TASIVF plans to open a clinic in Launceston next month which will offer a limited selection of services to eligible patients.
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The company has offered initial fertility consultations from the Launceston General Hospital for some years but will aim to open its own office in the QV Centre in High Street by the end of October.
About 30 per cent of the service’s patients come from the North.
TasIVF medical director Bill Watkins said that the Launceston clinic would offer fertility assessments and treatments including ovulation induction , intrauterine insemination and simplified IVF.
Simplified IVF, also known as low stimulation IVF, is a lower cost treatment which uses the same laboratory procedures as standard IVF but employs a lower dose of medication to stimulate egg production.
The process produces fewer eggs than a standard IVF cycle, which are then collected under sedation instead of a full anaesthetic.
The treatment is best suited to younger women with a good ovarian reserve.
‘‘Not all patients will be suited to that service,’’ Dr Watkins said.
‘‘Patients with extremely low numbers of sperm, significantly overweight or significant medical issues, they won’t be suitable.’’
Dr Watkins said simplified IVF was more convenient and more cost-effective than standard IVF.
Northern patients were traditionally forced to travel to Hobart at least once a month to receive the same treatment, he said.
‘‘This will save a lot of time, effort and anguish,’’ Dr Watkins said.
‘‘We’re really excited about it.’’