Yes. I consult at Genea Canberra and manage all aspects of fertility care, including IVF treatment and procedures such as oocyte retrievals and embryo transfers.
Yes. I have a particular interest in planned oocyte cryopreservation, commonly known as egg freezing, and helping patients understand their fertility preservation options.
Yes. Recurrent miscarriage is one of my areas of interest. I support patients who are seeking investigation, explanation and fertility planning after pregnancy loss.
Yes. I have an interest in male factor infertility, including low sperm count, and in helping couples determine the most appropriate management pathway.
I perform oocyte retrievals, embryo transfers, intrauterine insemination and surgical sperm retrieval.
This depends on the underlying cause of your fertility concerns. Infertility that is a result of something such as a previous vasectomy, hormonal disorder, or lifestyle factors may be cured through treating the underlying issue. Fertility that is affected by something that cannot be cured, such as a genetic condition, may not be able to be restored for natural conception, but you may still have options for having children through assisted reproduction.
It’s generally recommended to seek advice if you and your partner have been trying to conceive for 6-12 months without success. You may wish to seek help sooner if you are over 40, have a known medical condition, previous fertility concerns, or a history of surgery or treatment that could affect fertility. It is also reasonable to check your sperm health prior to starting to conceive naturally.
Yes, age can affect male fertility, although the decline is usually more gradual and less impactful than it is for women. As men get older, sperm quality and DNA integrity can deteriorate, which may make conception more difficult. Increasing paternal age may also be associated with a higher risk of miscarriage and certain genetic conditions.
It’s generally recommended to seek advice if you have been trying to conceive for 12 months without success if you are under 35 years of age, or after six months if you are over 35. You may also wish to seek help sooner or before trying to conceive if you have irregular periods, endometriosis, PMOS/PCOS, previous pelvic surgery, or other health concerns that may affect fertility.
Yes, irregular or absent periods can sometimes indicate that ovulation is not occurring regularly. Because ovulation is necessary for natural conception, conditions affecting your menstrual cycle may also affect fertility. A fertility assessment can help identify the cause and determine whether treatment may help.
Yes, factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol use, poor sleep, obesity, and limited physical activity can all influence fertility, though the degree of their impact is not always fully understood. Maintaining good overall health may improve reproductive health and support your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy.
It’s ideal to start preconception care at least three months before trying to conceive. This gives you time to optimise your health, review medications, begin recommended supplements such as folic acid for women, and address any medical concerns that may affect your chances of conceiving or a healthy pregnancy.
Yes. Male reproductive health plays an important role in fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Factors such as smoking, alcohol use, BMI, medical conditions, and environmental exposures can all affect sperm quality. Healthy lifestyle changes before conception may help improve sperm health and fertility.
A preconception consultation usually involves reviewing your medical history, lifestyle, medications, reproductive health, and any existing fertility concerns. Dr Anna may also recommend blood tests, screening, or specific fertility investigations depending on your individual circumstances.
No. Seeking a second opinion does not obligate you to change fertility specialists or clinics. Many people continue their current care after receiving reassurance or additional information from another specialist.
It can be helpful to bring copies of previous fertility test results, treatment summaries, imaging reports, consultation notes, and a list of any questions you would like to discuss. The more information available, the more comprehensive the review can be.
Yes. Many people seek a second opinion after unsuccessful IVF treatment to better understand what may have affected the outcome and whether alternative approaches or further investigations may be appropriate.
Not at all. You do not need to wait until multiple treatments have failed to seek another perspective. Some people choose to have a second opinion before starting IVF or making major decisions about their fertility care so they can feel more informed and confident from the beginning.
Yes. Unexplained infertility can feel particularly frustrating because fertility tests may appear normal despite difficulties conceiving. A second opinion may help review whether any additional investigations, treatment options, or contributing factors should be considered as part of your care plan.
In standard IVF, eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory dish and allowed to fertilise through the natural process of a sperm cell finding the egg and penetrating its outer shell. In ICSI, a single sperm is injected directly into an egg to assist fertilisation. ICSI is often recommended over IVF when there are significant male fertility concerns, use of frozen eggs, PGT, or previous poor fertilisation with standard IVF cycles.
