Australia has a significant history in the field of in vitro fertilization (IVF), being the third country to successfully deliver an IVF baby and establishing the first IVF registry in the early 1980s.

Currently, one in every 16 babies born in Australia is conceived through IVF, with this figure rising to one in 10 among women aged over 35.

Despite the increase in IVF births, experts like Professor Robert Norman caution that IVF is not a solution to declining fertility rates, as the global replacement fertility rate remains around 2.1 births per woman.

In 2023, Australia's fertility rate was reported at 1.5, potentially dropping to 1.4, with IVF contributing only about 5% to this rate.

There are concerns that viewing IVF as a solution may lead individuals to postpone childbearing, which could further exacerbate declining fertility rates over time.

Experts advocate for education on fertility and societal support for family building as effective strategies to improve fertility rates, rather than relying solely on IVF.

Countries like Japan, China, and South Korea are promoting IVF as part of their pronatalist policies, offering financial support to combat declining fertility rates.

The IVF industry in Australia faced reputational challenges in 2025 due to significant errors and data breaches, underscoring the need for better regulation and auditing.

To address fertility health, Featherstone and Candice Thum co-founded Fertility Matters, aiming to educate young people about the importance of understanding fertility decline with age.

IVF is most prevalent in high-income countries where government funding supports equitable access, contrasting with lower-income nations that struggle with the necessary infrastructure.

Australia has successfully reduced multiple births from IVF, with over 93% of cycles involving a single embryo transfer, resulting in a multiple birth rate of below 3%.

A recent study published in 'Fertility and Sterility' estimates that between 10 and 13 million babies have been born via IVF since 1978, with an additional 3 to 4 million expected from 2019 to 2024.