Public Fertility Care

The Women’s is partnering with 10 health services across Victoria and bringing the possibility of parenthood to all with Public Fertility Care.  

Inclusions and exclusions

Services included:

Services not included:
  • fertility investigation (male and female) 
  • assisted reproductive technologies (IUI, IVF and ICSI) 
  • donor sperm, egg and embryo programs 
  • counselling for patients undergoing treatment
  • medical fertility preservation.
  • Altruistic surrogacy 
  • PGT-M/SR
  • reversal of sterilisation procedures 
  • elective egg freezing services. 

Options for these procedures are available from private providers. 

Eligibility criteria 

Public Fertility Care is available to people of all genders whose situation or health may prevent or impair fertility or safe conception and/or who have been trying to conceive naturally but have been unsuccessful. 

Checklist for patient eligibility

  • Victorian resident with a Medicare card 
  • Referral from a GP or specialist which includes all necessary test and investigation results  
  • Meets age criteria:

    • aged 42 years or younger using their own eggs 

    • aged less than 51 years and seeking to use donor eggs (the egg being used must be 42 years or younger at time of collection).

If the patient is part of a heterosexual couple who has been trying to conceive, the following applies:

If aged under 35 years:

If aged between 35-42 years (inclusive):

The patient needs to have been trying to conceive for more than a year.

The patient needs to have been trying to conceive for at least six months.
The patient needs to be using an egg (their own or from a donor) that is 42 years or younger at time of treatment.

Where to refer your patient 

All referrals should be sent to the Women’s where they will be triaged.

The Women’s catchment areas include: City of Maribyrnong, City of Melbourne, City of Mooney Valley, City of Yarra. 

Patients outside the Women’s catchment areas will attend their appointments at their local health service and then come to the Women's only for their procedure/s. 

Local health services for Public Fertility Care

A GP or specialist referral must be made to the Women’s. We will let you know your patient's referral has been accepted and advise if your patient will be seen at one of our partner services. That partner service will contact your patient to arrange their first appointment. 

The partnering services are: 

Health service

Local Government Area
Northern Health, Epping 
  • City of Hume
  • City of Whittlesea
  • Mitchell Shire
Mildura Base Public Hospital
  • Mildura Rural City
  • Swan Hill Rural City
Bendigo Health
  • Buloke Shire
  • Central Goldfields Shire
  • Greater Bendigo City
  • Macedon Ranges Shire
  • Campaspe Shire
  • Gannawarra Shire
  • Loddon Shire
  • Mount Alexander Shire
Southwest Healthcare, Warrnambool
  • City of Warrnambool
  • Corangamite Shire
  • Moyne Shire
  • Glenelg Shire (Victoria only)
Mercy Health, Heidelberg
  • City of Banyule
  • City of Darebin
  • Nillumbik Shire
  • Merri-bek City Council (formerly Moreland)
Monash Health
  • Bayside
  • Boroondara
  • Cardinia
  • Casey
  • Frankston
  • Glen Eira
  • Greater Dandenong
  • Kingston
  • Knox
  • Manningham
  • Maroondah
  • Monash
  • Mornington Peninsula
  • Murrindindi
  • Port Phillip
  • Stonnington
  • Whitehorse
  • Yarra Ranges

Gippsland

  • Bass Coast
  • Baw Baw
  • Wellington
  • East Gippsland
  • Latrobe
  • South Gippsland

Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton
  • Alpine Shire
  • Albury City
  • Greater Shepparton City Council
  • City of Wodonga
  • Indigo Shire
  • Mansfield Shire
  • Moira Shire
  • Rural City of Benalla
  • Strathbogie Shire
  • Towong Shire
  • Wangaratta Shire
Barwon Health, Geelong
  • Colac Otway
  • Golden Plains
  • Greater Geelong
  • Queenscliffe
  • Surf Coast
Western Health, Sunshine Hospital
  • Brimbank City
  • Hobsons Bay
  • City of Melton
  • Moorabool Shire
  • Wyndham City
Grampians Health, Ballarat
  • City of Ballarat
  • Horsham Rural City
  • Pyrenees Shire
  • Ararat Rural City
  • West Wimmera Shire
  • Hindmarsh Shire
  • Hepburn Shire
  • Northern Grampians Shire
  • Yarrambiack Shire
  • Southern Grampians Shire

Tests and investigations needed with the referral

Please ensure tests and investigations are undertaken and results are faxed with the referral to the Women's at (03) 8345 3036.  All referrals will be valid for 12 months.  

A pathology form is available for download with the list of tests required. Results will be copied directly to Public Fertility Care:

Egg provider

Partner tests, if accessing service with a partner

Investigations - must be provided

  • Pelvic ultrasound (trans-vaginal if possible)
  • Cervical screening test (last 5 years)
  • Weight, height and BMI

Pathology - must be provided

  • Hepatitis B & C, HIV, Syphilis, Rubella, Varicella
  • Blood group & antibodies
  • FBE, Ferritin
  • FSH, LH, Prolactin, TSH, Estradiol (E2), free testosterone
  • Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)

Provide if available

  • Karyotype
  • AMH
  • Chlamydia/Gonorrhoea urine or endocervical PCR
  • Progesterone (day 21 for regular cycles and adjusted for irregular cycles).

People accessing the service with a partner, regardless of gender, must also have tests sent with the referral. This helps to determine health risks which may need to be managed.

Information that must be provided

  • Semen analysis (if appropriate)

Provide if available

  • Hepatitis B & C, HIV, Syphilis
  • Male hormones (if appropriate)
  • Karyotype (if appropriate)
  • Semen antibodies (if appropriate).