A typical IVF or ICSI cycle usually takes around two to six weeks from the start of ovarian stimulation medication to pregnancy testing, although timing can vary depending on your treatment plan and individual response.
The number of IVF cycles taken before achieving pregnancy varies from person to person and depends on factors such as age, the presence of a fertility condition, egg and sperm quality, and successful embryo development. Some people achieve pregnancy in their first cycle, while others may require multiple attempts. Dr Anna will discuss your individual circumstances and help you understand what to expect throughout treatment.
There are no specific guidelines about when to keep persisting with IUI versus moving on to IVF, but most people will go through around three IUI cycles before considering other options. This is a personal decision and can be influenced by factors such as your financial situation, emotional capacity to keep trying, and age.
IUI involves placing prepared sperm directly into the uterus around ovulation to support natural fertilisation inside the body. IVF involves collecting eggs and fertilising them with sperm in a laboratory before transferring the resulting embryo into the uterus. IVF is generally more complex and invasive but may offer higher success rates in some situations.
No, PGT is not available with IUI. PGT requires sampling cells from the developing embryo, which can only be accessed when this embryo is grown in the lab. If having preimplantation genetic testing is important to you for your peace of mind or based on your genetic history, IVF or ICSI may be a more suitable treatment.
Unfortunately, no fertility treatment can guarantee pregnancy but instead aims to reduce the impact of barriers that may be affecting natural conception. Ovulation induction may improve the chance of conception by supporting regular ovulation, but success also depends on factors such as age, egg quality, sperm health, and overall reproductive health.
Yes. Ovulation induction is commonly used to help women with PMOS (previously termed PCOS) who ovulate irregularly or not at all. Many women with PMOS respond well to fertility medication and monitoring.
The number of treatment cycles varies between individuals. Some women conceive within the first few cycles, while others may require further treatment or additional fertility investigations if pregnancy does not occur.
Ovulation induction is generally considered safe, but like all fertility treatments, it can involve some risks and side effects. Some possible side effects of the medications may include headaches, breast tenderness, bloating, and mild cramping.
In some cases, fertility medication can increase the chance of multiple pregnancy or overstimulation of the ovaries (known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome). Careful monitoring with Dr Anna and her clinical team helps minimise these risks.
This can be a complex area, with subtle nuances depending on the state or territory where you had your treatment. However, in the majority of cases, the donor is not considered to have any legal parental rights to your child.
Because of the laws surrounding surrogacy in Australia, it can be difficult to find a gestational carrier. Most people will find a surrogate by approaching someone they know personally, such as a friend, family member, or colleague. Some people may travel overseas to find a surrogate, where surrogacy is more loosely regulated. As the legal implications of this can be much more convoluted, it is best to discuss this in detail with a lawyer experienced in this area.
Depending on whether you are considering both local and/or international donors, and how specific your donor requirements are, there may be minimal wait time before you find a suitable donor. In other situations, availability may be more limited and you may need to wait a few weeks to months before finding your ideal donor.
Eggs, sperm, and embryos can remain safely in a cryopreserved state indefinitely without significant degradation. However, laws do apply to how long you can keep them in storage. In most states and territories in Australia, this is 10 years. If you require storage beyond this period, Dr Anna can help you to apply for an extension.
You may wish to consider fertility preservation before medical treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation, before gender-affirming treatment, or if you are not yet ready to have children but would like to preserve future reproductive options. Age can affect egg and sperm quality over time, so earlier preservation may improve future success rates.
Dr Anna offers egg freezing through Genea Canberra and their cutting-edge technologies. The current costs of both medical and elective egg freezing in the ACT can be found here. Medicare rebate is available only for women undertaking egg freezing for medical reasons.
Yes. Although PMOS can affect ovulation and make conception more difficult, many women with PMOS are able to achieve pregnancy naturally or with fertility treatment and lifestyle support.
Not always. While irregular or absent periods are common with PMOS, some women still experience relatively regular cycles despite having the condition. PMOS symptoms can be variable in their presentation and severity between individuals.
