Fertility and preconception health in Australia

Thinking about a pregnancy, or finding that it is taking longer than hoped, can bring up a lot of questions. This page gathers what official Australian sources say about preconception health, when they suggest talking to a GP, how fertility treatment is regulated and accredited, how to check Medicare and costs, how donor conception registers work, how to check supplement claims and a practitioner's registration, and where to find support. Every health statement is attributed to the body that made it, with links to the original pages.

This is a free, non-commercial reference page. It is general information drawn from official sources, not health advice, and it does not describe what any food, supplement, therapy or practitioner does for fertility. It does not list, review or recommend any clinic, practitioner, product or brand. Everyone's situation is different: if you have questions about your own health or fertility, please talk to a GP or another registered health practitioner. This page is not affiliated with any organisation listed, and listing is not an endorsement. Guidance changes, so check current details with the official websites linked below.

The guide

What official Australian sources say, from preconception health and when to see a GP, to how treatment is regulated, Medicare, donor registers, checking claims and practitioners, and support.

Preconception health and the GP check

"Preconception health" means your health before a pregnancy begins. Your Fertility, a national public education program run by the Fertility Coalition, says that when trying for a baby "it's important to be as healthy as possible", and that "if you are thinking of having a baby in the next year, see your GP for a pre-conception health check." Healthdirect, the Australian Government-funded health information service, says "you should see your doctor about 3 to 6 months before trying to get pregnant." Your Fertility offers a free online questionnaire, "Healthy you, healthy baby", whose results you can take to that appointment.

What a preconception check may cover

According to Healthdirect, a doctor may review any health problems, your medical and vaccination history and your lifestyle, and may order blood tests, a breast check and a cervical screening test. Healthdirect says your doctor will check your vaccination history and may arrange vaccines such as measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), chickenpox, whooping cough and hepatitis B. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby notes that "it's advised that you don't get pregnant for at least 28 days after some vaccinations", so timing is worth asking about. Healthdirect also says that if you're planning a pregnancy you should stop smoking or vaping, drinking alcohol and using illicit drugs.

Folic acid and iodine: what Healthdirect says

Healthdirect's planning page (last reviewed December 2025) says most people planning a pregnancy are advised to take folic acid and iodine supplements, starting before trying to conceive and continuing into pregnancy. It says higher folic acid doses may be advised for some people at greater risk of a neural tube defect, and to check with a doctor before taking iodine if you have a thyroid condition. Official pages differ on exact timing, and the right dose depends on your circumstances, so check the current Healthdirect page and ask your GP what is right for you.

Partners and male reproductive health

Fertility is not only about one person. Your Fertility explains that infertility can involve male factors, female factors or a combination, and that sometimes no cause is found. Healthdirect says a doctor will ask about health problems you or your partner have, and that "it's also best for your baby if your partner and household avoid smoking and illicit drugs." Healthy Male, which states it is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, publishes information on preconception health for men.

When official sources suggest seeing a GP about fertility

Healthdirect says: "See your doctor for advice if you aren't pregnant after trying for: 12 months, if you are 35 years of age or younger; 6 months, if you are 36 years of age or older", and "if you think you or your partner are having fertility issues, speak with your doctor." Your Fertility puts it as: "if you're aged under 35 and haven't conceived after a year, talk to your GP about it. If you're 35 or older, visit your GP after six months of trying without success." Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says that if you have endometriosis you should "see your doctor as early as possible before you try for a baby", and that people with diabetes should talk to their doctor about 3 to 6 months before trying. You don't need to wait if something is worrying you.

What may happen next, and looking after yourself

Your Fertility says "your GP might conduct some preliminary tests to find out why you're not conceiving", that you may then be referred to a fertility specialist for further testing, and that, depending on the cause, assisted reproductive treatment (ART) may be suggested. Trying to conceive can be emotionally hard, and that is a normal response. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is a free national helpline delivered by Healthdirect on behalf of the Australian Government, answered by maternal child health nurses. The myGov page on getting help to conceive suggests speaking to your GP about a mental health treatment plan. Support services are listed in the directory below.

How fertility clinics are regulated

Assisted reproductive treatment is regulated mainly by the states and territories. The Australian Government's 2025 rapid review of ART regulation names ART laws in the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, says state and territory regulators sit within health departments, and says the Northern Territory "does not currently have a regulatory authority with regulatory powers" over ART providers. In Victoria, the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) ceased operations on 31 December 2024; from 1 January 2025 the Secretary of the Department of Health is the regulator. South Australia's Department for Health and Wellbeing publishes a public register of registered ART providers and their conditions of registration.

National guidelines and accreditation

The NHMRC's Ethical guidelines on the use of assisted reproductive technology in clinical practice and research (2017, updated 2023) "provide an overarching framework for the conduct of ART" and must be read alongside existing laws. The rapid review states that "RTAC remains the national accreditation body for ART in Australia": this is the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee of the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand, whose Code of Practice requires compliance with relevant sections of the NHMRC guidelines. Victoria's Department of Health says registered providers there must hold current RTAC accreditation. Following reforms announced by Health Ministers in September 2025, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is developing national ART standards and an independent accreditation scheme, with all providers expected to move to it by December 2028.

