Specialist Procedures

For many couples or individuals, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) offers the best chance of achieving a pregnancy. IVF treatment may be recommended in a range of conditions affecting fertility, including sperm abnormalities, endometriosis, tubal damage, unsuccessful ovulation induction and unexplained infertility. IVF may also be an option for single women and same-sex and gender diverse couples who choose to use donor sperm to have a baby.

IVF is a process where sperm fertilises the eggs in the laboratory (rather than in the woman’s fallopian tube). At the beginning of the process, your ovaries will be stimulated to produce eggs. The procedure to retrieve these eggs, commonly referred to as an egg collection, usually takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Your fertility specialist will immediately collect the eggs and prepare them for fertilisaton with sperm in a laboratory. Once the fertilised embryos have grown, they are transferred to your uterus in a simple procedure called an embryo transfer. 

The embryo transfer process involves passing a very fine tube containing the embryo through the cervix and into the uterine cavity. Usually, one embryo at a time is transferred with additional embryos stored by freezing for use in subsequent treatments.

Before you leave the hospital, your specialist well let you know how many eggs were collected and the next steps. You may experience cramping and discomfort after the egg collection.

Your specialist may recommend a colposcopy if your pap smear result is abnormal. A colposcopy is a procedure used to closely examine the cervix or vagina with a microscope for signs of disease.

A sample of tissue is usually collected for testing (a biopsy) if any areas appear suspicious. The procedure usually takes about 10-20 minutes.

If you require a biopsy, you may experience some spotting or light bleeding for the next day or two. 

A hysteroscopy is a procedure where the inside of the uterus is examined through a thin telescope inserted through the cervix any incisions.

It may be used to diagnose and treat conditions of the uterine cavity including uterine bleeding, scar tissue in the uterus, and fibroids or polyps.

It is usually performed under a general anaesthetic. You may experience period-like cramping following the procedure. 

A laparoscopy is keyhole surgery that involves inserting a laparoscope (a thin telescope) through a small incision in the abdomen allowing the specialist to view the abdominal and pelvic organs or conduct a surgical procedure. 

A laparoscopy may be recommended to help diagnose and treat endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes and fibroids. 

A laparoscopy is performed under general anaesthetic and takes about one to two hours. Your recovery will depend on the amount of surgery you need but we usually recommend one to two days off work following the procedure. You may experience some symptoms following the procedure including tiredness, muscle pain, mild nausea, pain or discomfort at the site of incision, cramps, vaginal discharge or sensation of swelling.