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Most women undergoing IVF are using add-on therapies for which there is no proof they will work, and researchers have warned couples the money would be better spent on more cycles of IVF.
National research to be published in the journal,
Human Reproduction, on Tuesday found 82 per cent of women had used one or more add-ons with IVF in the past four years.
Most add-ons (72 per cent) cost extra, some up to $700 per cycle.
Pharmacist Diane Kwok with sons Isaac, three, and Tobias, one.
Credit:Wayne Taylor
Monash University researcher Dr Karin Hammarberg said given there was no evidence to show any add-ons worked, nor that they were free of harm, it was difficult to justify them.
Call for caution over use of IVF add-ons watoday.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from watoday.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Watchdog wants IVF clinics to get written consent for costly extras
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Victorian fertility operators should be forced to get written consent from patients before providing unproven and expensive âadd-onâ treatments that are sold to boost a womanâs chances of conceiving through IVF without clear evidence they work.
The recommendation is one a suite of changes being called for by the stateâs Health Complaints Commissioner, Karen Cusack, who is pushing for rogue fertility providers to be held to account following an investigation last year into the unethical practices of some IVF providers.