Medicare and how to check costs

Services Australia says Medicare can help cover fertility treatments and "assisted reproductive treatments such as IVF", that "there's no limit on the number of treatment rounds you can have", and that "most people will still have to pay some of the costs themselves." It says out-of-pocket costs depend on the services you need, your doctor's fees and whether you have private health insurance, and suggests registering for the Medicare Safety Net and asking your insurer what your policy covers. The Department of Health's Medical Costs Finder helps you understand typical GP and specialist fees. This page does not quote costs: ask your GP, the clinic and your insurer for written estimates.

Donor conception registers

Some states keep registers so that donor-conceived people, donors and parents can access information. NSW Health's ART Central Register has mandatory registration where "conception occurred after 1 January 2010", with voluntary registration for earlier conceptions and donations. In Victoria, the Department of Health has managed the Central Register and the Voluntary Register since 1 January 2025, after VARTA closed. South Australia's Donor Conception Register is described by SA Health as a secure online archive of SA donor conception treatment information, which authorised clinic staff have been adding to since November 2021. Counselling before applying is recommended by NSW Health.

Supplements, claims and the ARTG

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) says listed complementary medicines carry an AUST L number on the label, "may only use lower risk indications drawn exclusively from the list of permitted indications", and can be listed "without undergoing pre-market assessment by the TGA", with evidence "held by the sponsor". In other words, an AUST L number means a product is on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG); it does not mean the TGA has assessed whether it works. The ARTG can be searched free on the TGA website, and anyone can report an advertisement they think breaks the rules using the TGA's online form.

Checking a practitioner's registration

Ahpra keeps a public register of every health practitioner registered to practise in 16 professions, including medical practitioners, nurses and midwives, and psychologists. Ahpra says the register shows any conditions that limit what a practitioner can do, and that specialist titles can only be used by practitioners with specialist registration, so you can check a fertility specialist's specialist registration there. Ahpra notes that some health workers, such as naturopaths and nutritionists, are not registered health practitioners, and that complaints about them go to the state or territory health complaints body. VARTA's former clinic guidance also suggested checking a doctor's registration on the Ahpra register.

Directory

Official Australian sources on preconception health, fertility treatment regulation, Medicare, donor registers, medicines and practitioners, plus not-for-profit support services, instead of a list of clinics or products. Each entry was checked against its own website.

What is listed. Only government bodies, regulators, government-funded information services and support organisations whose own page could be fetched and checked are included. The list is not complete and is in no particular order. No clinics, practitioners, supplements or brands are listed.

Not an endorsement. Listing is not a recommendation. This page is not affiliated with any organisation below and does not review, rank or recommend any treatment, provider or product.

If you need urgent help. PANDA notes that it is not a crisis service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000. Lifeline is available 24/7 on 13 11 14.

Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement. Links are to official websites as published at the time of checking.

Questions to ask

Plain questions you may want to ask your GP, a fertility clinic or a seller, and check against the official sources above. There is no wrong question to ask.

Could I book a preconception health check, and what should I bring?

Your Fertility suggests seeing a GP if you're thinking of having a baby in the next year. Its free "Healthy you, healthy baby" questionnaire can help you prepare.

Based on my age and how long we've been trying, is it time to look into things?

Healthdirect and Your Fertility both give general timeframes, but you can raise concerns at any time, and some conditions are worth discussing early.

Should my partner also see a doctor?

Your Fertility notes that male and female factors each account for a share of infertility, and Healthdirect's check covers a partner's health too.

Is this clinic registered with the state regulator and accredited?

In states with ART laws, providers must be registered, and most require RTAC accreditation. Victoria and South Australia publish their registers online.

What will this cost me after Medicare and insurance, in writing?

Services Australia says most people pay some costs themselves. Ask the clinic for a written estimate and check with your insurer and the Medicare Safety Net.

Is this doctor a registered specialist, and who will do my procedures?

Check specialist registration and any conditions on the Ahpra register. Former VARTA guidance suggested asking whether your doctor will do all your consultations and procedures.

Does this product have an AUST L or AUST R number, and what does that mean?

An AUST L number means the product is listed on the ARTG. The TGA says listed medicines are not assessed before listing for whether they work.

Where can I get support if this is feeling hard?

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, PANDA, Pink Elephants and Red Nose offer free support. Your GP can also talk with you about a mental health treatment plan.

About this page

fertilitywellness.com.au is a free, non-commercial reference page published by Radiant Life Distributors Pty Ltd, Adelaide. It sells nothing, is general information drawn from official sources rather than health advice, and makes no claims about what any food, supplement, therapy or practitioner does for fertility. It does not list, review or recommend any clinic, practitioner, product or brand, and it is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any organisation listed; listing is not an endorsement. Information was checked against official websites in October 2026; regulation and guidance change, so confirm current details with the organisations linked above.