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People who have embryos in storage for use in assisted reproductive treatment often find it difficult to decide what to do with the embryos when they are no longer receiving treatment. The ‘What to do with your unused embryos?’ brochure outlines the available options.

This report from the Infertility Treatment Authority, Victoria, presents results of interviews conducted with donor-conceived adults, parents who are recipients of donated sperm or eggs, an egg donor, and infertility counsellors; 34 people in all. Discussion focused on telling donor-conceived people about their conception and resources that would assist parents and donor-conceived people to manage the information.

Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is used for the same reasons as IVF, but especially to overcome sperm problems. Essentially, ICSI follows the same process as IVF, except ICSI involves the direct injection of a single sperm into each egg to achieve fertilisation.

Since the first IVF baby was born some 40 years ago, more than 7 million people have been born as a result of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as IVF. Studies over the years have shown that babies born after ART are more likely to be born prematurely and to weigh less at birth, and they have a slightly greater risk of birth defects. However, by the time they become adults, research has previously shown that they are just healthy as other people.

Prior to 1988, sperm and egg donations were practised anonymously. Donors and parents who used the donations rarely told others about their experience. As society has changed and become more open, the law and this practice in Victoria has changed. Parents are encouraged to tell their child about how they became a family with the help of a donor. Donors are counselled in treatment clinics to be open about their donation to their partner, children, and extended family - especially as donor-conceived people or their parents are able to apply for information about them.

New research suggests COVID-19 vaccination does not affect your chance of success with IVF.

If you are having IVF treatment, your fertility specialist may discuss endometrial scratching with you. A 2015 survey found that 83 per cent of fertility specialists in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom were offering it to women at the time.

This brochure is intended as a general introduction to preimplantation genetic testing (PGT): what it is, how it is done, the reasons for doing PGT, and advantages and disadvantages of PGT. It should not be seen as a substitute for advice from doctors or other health professionals. Information contained in this brochure was correct at the time of writing however as PGT is a rapidly advancing technology it is important to check information with your fertility specialist.

This Code of Conduct applies to all employees, volunteers and contractors working at VARTA, and their compliance is required. It is particularly pertinent for VARTA’s counsellors, who are more likely to interact with children and young people in the course of information and support sessions. This Code of Conduct makes reference to and incorporates the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees. VARTA is bound by that Code of Conduct and adheres to it in accordance with section 61 of the Public Administration Act 2004 (Vic).