Mandatory Pre-Treatment Counselling (VIC)

Counselling is a legal and regulatory requirement before accessing certain Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatments.

Topics covered in pre-treatment counselling will include:

• Choices and decision-making.
• Emotional and psycho-social impact of the treatment and its possible outcomes.
• Relevant legislation and implications.
• Legal consent requirements.

Where the treatment involves donation of eggs, sperm or embryos the counselling will also include:

• Impact of donation on donor/s, recipient/s, their families and others.
• Disclosure of child’s donor conception to child, family and others.
• Boundaries and expectations of donor/s and recipient/s.

Where the treatment involves surrogacy, more extensive counselling is required.

A Monash IVF Counsellor.

All Monash IVF Counsellors hold membership of the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association.

Monash IVF Counsellors are either registered Psychologists or Social Workers who have additional specialisation in fertility counselling. Monash IVF values education and training, so from time-to-time counselling services are also provided by Provisional Psychologists working under supervision.

Anyone involved in the ART treatment, including partners (if any), must attend pre-treatment counselling. The only exception is counselling for egg-collection/freeze, where partners (if any) are encouraged to attend, but not required.

One hour. Please ensure you (and your partner, if any) arrive on time, or another session may need to be scheduled to cover the required topics and information.

The number of sessions needed to cover the required material can vary and will be at the discretion of your Monash IVF Counsellor.

The typical number of counselling sessions required depends on the type of treatment you are undertaking:

Egg-collection and freeze

• One (1) session.

In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) or Artificial Insemination (AI or IUI)

Couple using their own eggs and sperm

• One (1) session.

Person or couple receiving donated sperm, eggs, both sperm and eggs, or embryos*

When donor/s are unknown to the recipient/s

• Two (2) sessions, each at least one week apart.

When donor/s are known to the recipient/s

• Three (3) sessions, each at least one week apart. Two sessions for you as recipient/s, which should be booked in alternating order with your donor’s sessions; and one group session for you and your donor/s. This equates to five sessions in total for the recipient/s, donor/s and the group.

Person or couple donating sperm, eggs or embryos

When recipient/s are unknown to the donor/s

• Two (2) sessions, each at least one week apart.

When recipient/s are known to the donor/s

• Three (3) sessions, each at least one week apart. Two sessions for you as donor/s, which should be booked in alternating order with your recipient’s sessions; and one group session for you together with your recipient/s. This equates to five sessions in total for the recipient/s, donor/s and the group.

In some instances complex issues arise requiring more counselling sessions before treatment can go ahead. This will be at the discretion of Monash IVF.

Surrogacy *

Determined on a case-by-case basis. Please make an initial appointment with a Monash IVF Surrogacy Counsellor for further information.

*Donor and surrogacy counselling is charged on a fee for service basis to the recipient/s or the commissioning person/couple.

Yes, you and your partner must attend the pre-treatment counselling session/s together. This includes partners of donors, recipients and surrogates. The only exception is counselling for egg-collection/freeze, where partners (if any) are encouraged to attend, but not required.

If you are in a relationship, you cannot access ART treatments as a single person.

A ‘cooling off’ period of three to six months will apply. You may also be asked to submit a statutory declaration to confirm the date your relationship ended.

Under the new Assisted Reproductive Treatment Amendment (Consent) Act, 2019, you can access treatment at Monash IVF before formal divorce proceedings are finalised. If you are a single person, you may commence treatment. If you have a new partner, your new partner must consent to treatment and will also be a legal parent of any child/ren born.

You may not need to attend any further counselling, if you are able to provide a document from your previous clinic outlining the pre-treatment counselling you completed for the same treatment. A Monash IVF Counsellor will review the document provided to determine if any further sessions will be needed.

You will still need to attend at least one pre-treatment session to cover information specific to Monash IVF (Victoria). You are encouraged to provide a document from your previous clinic outlining the pre-treatment counselling you completed. Your Monash IVF Counsellor will then determine how many further sessions will be needed to cover the required material.

You must complete the pre-treatment counselling that applies to your specific treatment. If your treatment circumstances change (including changes in donor/s or recipient/s), you are likely to need further counselling. Please confirm whether you are required to complete further counselling in advance of booking your next treatment cycle.

Limited support counselling at NO COST is available which could be used for;

• Support through your treatment journey with a personalised well-being plan
• To assist with decision making
• Support regarding treatment options
• Psychosocial issues which arise whilst undertaking ART treatment
• Support related to ending treatment
• Mental Health Hub for resources
• Support groups

• Once you have registered with Monash IVF, you can call your clinic directly to book your counselling sessions
• You are encouraged to book the number of sessions typically required for your treatment at the one time. Please ensure partners of anyone involved in your treatment are available to attend all session/s booked.
• For continuity, all sessions must be booked with the same counsellor (including recipients, donors and surrogates).