Urgent referrals contact

For urgent referrals, such as before cancer treatment or surgery that may cause infertility, please call Reproductive Services at (03) 8345 3200 to speak with the registrar. If a consultant has requested direct contact, reach out to them accordingly.

To meet the needs of all Victorian residents, we cannot prioritise based on age.

For urgent hyperstimulation concerns, GPs and specialists can call (03) 8345 3200 during business hours or (03) 8345 2000 after hours to reach the Reproductive Services Fellow. If a consultant has asked for direct contact, use the provided number.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any costs associated with Public Fertility Care for patients?

While Public Fertility Care is free, there may be some costs incurred outside of the service for medications, tests, and investigations conducted by a pathology and/or diagnostic service.

Are there age restrictions? 

Yes. Public Fertility Care accepts: 

  • people aged 42 years or younger using their own eggs (has not yet turned 43) 
  • people aged less than 51 years with donor eggs – the egg being used must be 42 years or younger at time of collection (eggs can be collected within the patients 42nd year, before turning 43). 
Can my patient be fast-tracked if they are 40 years old or over?

To ensure Public Fertility Care continues to meet the needs of all Victorian residents, we are unable to fast-track an individual. 

Is there a limit to the number of IVF cycles?

Depending on your patient’s specific fertility needs and that of the partner or donor, IVF may or may not be needed. Under the Public Fertility Care model, there is a maximum of two treatment cycles (IVF or ICSI) per person (per lifetime) including subsequent transfer of all embryos collected during those cycles. The care team can provide further information.

Is there a waiting list?

The current waitlist timeframe (from referral received to patient's first appointment) is approximately 4 to 8 weeks (updated September 2024).

Each person’s treatment journey is different. The timing and type of treatment will depend on your patient's specific fertility needs. There are lots of different options for treating infertility and the different pathways will affect the timelines for each person.  

Can a patient switch from another service to the public service? 

Yes, if your patient is receiving fertility care at another service and your patient meets the eligibility criteria, you can refer them to Public Fertility Care.

You will need to send a new GP or specialist referral to the Women’s.

Additional tests and investigations may need to be undertaken which can be obtained with a GP or specialist referral to a private testing service. This may incur some out-of-pocket expenses to the patient. 

My patient is receiving private fertility treatment at another service. Are more tests and investigations needed?

Yes, while some tests and investigations have been undertaken in the private sector, there may be additional tests required for your patient and their partner (if relevant) in the public sector. 

A list of tests and investigations are listed on this page. Jump to: Tests and investigations needed with the referral.

Can a donor be accessed through the new Egg and Sperm Bank? 

We are currently accepting egg and sperm donations from the Victorian community.  As we continue building a bank, the wait time for a patient requiring eggs, sperm, or both is approximately 18-24 months.

To find out more about the bank, visit  the egg and sperm bank webpage. 

Can a patient access the service if they have their own egg/sperm donor?

Yes. The service is available to any couple or single person, including people with a known egg/sperm donor. However, the donor will need to obtain a referral from their GP or specialist to the Women’s (even if they are already enrolled with another fertility service) and include all the relevant investigations and tests.

During the treatment journey, the donor will be required to attend an appointment at the hospital, either with the patient or on their own.

My patient has frozen embryos/eggs/sperm; can they use them as a patient of Public Fertility Care? 

Yes. The service is available to people who have frozen embryos, eggs or sperm. However, a referral from a GP or specialist to the Women’s is required even if the patient is enrolled with another fertility service.

The Women’s will liaise with the service where the embryos, eggs or sperm are being stored to organise a transfer. The cost of transporting the patient’s frozen embryos, eggs or sperm must be covered by the patient. 

My patient has a surrogate, can they access Public Fertility Care?

Yes, altruistic surrogacy is available with Public Fertility Care. 

Please find below some background information about surrogacy arrangements in Victoria.  

Intended parent/s can be eligible to undertake a surrogacy arrangement in Victoria if:  

  • they are infertile or unable to carry a baby or give birth  
  • there is a likely medical risk to the mother or baby if the intended mother attempted to become pregnant herself.  

There are several reasons why people may consider surrogacy including:   

  • A women is unable to become pregnant or carry a baby for medical reasons.   
  • A same-sex couple (male or female) or individual may want to have a child conceived using their own sperm or eggs and donor sperm or eggs.  
  • A couple who are involved in an IVF treatment program may have embryos in storage and, in the event that the woman dies, the male partner may wish to commission a surrogate to carry and give birth to a child.  

To find out more about surrogacy in Victoria, visit the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority. 

Drawing on expertise from clinicians leading Victoria’s Public Fertility Care, this webinar provides GPs and Practice Nurses with practical knowledge about:

  • the causes of infertility
  • how to investigate subfertility in primary care
  • the latest range of assisted fertility and fertility preservation treatments; and
  • how to support patients to access treatment through Victoria’s Public Fertility Care.

You can watch this webinar on YouTube.

Egg and sperm bank

Australia’s first public egg and sperm donor program has opened at the Women’s. The program is an extension of Victoria’s Public Fertility Care and is currently accepting egg, and sperm donations from the Victorian community.  

The bank aims to increase access to eggs and sperm for Victorians who are receiving public fertility care and require donor services. 

Find more information about the public egg and sperm bank.

Related information

Downloads and Related Topics

Date reviewed: 22 October 2024

Date reviewed: 22 October 2024