Home

Welcome to VARTA

VARTA provides independent information and support for individuals, couples, and health professionals on fertility, infertility, assisted reproductive treatment (ART) and the best interests of children born.

Slider image

Changes to our counselling service

From 28 November 2022, we are changing the way we counsel people wanting to engage with our donor conception registers.

person writing on form

Import/export enquiries

Travel restrictions have caused a surge in applications to import and export donor eggs, sperm and embryos. If you have questions about your application, please contact your clinic. Once VARTA has received complete paperwork from your clinic, it takes an average of 4-6 weeks to be approved.

Image of person typing on a laptop

Changes to Victorian legislation

New laws will increase access to fertility treatment in Victoria. Find out more about the changes and how they might affect you.

Image of a legal document

Webinar - What is known about the health of children and young adults born after IVF or ICSI?

The recording of our recent webinar about what is known about the health of children and young adults born after IVF or ICSI, held on 15 June is now available. 

 

Health after IVF and ICSI slider Banner (1084 × 610 px)_0.png

Time to tell Video Series

VARTA Counsellors have created the Time to tell series to help provide tips on how, when and what to say to donor-conceived children. It is hoped that parents and potential parents may feel more confident about their story, and children can understand the unique way in which they came into this world.

time to tell video series slider banner

How likely are you to have a baby after one, two or three IVF cycles?

If you’re thinking of starting IVF, or you’re already going through it, you may be wondering how many cycles it might to take to have a baby. 

IVF

Questions to ask your IVF clinic

Not everybody who starts IVF will have a baby. There are some important questions you can ask to get a realistic assessment of your chance of success.

questions_to_ask_slider.jpg
background

Donor conception registry services

VARTA manages the Central Register and the Voluntary Register and provides support for donors, people who are donor-conceived, parents who used a donor and their families. View services

The Voluntary Register

The Voluntary Register allows people who have been involved in donor conception in Victoria at any time to voluntarily lodge information about themselves and their wishes in order to exchange information with other people on the Voluntary Register.

The Central Register

The Central Register holds the names and dates of birth (identifying information) of all parties to donor conception treatment in Victoria - donor-conceived people, their parents, and donors. The information is provided to VARTA by the fertility clinics where treatment occurred. People can apply to the Central Register for both identifying and non-identifying information.

Latest news & updates

Stay up to date with news about VARTA and assisted reproduction. View media releases, blogs and updates about VARTA's services here.

Why you should avoid vaping if you want a baby in future

Vaping may seem less harmful than smoking cigarettes, which are known to increase…
Oct 2022 View more
Blogs

Thinking about freezing your eggs to have a baby later? Here are 3 numbers to help you decide

If you are thinking about freezing your eggs to use in the future, you may want to…
Aug 2022 View more
Blogs

Webinar- What is known about the health of children and young adults born after IVF or ICSI?

VARTA's 2022 webinar, what is known about the health of children and young adults…
Jul 2022 View more
Blogs

Do COVID-19 vaccines affect IVF outcomes?

New research suggests COVID-19 vaccination does not affect your chance of success…

Personal stories

Experience the stories of real people. View all stories

Welcome to Varta

Telling your adult child they are donor-conceived

Elizabeth, mother of three donor-conceived children, talks about how she told her adult children of their conception.
Video View more
Welcome to Varta

A couple's successful IVF treatment

Dinah and Ben's IVF treatment lasted four years until Dinah finally gave birth to their daughter Tallulah in 2010. In listening to this podcast series please bear in mind...
Audio View more
Welcome to Varta

A donor's wife's perspective

I have always known that my husband was a sperm donor while at university in the 70s. It was undertaken on a strictly confidential basis and over the years we really d...
Feature View more
Welcome to Varta

A male perspective on IVF treatment

Ben talks about the effects of IVF and coping strategies. Dinah and Ben's IVF treatment lasted four years until Dinah finally gave birth to their daughter Tallulah in 20...
Audio View more
Welcome to Varta

A man's perspective on a future without children

The journey through IVF treatment brings many emotions to the surface. Couples who undertake the journey are often taken by surprise by the demands that IVF can make. Suc...
Audio View more
Welcome to Varta

A mother reflects on her experience of donor treatment in the late 1970S and early 1980s

Elizabeth, a parent of three donor-conceived adults born as a result of donor treatment in the late 1970s and early 1980s at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne, reco...
Video View more
Welcome to Varta

Being a parent post IVF

Dinah and Ben talk about parenting post IVF. Dinah and Ben's IVF treatment lasted four years until Dinah finally gave birth to their daughter Tallulah in 2010. In listen...
Audio View more
Welcome to Varta

Being pregnant

Dinah and Ben talk about being pregnant. Dinah and Ben's IVF treatment lasted four years until Dinah finally gave birth to their daughter Tallulah in 2010. In listening ...
Audio View more
Welcome to Varta

Breaking the news

IVF treatment can impose heightened sensitivities. Friends who achieve a pregnancy and want to share their news may be unaware that IVF recipients can be distressed to he...
Audio View more
Welcome to Varta

Coming to terms with the end of treatment

Ben and Dinah talk about trying for another child and coming to terms with the end of their IVF treatment. Dinah and Ben's IVF treatment lasted four years until Dinah fi...
Audio View more