Access to in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in Western Australia

In Western Australia access to IVF is limited to a woman or a couple:

• who are unable to conceive due to medical reasons
• whose child would be likely to be affected by a genetic abnormality or disease
  or
• a woman who is unable to give birth to a child due to medical reasons and is part of a surrogacy arrangement.

Restrictions on access

Access to IVF is not available to:

• a woman or a couple who are unable to conceive because of age
• a woman or a couple who want to access surrogacy but do not have medical reasons.

Reciprocal IVF

Reciprocal IVF (also known as egg sharing) refers to an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) practice in same sex female couples where both parents can be involved in the conception of the baby. One partner carries the pregnancy and the other provides the egg, which is fertilised with donor sperm. The transfer of an embryo formed with a partner’s egg, in female same-sex relationships is not usually permitted in Western Australia unless the partner who will carry the pregnancy (in the case of de facto relationships) or the couple (in the case of married couples) meets the IVF access criteria in the Human Reproductive Technology Act 1991. It is best to seek advice from your clinician about your medical eligibility for IVF.

Western Australia laws in relation to assisted reproductive technology are being reviewed New assisted reproductive technology and surrogacy legislation for WA.