Supporting patients with infertility through the Public Fertility Care Service

Until now, investigating and treating infertility created an inequitable financial burden for single people and families in Victoria. 

For decades, assisted reproductive treatments, fertility preservation and egg and sperm donation services have been financially inaccessible, particularly for populations such as low-income status, LGBTQIA+, single people, people with disabilities and those in rural and regional areas. However, the Public Fertility Service, led by the Royal Women’s Hospital and Monash Health, is now bringing world-class clinical expertise, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) laboratories, technology and accessibility to all Victorians.

Drawing on expertise from clinicians leading the Public Fertility Service, this session will provide GPs 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 Service.

This session will be useful to GPs working with:

• couples and individuals living in Victoria who are seeking fertility suppot and treatment
• patients in regional Victoria 
• patients requiring egg or sperm donation, including LGBTQIA+ and single patients 
• transgender patients requesting fertility preservation 
• patients undergoing treatment which may affect their future fertility 
• patients with disabilities which affect their fertility.

Speakers

Associate Professor Kate Stern, Head of Reproductive Services Unit - The Royal Women's Hospital

Kate Stern is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Melbourne, Royal Women’s Hospital and is the head of reproductive services at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, and clinical director and head of clinical research at Melbourne IVF. She also co-chaired the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s Fertility Preservation Guidance Committee. Kate is a fertility specialist, gynaecologist and reproductive endocrinologist, and her special interest is in medical fertility preservation. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to gynaecology, reproductive medicine and fertility research in 2022. 

Dr Wan Tinn Teh, Co-Medical Director, Public Fertility Care Services - The Royal Women's Hospital

Dr Wan Tinn Teh serves as the co-medical director of the Public Fertility Service. She is an Australian-trained fertility specialist and gynaecologist, holding a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from Monash University, a Master of Reproductive Medicine from the University of New South Wales, and a PhD from the University of Melbourne. 

With over 15 years of clinical experience in obstetrics and gynaecology, she possesses a strong commitment to research and teaching. Her contributions include her appointment as an honorary senior clinical lecturer at the University of Melbourne. She is the recipient of multiple research grants and has over 1,000 citations. 

Dr Rashi Kalra, Co-Medical Director, Public Fertility Care Services - The Royal Women's Hospital

Rashi Kalra is the co-medical director of the Public Fertility Service. She is a gynaecologist and fertility specialist at the Royal Women’s Hospital and a sub-specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She is also a clinical director of Genea Melbourne City. Her areas of interest are recurrent miscarriage and preimplantation genetic testing.

Katie Beveridge, Operations Manager, Reproductive Services Unit - The Royal Women's Hospital

Katie Beveridge is a highly experienced fertility nurse with a 17-year career in the private and public sectors. Her expertise includes managing a busy donor and surrogacy program, and providing exceptional leadership as the nurse unit manager of The Royal Women’s Hospital reproductive service unit for 8 years.

In her current role as the operations manager of the Public Fertility Service, Katie oversees the medical, nursing and scientific staff and operations and is committed to enhancing fertility services for the residents of Victoria. 

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify the causes of infertility and explain how to investigate subfertility
• Describe the range of options for assisted fertility treatments and fertility preservation treatments
• Explain eligibility criteria for public fertility services including the range and breadth of services offered