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Assisted reproductive technologies: new guidance for women and doctors is welcome

Stephen J Robson and Caroline M de Costa
Med J Aust 2017; 207 (3): . || doi: 10.5694/mja17.00449
Published online: 7 August 2017

A new approach better informs women and doctors about what assisted reproductive technologies can achieve in 2017

Since the first Australian conceived by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) was born in 1980, this and other assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have come a long way in scope, availability, and success rates. About 4% of all Australian births are now made possible by ART,1 equivalent to one child in every classroom.


  • 1 Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, Canberra, ACT
  • 2 Australian National University, Canberra, ACT
  • 3 James Cook University, Cairns, QLD


Correspondence: caroline.decosta@jcu.edu.au

Competing interests:

Stephen Robson is a paid member of the Medical Benefits Schedule Review and provides in vitro fertilisation services, but does not own any shares in an IVF unit.

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