Fertility care is about much more than IVF. It includes understanding how your body works, optimising your natural fertility, diagnosing obstacles, and choosing the right level of intervention at the right time. As a CREI fertility subspecialist (Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility), Dr Rebecca Mackenzie-Proctor offers a full spectrum of fertility services, from natural conception support through to IVF and donor conception—in Melbourne and Wagga Wagga.

What Is “Fertility Care”?

Fertility care focuses on helping individuals and couples conceive safely and as efficiently as possible, while protecting long-term reproductive health.

It can involve:

• Understanding your menstrual cycles and ovulation patterns

• Assessing sperm health and the reproductive system

• Identifying and treating conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis or hormonal imbalance

• Optimising lifestyle, nutrition and timing

• Using medical treatments such as ovulation induction, IUI or IVF

• Supporting donor conception when eggs or sperm are not suitable or available

Dr Rebecca combines detailed medical assessment with realistic expectations and a strong emphasis on patient education, so you understand why each step is recommended.

When to Consider Seeing a Fertility Specialist

You may benefit from a fertility assessment if:

• You are planning a pregnancy in the near future and wanting to gather more information to maximise your health prior. 

• You’ve been trying to conceive for:

• 12 months if you’re under 35

• 6 months if you’re 35 or older

• You have irregular or absent periods

• You have known conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids or previous pelvic surgery

• There is a known male factor (low count, motility or morphology)

• You’re a single parent by choice or in a same-sex relationship

• You’re considering donor eggs/sperm or future fertility preservation

An initial consultation typically includes a detailed history, examination as needed, targeted blood tests, ultrasound, and semen analysis where appropriate. I welcome early discussions about fertility planning and treatments as well as working with allied health professionals including holistic practitioners to maximise your reproductive health to reach your goals. 

Fertility Services Offered

Natural Conception - Maximising Your Chances Naturally

Many people can conceive without assisted reproductive technology when timing, health and hormones are optimised.

Focus areas include:

• Pre-conception assessment for both partners

• Timing the fertile window using ovulation predictor kits, cervical mucus, digital tracking and, where needed, ultrasound

• Ensuring regular ovulation (screening for PCOS, thyroid or prolactin issues)

• Optimising sperm quality (semen analysis, lifestyle and DNA fragmentation where indicated)

• Supporting implantation and early pregnancy (progesterone, uterine health, inflammatory and metabolic factors)

• Evidence-based lifestyle strategies: nutrition, weight, exercise, sleep, stress, and minimising environmental toxins

Dr Rebecca will also advise on how long to keep trying naturally before stepping up to treatments like ovulation induction, IUI or IVF based on your age, ovarian reserve and diagnosis.

Ovulation Induction (OI) - Helping Your Body Find Its Rhythm

If you have irregular or absent ovulation, ovulation induction may be the first, least invasive step.

Ovulation induction may be suitable if you:

• Have irregular, infrequent or absent periods

• Have PCOS or another cause of anovulation

• Have a partner with normal sperm parameters

• Have open, healthy fallopian tubes

• Want to try a lower-intervention option before IVF

What OI involves:

• Baseline assessment (hormones, ultrasound, semen analysis)

• Oral medications such as letrozole or clomiphene, or low-dose injectable FSH

• Optional hCG trigger injection to time ovulation precisely

• 1-2 ultrasound scans per cycle to monitor follicle growth and reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy

• Timed intercourse or combination with IUI

• Luteal phase support (progesterone) and follow-up pregnancy test

OI is designed to restore predictable ovulation and improve your chance of conceiving with either timed intercourse or IUI.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) 

IUI is a simple fertility treatment that places prepared sperm directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation.

IUI can help when:

• There is mild male factor infertility

• You have unexplained infertility

• There are cervical mucus issues or mild endometriosis

• You’re a single woman or same-sex female couple using donor sperm

• You want a lower-intervention option before considering IVF

The IUI process includes:

• Pre-treatment assessment and tubal patency check

• Natural or mildly stimulated cycle with letrozole or FSH

• Sperm preparation in the lab (washing, density gradient, swim-up)

• A brief, usually painless insemination procedure in the clinic

• Luteal phase progesterone support and follow-up pregnancy test

For many patients, IUI offers a cost-effective, low-intervention pathway to pregnancy.

IVF - When You Need More Help

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) may be recommended when simpler options are unlikely to work or have already been unsuccessful.

IVF is often considered for:

• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes

• Moderate to severe male factor infertility

• Endometriosis or significant uterine pathology

• Advanced maternal age or diminished ovarian reserve

• Recurrent pregnancy loss or recurrent implantation failure

• Same-sex couples or single individuals

• Genetic indications requiring preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)

IVF with Dr Rebecca typically involves:

• Comprehensive assessment (hormones, ultrasound, semen analysis, genetic screening where indicated)

• Individualised ovarian stimulation protocol

• Egg retrieval under light anaesthetic

• Fertilisation with conventional IVF or ICSI, followed by embryo culture (often to blastocyst)

• Embryo transfer in a short, ultrasound-guided procedure

• Luteal phase support and a blood pregnancy test

• Review of results, next steps and ongoing planning (including frozen embryo transfer if embryos remain in storage)

You are supported at every stage with clear explanations, realistic success expectations and transparent discussion of costs, risks and alternatives.

Donor Services – Donor Eggs & Donor Sperm

Donor conception provides a pathway to parenthood when using your own eggs or sperm is not possible, not safe or has a very low chance of success.

Common reasons to consider donor gametes include:

• Premature ovarian insufficiency or advanced age-related decline in egg quality

• Severe male factor infertility or azoospermia

• Genetic conditions where passing on a variant is a significant concern

• Surgical removal of ovaries or testes, or gonadotoxic cancer treatment

• Same-sex couples and single parents by choice

Dr Rebecca’s donor program is:

• Fully compliant with NHMRC guidelines, state ART legislation and RTAC standards

• Non-anonymous-donor-conceived individuals can access identifying donor information from adulthood (as required by law)

• Supported by mandatory counselling, comprehensive medical and genetic screening, and informed consent for donors and recipients

Options include:

• Donor eggs (known or clinic-recruited/overseas programs)

• Donor sperm

• Donor gametes used with IUI, IVF or ICSI

You’ll receive detailed counselling about legal, ethical, emotional and practical considerations so you can make decisions with confidence.

Your Next Step

Whether you’re just starting to think about pregnancy, have been trying for some time, or already know you’ll need donor or IVF support, fertility care can be tailored to your situation - not the other way around.

Dr Rebecca Mackenzie-Proctor works with individuals and couples across Melbourne and the Riverina (Wagga Wagga), offering in-person and telehealth consultations where appropriate.

Ready to talk about your fertility? You’re welcome to book an appointment to discuss your goals, your options, and a plan that feels right for you.