When the federal government announced greater support for Australians on the IVF track last week, parents-to-be and their clinics alike were overjoyed.
As of November 1, people will be able to claim a Medicare rebate for five new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items for new Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) services provided within the existing IVF process.
These rebates will help pay for testing services that can help prevent passing serious genetic disorders onto a child.
Until now, people who know they are carriers of serious genetic disorders could only access these testing services if they were able to pay privately.
Types of genetic disorders able to be tested include, but are not limited to, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, fragile X, neurofibromatosis and Huntington disease.
PGT is a sophisticated scientific technique which can be used to test embryos for either a specific known single gene condition or chromosome variation. This enables chromosomally healthy embryos or those unaffected by a specific genetic disorder to be selected for implantation during an IVF cycle, maximising the chance of a healthy baby.
Under the direction of a medical specialist, Medicare funding will support individuals or couples who carry a risk of passing on a serious genetic or chromosomal disorder to their child for which there is no cure and which causes a severe limitation on the quality of life.
The announcement is a double win for IVF Australia's Miranda clinic, which also celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
The clinic has seen an increase in IVF demand in the past year, and has also seen more women deciding to have a baby on their own using donor sperm.
The clinic's fertility specialist, Marcela Martin, says COVID-19 has meant uncertainty, but has also made people value the family unit more than ever, with many bringing forward baby making plans.
She says having Medicare funding for genetic testing of embryos is "fantastic news" for couples and individuals who are known carriers of serious genetic conditions.
"It means would-be parents who have a potentially serious genetic condition in their family and have to do genetic testing on their embryos can have more affordable access to the testing process to allow them have a healthy baby," she said.
"My role as a fertility specialist is to help my patients understand that if both partners are known to be carrying the same bad gene, this could result in their child having a one in four chance of inheriting a very serious health condition.
"Only a small proportion of my IVF patients will know they are carriers of genetic disorders or have a hereditary condition; but for this group, having extra support with this rebate means they can potentially avoid the heartache of having a child with a severe or life-limiting disease or repeated miscarriages."
Gymea Bay couple Erin and Trent Rogers know all too well the struggle to make their family dreams a reality.
Their journey to conceive their new baby was a lengthy struggle, which involved failed embryo transfers, a PCOS diagnosis, hysteroscopic surgery for treatment of Asherman's syndrome and sadly a miscarriage.
Finally with the help of pre-implantation genetic testing, baby Remy was born in September.
The couple married in 2015, and midway through 2016, Erin knew that because her menstrual cycle was irregular, it would makes things difficult.
When the couple saw their first doctor, they underwent testing and found out Erin has PCOS. They started IVF and by mid-2016 they had completed five rounds of unsuccessful IVF.
The couple fell pregnant late 2017. But there was no heartbeat at the 14 week scan. They were offered further testing, and from the miscarriage it showed there were problems with translocation, a type of chromosomal abnormality. Both partners had contributing factors which made their journey to conceive more complicated.
After going through the miscarriage they had a break, but in 2018 they were advised that the only way to have kids was to use donor sperm, which basically wiped out Trent's chance of conceiving biologically.
During 2018 they looked into a sperm donor and started the counselling process. They did more IVF rounds using donor sperm unsuccessfully.
At the start of 2019, Erin's father died, which was another set-back. This is when they decided to go another route and visit Dr Martin at the Miranda's IVF Australia. Through further testing Dr Martin discovered Erin has Asherman's Syndrome, a buildup of scar tissue around the uterus.
They did an egg collection and began the IVF process. During 2019, the whole year was unsuccessful in getting Erin's correct hormone level to do a transfer.
Then the pandemic hit in 2020 and they needed a mental break. Erin still went through with hysteroscopic surgical treatment for the Asherman's syndrome.
Two embryos passed with flying colours after going through PGT testing, and they finally became pregnant early this year.
The government is providing $95.9 million so that PGT services can be reimbursed through Medicare. This implements recommendations from the independent, expert Medical Services Advisory Committee.
It aims to ease the financial strain on people using IVF to conceive.
Dr Martin says its been wonderful to support her patients through their fertility treatments in the past year, through the pandemic.
"We've seen an increase in demand as the uncertainty has made people treasure the family unit, with many bringing forward baby making plans," she said.
"To keep up with demand, the Miranda clinic will soon be open every day, doubling the clinic's opening hours to help service the local community."
