What can I expect from Newlife IVF?
As one of only a few independent IVF providers in Victoria, Newlife IVF aims to offer a more personalised, caring and supportive experience than that of corporate-owned clinics. As a clinician-owned and led practice, we navigate the fertility journey alongside our patients. This clinical empathy lies at the heart of Newlife IVF – we put patients at the heart of everything we do.
Along with our collective experience and expertise, patients can expect an exceptional level of personalised care, tailored to their specific circumstances, preferences and lifestyle. In keeping with this ethos, we have carefully designed every aspect of our practice with our patients’ needs in mind. This includes our brand-new, purpose-built centre in Box Hill where patients can undergo all their investigations and treatment in the one place. Our co-located services include a fully accredited, state-of-the-art laboratory, day surgery (operated by Epworth Eastern), specialist nursing and counselling services, medication dispensing, ultrasound, pathology, and a WHO Level 5 semen analysis facility. We have also teamed up with leading providers in pathology and radiology, so patients can have their investigations performed closer to home, if preferred.
Patients can also expect care that is reasonably priced, in line with our belief that IVF should be accessible and affordable to all. For a full list of our cycle fees, please click here.
Where will I attend consultations with my fertility specialist?
For the convenience of our patients, our fertility specialists will continue to consult at all their usual locations. A full list of these locations can be found on our appointments page.
Newlife IVF is a new clinic. Will my chance of pregnancy be as good as at other clinics?
We established Newlife IVF in order to provide patients with the highest standard of fertility care and support. Together, our six founding doctors – Dr Hugo Fernandes, Professor Martin Healey, Dr Nicole Hope, Dr Sameer Jatkar, Dr Tiki Osianlis and Dr Chris Russell – have decades of experience in delivering fertility care and IVF services. As individuals, we operate successful private practices, consult at some of Melbourne’s most prestigious hospitals and hold University teaching positions, as well as author book chapters and research publications related to IVF treatment. With post-graduate qualifications in reproductive medicine and embryology, and a well-established track record in delivering fertility and IVF treatments via other IVF providers, including Monash IVF, we offer experienced specialist care for individuals and couples wanting to conceive.
As a clinician-owned and led service, we put patients at the heart of our practice. Our systems and processes have been designed to offer patients a caring and well-supported experience as they journey with us to conception. This patient-centric focus includes our commitment to offering advanced scientific tools and techniques that may improve one’s chance of conceiving, as standard practice – not just as optional add-ons. If the team at Newlife IVF deems the application or use of a particular piece of equipment, or test, or technique, as integral to improving our success rates, it simply becomes part of our standard of care.
At present, this includes the use of the EmbryoScope time-lapse system, sequential media and EmbryoGlue to aid the development, selection and transfer of embryos during IVF. We also routinely use egg spindle visualisation for all ICSI procedures to help assess if an egg is in optimal condition for fertilisation. We are also pleased to be able to offer patients, where suitable, the option of pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) to screen embryos for genetic anomalies prior to transfer into a woman’s womb (uterus). By employing these techniques, we aim to optimise every treatment cycle, giving our patients a better chance of achieving a successful pregnancy sooner.
Like you, we believe that families bring joy to life. So we are dedicated to applying every last ounce of our expertise, along with the very latest that science and technology can offer, to bring you joy at the end of your journey with us.
What happens if I am currently in a treatment cycle?
Please be reassured that your current treatment cycle will continue without disruption. Your current fertility specialist (i.e. Hugo, Martin, Nicole, Sameer or Chris) will continue to oversee and manage your treatment in cooperation with the nursing staff at Monash IVF. At the conclusion of this cycle, you will meet with your fertility specialist as planned to review the outcome of your cycle and discuss next steps.
What happens if I require further treatment after this cycle?
As fertility specialists, we value continuity of care highly and are committed to your ongoing care, even though the IVF clinic with which we are associated has changed. If you require further treatment, we will transition your care to Newlife IVF. This will enable your current fertility specialist (i.e. Hugo, Martin, Nicole, Sameer or Chris) to coordinate and manage any future treatment cycles at Newlife IVF’s brand-new, purpose-built facilities in Box Hill. Our fertility clinic includes a fully accredited, state-of-the-art laboratory, incorporating the latest scientific tools and techniques, as well as an on-site day surgery operated by Epworth Eastern.
I am expecting my period very soon and want to start treatment. How will this affect my treatment plans?
Treatment cycles are expected to commence at Newlife IVF in October 2019. Depending on when your next period begins, you may wish to consider delaying your treatment start date for a short period, so you can remain under the care of your current fertility specialist (i.e. Hugo, Martin, Nicole, Sameer or Chris). Please call your fertility specialist’s rooms or the Newlife IVF team on (03) 8080 8933 to discuss the options available to you.
Will delaying treatment make it harder to conceive?
In almost all circumstances, delaying treatment by 2–3 months is highly unlikely to affect your chances of having a baby. We expect treatment cycles to commence at Newlife IVF in October 2019. If you have concerns about the timing of your treatment, we encourage you to call your fertility specialist’s rooms or the Newlife IVF team on (03) 8080 8933, so we can set up a time to discuss your personal situation and decide what’s best for you.
If I have treatment with Newlife IVF, where will I have my egg collection and embryo transfer?
