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About assisted reproductive technology in Western Australia
About assisted reproductive technology in Western Australia
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) covers a range of procedures that aim to help individuals achieve pregnancy and involve the handling of sperm, eggs or embryos outside the body.
ART includes artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedures. ART also includes surrogacy and donor assisted conception.
In Western Australia, ART is regulated by the Human Reproductive Technology Act 1991 (external site), Surrogacy Act 2008 (external site), Human Reproductive Technology Regulations 1993 (external site), Surrogacy Regulations 2009 (external site), Human Reproductive Technology Directions 2021 (external site) and Surrogacy Directions 2009 (external site).
Artificial insemination procedures
Artificial insemination refers to an assisted reproductive technology procedure where human sperm are introduced directly into the cervix or uterus of a woman to try and achieve pregnancy.
Artificial insemination may be used by a licensed fertility provider or exempt medical practitioner during donor assisted conception, fertility treatment or where there are other reasons why conception would be unable to occur through sexual intercourse.
Artificial insemination also occurs in a non-medical setting where this is arranged between private individuals.
In vitro fertilisation procedures
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) refers to an assisted reproductive technology procedure where an egg is fertilised outside the body and transferred back into a woman's womb to try and achieve pregnancy.
An IVF cycle involves stimulating egg production, egg retrieval, sperm collection, mixing the sperm and egg/s to achieve fertilisation, embryo development and embryo transfer. Additional embryos may be stored for future IVF cycles if required.
More information
Reproductive Technology Unit
Email: rtu@health.wa.gov.au
Mail to: PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849