PMOS is considered a long-term hormonal condition and unfortunately there currently is no known cure. However, symptoms can often be managed effectively with lifestyle support and medical treatment, as well as fertility care with your fertility specialist if you’re hoping to grow your family. As it is a chronic condition, it is important you receive life-long management and monitoring either with your GP or gynaecologist.
Yes, many women with endometriosis conceive naturally. However, the condition can affect fertility in some cases, and the likelihood of spontaneous conception can also be influenced by other factors such as age, overall reproductive health, and the quality of your partner’s sperm.
Endometriosis is a chronic health condition. Surgery can be effective at removing endometriotic lesions, improving symptoms, and, in some cases, restoring natural fertility, but lesions may still recur. Treatment decisions should consider your symptoms, fertility goals, and the potential benefits and risks of surgery.
If you have endometriosis and are having difficulty conceiving, or if you are concerned about the potential impact of endometriosis on your future reproductive ability, consultation with a fertility specialist can help you understand your reproductive health and explore your options. Fertility preservation with egg freezing may be appropriate.
Yes, although fertility is often significantly reduced. Some women with POI continue to ovulate intermittently and may conceive naturally. Others may require fertility treatment with donor eggs and IVF/ICSI to achieve pregnancy.
No. Although both conditions involve reduced ovarian function, POI occurs before the age of 40 and ovarian activity may continue intermittently. Menopause is a normal part of ageing for individuals assigned female at birth; it is permanent and typically occurs after the age of 45.
Not necessarily. While POI can make conception more difficult, fertility outcomes vary. Some women are able to conceive naturally, while others may need the help of fertility treatments, often using donor eggs, to achieve pregnancy.
Many specialists now recommend investigation after two miscarriages even if they are not consecutive losses, particularly if you are over 35 or have other fertility concerns. Earlier assessment may help identify factors that could benefit from treatment.
Prevention depends on the underlying cause. Some factors can be treated or managed, while others cannot be changed. A thorough assessment with a fertility specialist can help identify opportunities to reduce risk and optimise your chances of a healthy future pregnancy.
Not necessarily. Recurrent miscarriage and infertility are different conditions though do share many of the same risk factors. Infertility refers to an inability to conceive while many people who experience recurrent pregnancy loss are able to conceive without difficulty but have trouble maintaining a healthy pregnancy through to live birth. Both situations can be extremely challenging from an emotional perspective, but fertility treatments may still offer hope.
Yes. When you bring your records from your existing fertility care, Dr Anna Dalton can provide a bulk-billed second opinion consultation with a valid GP referral.
This applies to patients currently receiving fertility care with another provider who are seeking a fresh perspective. Patients already within the Genea network should speak with their current fertility specialist about next steps.
A referral from your GP or specialist is recommended if you would like to access Medicare rebates where applicable, however it is not required to make an appointment. Our team can advise you on referral requirements when booking.
Please bring any previous fertility test results, IVF cycle summaries, ultrasound or imaging reports, and a list of any medications or supplements you’re currently taking.
The more information Dr Dalton has about your fertility care and treatment history, the more comprehensive the review can be.
Not necessarily. A second opinion is about reviewing your care and current treatment plan, rather than starting over. In some cases, your current approach may be appropriate. In others, additional investigations or different treatment options may be discussed. Any decisions about your care remain entirely yours.
Second opinion consultations are typically longer than standard appointments to allow time for a thorough review of your fertility history, previous investigations and treatment.
Please allow up to an hour for your appointment.
That’s entirely your choice. Some patients use a second opinion to gain additional information and continue treatment with their existing specialist, while others may choose a different path. The purpose of a second opinion is to help you make informed decisions about your care.
Yes. Many patients seek a second opinion before beginning IVF or other fertility treatment to better understand their options and feel confident about the decisions they are making.
No. Patients seek second opinions at all stages, before starting treatment, after investigations, or following one or more IVF cycles. If you have questions about your fertility care and would like another perspective, a second opinion is open to you.
Following your consultation, Dr Dalton will discuss her assessment, answer your questions and provide recommendations based on your individual circumstances. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of your options and the information needed to make informed decisions about your next steps.
