Thousands Of Infertile Australians Supported By Government Funding (NSW)
June 9, 2022It’s the announcement that thousands of women in the NSW undergoing IVF were waiting to hear – that the NSW government will support women and men accessing IVF and other assisted reproductive treatments with a cash rebate of up to $2,000 to reduce treatment costs as part of the State Government’s 2022-23 Budget.
The announcement was made in the lead up to World Infertility Day which is marked in June to increase awareness of numerous infertility issues faced by couples across the globe and is a step forward for thousands of NSW patients who require the support of fertility treatments to conceive. A staggering one in six couples have difficulties falling pregnant with medical conditions and other factors being the leading cause of fertility issues
While the attention is often placed on the female, statistics show that both men and women hold equal responsibility with one- third of infertility caused by female reproductive issues, one-third caused by male reproductive problems and another one third by both male and female reproductive issues or by unknown factors.
Highly respected fertility clinician, PhD candidate, naturopath, author and educator, Leah Hechtman, who sees numerous couples in her Sydney clinic struggling with infertility issues, supports the NSW Government’s rebate.
“The fertility industry plays a role in the birth of tens of thousands of children each year. In Australia, one in 20 births involves some form of assisted reproductive treatment. Sadly, with the increased cost of living pressures, many couples must make financial sacrifices to be able to start a family. This announcement provides hope and an opportunity for Australian couples wanting to conceive,” adds Ms Hechtman.
Amid a climate of record low rates of fertility in Australia, fertility clinicians such as Ms Hechtman are also bringing attention to compelling findings that are broadening treatment options for countless men and women seeking fertility support – either to conceive naturally or to improve the outcome of assisted technologies such as IVF.
Speaking at a recent peak fertility conference, Ms Hechtman presented the growing evidence supporting the efficacy of supplements and their potential for mitigating oxidative stress on sperm quality, count, structure and movement; and improving the quality of a woman’s eggs.
“In an age where oxidative stress is believed to be one of the primary drivers of infertility for both men and women, it is imperative that all people of reproductive age seek professional recommendations to ensure that they address factors such as this, which can be mitigated through dietary and lifestyle measures and the prescription of certain supplements such as ubiquinol, a natural antioxidant found in the body,” Ms Hechtman says.
“A government financial rebate which would support people accessing IVF and exploration of natural treatments to aide conception, would be of great benefit to men and women hoping to conceive,” she adds.
LEAH HECHTMAN
Clinician, Researcher, Author and Educator
SOURCE
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20220529_00.aspx#:~:text=%E2%80%8BIn%20an%20Australian%20first,NSW%20Government’s%202022%2D23%20Budget.
https://www.fertilitysociety.com.au/female-infertility-australia-new-zealand/