Our purpose-built clinic in Box Hill has been deliberately co-located with a bespoke IVF day surgery owned and operated by Epworth Eastern. This day surgery has been exclusively designed to accommodate Newlife IVF’s patients. As the day surgery and IVF clinic are housed together, you will only need to come to the one place for all your fertility nurse appointments, counselling services, andrology, egg collection and embryo transfer.
Will I need to have my blood tests done at Box Hill?
No. For your convenience, we do have pathology services located on-site at our Box Hill fertility clinic. However, if it is easier for you, you can have your blood collected at selected Melbourne Pathology centres throughout Melbourne – just ask your Newlife fertility nurse for a list of these locations.
If I have already completed counselling, do I need to do this again?
If you have already completed all your counselling requirements, we simply need confirmation of this for our records (e.g. a letter or consent form signed by your counsellor). The team at Newlife IVF can help you attain this paperwork. Of course, even if you have undergone counselling already, you are still very welcome to also see one of Newlife IVF’s dedicated counsellors, who can meet with you 1:1 or as part of a peer group session.
If we change IVF clinics, do I/we need to complete new police checks?
We will accept an existing police check if it was processed within the last 5 years. Simply ensure that the receptionists at Newlife IVF receive a copy of this paperwork for our records.
If we change IVF clinics, do I/we need to have another Child Protection Order Check(CPOC)?
Unfortunately, state legislation mandates that CPOCs are clinic specific. This means you will need to repeat this check in order to receive future treatment under the care of Newlife IVF. We will let you know when this form has been customised for Newlife IVF and is available for download from our website.
What if I have frozen eggs, sperm or embryos stored with Monash IVF?
If you currently have frozen eggs, sperm or embryos stored with Monash IVF, we can arrange for these to be transferred to Newlife IVF’s fully accredited laboratory in Box Hill for ongoing storage or use.
To initiate transfer, you simply need to contact our transport coordinator (email [email protected] or call (03) 8080 8933) and complete a release form and a frozen tissue transport form. Thereafter, our transport coordinator will liaise with Monash IVF on your behalf and arrange for a special courier to pick up your frozen eggs, sperm or embryos and safely transport them to Newlife IVF. Your eggs, sperm or embryos will be transported in a specially designed shipper. These shippers are used all over the world to transport frozen tissue.
If you are not planning to use your frozen eggs, sperm or embryos soon, arranging this transfer is not urgent. However, we recommend starting this process at your earliest convenience to ensure there is no cause for delay once you are ready to start treatment.
What will it cost to transfer my frozen eggs, sperm or embryos to Newlife IVF?
Newlife IVF will pay for the cost of transporting your frozen eggs, sperm or embryos to our laboratory in Box Hill. Please note, however, that Monash IVF may choose to charge you an administration fee for releasing your eggs, sperm or embryos.
Following their transfer, Newlife IVF will store your eggs, sperm or embryos at no charge for the first six months. Thereafter, our usual storage fees will apply ($270 per 6 months).
Will Newlife IVF have donor sperm available for use?
We are currently working with the local community to find altruistic anonymous donors and expect to have donor sperm available for use by late 2019. We also hope to secure an ongoing supply of donor sperm (that meets Victorian legislation) from an international sperm donor agency by late 2019 or early 2020. Newlife IVF will offer reduced cycle fees to women who source their own donor sperm.
Will Newlife have donor eggs available for use?
Donor eggs are a particularly scarce resource. However, we are committed to working with the local community to find altruistic anonymous donors and will have donor eggs available as soon as possible. We also hope to secure an ongoing supply of embryos from an international donor agency by late 2019 or early 2020. Newlife IVF will offer reduced cycle fees to women who source their own donor eggs.
How will Newlife IVF’s cycle fees compare with other providers?
Newlife IVF is committed to affordable IVF. Our standard IVF process incorporates advanced scientific tools and techniques that other IVF providers do not offer or only offer for an additional cost. We choose to offer these as standard – not just as optional extras for those that can afford to pay more – because we believe they represent current best practice in IVF and offer you the best possible chance of success. At present, this includes the use of the EmbryoScope time-lapse system, sequential media and EmbryoGlue to aid the development, selection and transfer of embryos during IVF. We also routinely use egg spindle visualisation for all ICSI procedures. We do not think of these techniques as ‘add-ons’ but as our routine standard of care. As such, they are included in our normal cycle fees and do not incur additional costs.
For a comprehensive list of all our current cycle fees, please visit our fees page.
Still have questions?
If you still have concerns or further questions, there are many ways we can help:
- Simply call your fertility specialist’s rooms and arrange a time to talk through what needs to happen next:
- Email [email protected] and one of our friendly team members will call you back
- Call (03) 8080 8933 to talk to a member of the Newlife IVF team (business hours, Mon–Fri)
- Come to an information evening and meet our team (for latest event details, see our events page).
Your care is our priority
Our fertility specialists and the team at Newlife IVF are working closely together to ensure continuity of care and a smooth transition for all patients during this time. We thank you for your support and look forward to continuing your fertility journey, alongside the team at Newlife IVF.
Disclaimer
The information on this page is general in nature. All medical and surgical procedures have potential benefits and risks. Consult your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to you.
