The most common misconception that Dr Kan sees in his patients is that time is on their side. No matter how young or healthy you may feel, if you are aged 40 your ovaries are also aged 40.
This does not mean, however, that you have left it too late. As long as you are still producing eggs, you can carry on with IVF – as long as you understand that the chance of success is lower as each year goes by.
It’s important to consider not just your age, but also how long you’ve been trying. If, for example, you’ve only recently met your partner, Ovulation Induction may be a successful alternative to IVF, or a light dose of IVF may be recommended. The same approach may also be successful if you have low AMH, secondary ovarian failure, or are entering early menopause.
The is a key area of research for Dr Kan as his policy is to never turn a patient away. He will consider your age, your lifestyle and preferences, your medical history and how long you have been trying to determine the most effective treatment for you.
Advanced fertility science
Importantly, Dr Kan will consider every possible option to make your pregnancy happen. He is always interested in testing new protocols, and has access to the latest technology and equipment through IVFAustralia.
This could involve:
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), where male fertility is an issue. This involves injecting a single sperm into each egg, using very fine micro-manipulation equipment.
- Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), a highly sophisticated test for specific genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.
- Advanced Embryo Selection, a PGD technique that allows scientists to select the embryo with the greatest likelihood of pregnancy success for transfer.
- Polscope, using polarised light to study the egg’s genetic material.
- Digital High Magnification, using a 7300x magnification to select the most appropriate sperm for ICSI.
It’s also important to consider using donor eggs (oocytes), as this can offer many women over 40 the best possible chance of having a baby. Dr Kan is highly experienced in using donor eggs and sperm, and his team can support you through this process.
“My first advice to any new patient is ‘try early’. Start trying as soon as you realise you want children. Everything else – money, career – will fall into place later. Don’t delay because you’re worried about whether you can afford to have children right now.” Dr Andrew Kan
Success Stories
Using IUI (artificial insemination), Janine was able to conceive quickly – without needing to go through an IVF cycle. This is a simpler, more natural and more affordable starting point for fertility treatment.
“We met Dr Kan and after our initial consultation we decided to go with IUI. We were very lucky that it worked first go. Now I am 17 weeks pregnant and having a little girl. The staff at all your branches that I had contact with were so kind and nothing was ever too hard.”
