk of complications including preterm labor, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and the need for caesarean delivery.

What is the success rate of IVF?

Just as with natural fertility, the success of IVF is largely dependent on the age of the woman. From 30 years of age, pregnancy rates steadily begin to fall. There is also a rapid increase in miscarriage from the mid-30s onwards if you do conceive.

Women seeking out fertility services will all have their own medical histories and circumstances, and the chances of increasing fertility success rates will depend greatly on the underlying cause. Generally, success rates from IVF clinics range from about 45% pregnancy rate per embryo transfer at age 30, down to 5% at 43 years old.

Why Choose Dr Hugo?

Family First

Family is integral to who we are. If you experience difficulty with fertility, or growing your family hasn’t gone to plan, you may be left feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. Dr Hugo is dedicated to helping families grow with fertility support.

Compassionate Care

Realising that you may require fertility support may be hard, and the road to starting your family is one you won’t want to walk alone. We are proud to provide compassionate, caring support, walking with you throughout your full IVF journey with an understanding of your individual circumstances.

Industry Experience

Dr Hugo has a comprehensive understanding of the fertility journey, IVF success rates, and the ways that IVF clinics aim to best service families in need of support. With an understanding of all things fertility and the most advanced science in the industry, Dr Hugo is a fertility specialist you know you can trust.

Put Your Fertility Health in the Hands of an IVF Fertility Specialist

If you’re ready to take the next step in growing your family, book an initial appointment with Dr Hugo Fernandes for fertility care. As a trusted IVF and fertility specialist in Melbourne, Dr Hugo is ready to support you through the process, giving you the best possible chance to grow your family. Patients can visit the Newlife IVF Melbourne Clinic, or patients in rural areas can book an appointment via Telehealth

Fertility clinic in Melbourne