Media Release

Staff at Monash IVF’s newest full-service IVF clinic in Melbourne have been busy making baby dreams come true with a higher-than-average rate pregnancy achieved in the first six months. Located in Cremorne, Monash IVF’s flagship reproductive healthcare centre began performing fertility procedures in early January.

Patient Nicole Triandos was among the first to be treated and the first to give birth when her son Henri arrived in September.

Nicole’s fertility specialist, Dr Fiona Cowell, said staff had been delivering a steady stream of positive pregnancy news to patients since the clinic opened.

“Around one in every two patients who’ve had a frozen embryo transfer at Cremorne since we opened the doors to our day hospital and laboratory have fallen pregnant,” Dr Cowell said.

“We’re expecting a mini baby boom this year, with more babies due between now and the first half of 2025. It’s exciting for our patients and for those of us who’ve been part of their journeys.”

The pregnancy rate for frozen embryos transfers at Cremorne for the first six months of operation sits at almost 46 per cent across all age groups. This compares to an average of less than 40 per cent across all clinics, according to the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database (ANZARD).

“The majority of our patients have been aged 35 to 39 and what’s really pleasing for us is that among this group more than half - or around 52 per cent - have conceived,” Dr Cowell said.

“Given women are delaying starting their families and female fertility declines rapidly after 35, it’s not surprising we’re seeing so many women at this age. It’s a trend I don’t think is going to change, so it’s imperative that we’re able to help them achieve their dreams of parenthood.”

Monash IVF Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Deirdre Zander-Fox, believes one key reason for Cremorne’s pregnancy success rate is its purpose-built state-of-the-art laboratory.

“What we have created is a lab equipped with the latest in IVF and assisted reproduction technology, including time-lapse embryo monitoring incubators,” Professor Zander-Fox said.

“We also have technology at Cremorne not available through any other fertility provider in Australia, including a clinically proven gentle fertilisation technique known as Piezo-ICSI, and a novel sperm separation device which is currently part of a clinical trial.

“In the future, the Cremorne lab will also be used to conduct an Australian-first mitochondrial donation clinical trial in partnership with Monash University, pending regulatory approvals.

“Adjacent to the lab is a brand-new two-theatre day hospital where our doctors perform a range of fertility and gynecological procedures.

“The design and fit out of these spaces allow our doctors and embryologists to work side-by-side to give our patients the best possible chance of conceiving.”

The lab and day hospital are part of a larger reproductive healthcare facility at Cremorne that also includes doctors’ consulting rooms, donor program, andrology unit, ultrasound clinic, pathology collection, nurses, counsellors and an acupuncture service.

“Our aim is to provide holistic and comprehensive care to make the path to parenthood as smooth as possible for patients,” Dr Cowell said.

“Cremorne patients can have their blood tests, ultrasounds, egg and sperm collections and embryos transfers all done under the one roof. Their eggs, sperm and embryos can also be frozen and stored on site for future use.

“While we are incredibly proud of our early success at Cremorne, we know that the path to parenthood is not always easy and that for some people it can take a little longer.

“Our team of doctors, nurses, sonographers and counsellors will continue to support all of our patients, regardless of their needs and histories, to help as many of them as possible to realise their dreams of having a baby.”

Monash IVF’s flagship clinic is at 510 Church Street, Cremorne.