Clinics' next challenge is to deliver for all

IVF science has come a long way, but it still favours the wealthy, writes Julie Robotham.

Double bubble: doctors concerned over IVF twin births

Julie Robotham WHEN her pregnancy scan revealed two tiny heartbeats, Melinda van Leeuwen felt mostly relief. ''My first thought was, 'I'm glad it's not triplets','' said the 39-year-old, who was already the mother of a toddler.

Too old

IVF mum admits: I was wrong to have a baby at 57

Graeme Paton A woman who became one of Britain’s oldest mothers after IVF treatment has called for an age limit to be placed on the procedure.

Cutback

IVF cuts result in 1500 fewer babies

Julia Medew Thousands of Australians missed out on assisted reproductive treatment since the federal government changed funding.

The ethical minefield of 'pregnancy reduction'

Kylie Orr Is it right to destroy 'extra' foetuses when pregnant with twins or more?

When parents select baby's sex

Cosima Marriner Parents should be able to choose the sex of any babies after their first child to ''gender balance'' their family, says a leading Australian obstetrician.

Shopping online for a well-dressed baby daddy

Jenna Clarke Women will soon be able to choose sperm donors based on their fashion sense from an online catalogue.

Raising a child alone - is it unethical?

Being a parent is tough. But we love our children so exceedingly, that life without them would become an empty, worthless, nothingness and, being a single parent is a spinning world of insanity.

Should people be able to use the sperm or eggs of their dead partner?

The Question Four experts consider the arguments on forming a family in a harrowing situation.

Questions over sperm donors' legal rights

Natasha Wallace Parenting plans developed before a child is born should not be legally enforceable and sperm donors should not have an automatic legal right to be on a birth certificate, the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby says.

Legal loophole could identify sperm donors

Amy Corderoy Health Men who donated sperm anonymously many years ago could have their identities revealed after the surprise introduction of a legal clause giving the government power to demand access to the information.

Hey, babe, it's just you and me: more singles choose to go it alone

Sarah Whyte Di Morgan considered herself ''a catch'' at the age of 30. She was at the top of her marketing career, was dating a nice man and was ready to have children. But when that relationship ended she says her dreams of a happy family were shattered.

'I never thought there would be leftovers'

Rachel Browne When Prue Corlette started IVF four years ago, her focus was on conceiving rather than making a decision about leftover embryos.

Clinics accused of stopping cheap IVF

Jill Stark Owners of private IVF clinics are putting profits ahead of progeny by not offering cheaper treatments that would give more Australian women access to reproductive therapy, one of the world's leading fertility experts has claimed.

IVF doctor backs right to choose sex

Tim Barlass A leading Sydney in vitro fertilisation specialist has backed a couple's request to be allowed to choose the sex of their next baby.

It's a boy, again - how IVF is skewing the gender balance

Kate Benson After six agonising years of fertility treatment, Iliana Ilieva named her son after her "personal victory" of becoming pregnant. But to researchers, eight-week-old Victor Valeri is among an alarming surge in the number of boys being born using in vitro fertilisation techniques.

Assisted Conception terms

Here's a run down of the familiar terms you will hear on your IVF assisted conception journey...

When baby makes two

Liz Porter For the first time, single women can access IVF in Victoria even if they are not infertile.

Multiple births to surge as cost of IVF treatment rises

As treatment costs go up, more women are asking for several embryo implants at once. Jill Stark reports.

Designing principles at birth of a new era

Advances in gene technology are creating a host of ethical dilemmas, writes Rachel Browne. Genetic screening of human embryos may eventually eradicate inherited diseases ranging from breast cancer to cystic fibrosis.

Who's Ivy F?

Katrina Logan Who is Ivy F? And so begins the adventures of young Preston Lee as he dons his best detective outfit and goes on a quest to find this baby his parents keep talking about: “Ivy F”.

Obstetrics and IVF fees soar

Mark Metherell and Nick Miller Obstetricians and IVF specialists have increased their fees by more than 20 per cent in the past year, Medicare figures reveal, in a move the Government has slammed as a grab for public cash.

IVF breakthrough on genetic disease

Julia Medew Female carriers of a debilitating group of genetic diseases could soon be able to have healthy babies — using DNA donated by other people.

Medicare cap threat to hope of parenthood

Angela Thompson For a few short weeks, Naomi and Scott Baines held a new life in their arms and were parents.

IVF and alternative medicine don't mix

Women who are desperately trying to get pregnant might want to avoid complementary and alternative medicine, research shows.

Rush for IVF treatment to beat proposed price hikes

Peter Munro and Rachel Browne Anxious couples are fast-tracking in-vitro fertilisation treatment in an attempt to conceive before an expected price hike in January.

'Our world was shattered': couple's last embryo destroyed in mix-up

Helen Carter A British couple's last hopes of having another child have been destroyed after a clinic mistake meant their final embryo was implanted in another woman.

Infertile couples paying a heavy price for Labor

Scott Morrison MP, Federal Member for Cook Families are being forced to pay an extra $2,000 per cycle of IVF treatment in this year's budget. Scott Morrison MP, Federal Member for Cook, shares his story.

Budget removes safety net for IVF parents

Julie Robotham Proposed changes to the Medicare safety net could result in thousands of dollars of extra out-of-pocket charges for families attempting pregnancy through in-vitro fertilisation or receiving care from a private obstetrician, say specialist doctors and patient groups.

News archive

Brighter outlook for IVF babies

Kate Benson Medical Reporter IVF pregnancy rates could double and the incidence of serious complications, such as miscarriage and pre-eclampsia, could be halved after a technological breakthrough in fertility research.