You’ve tracked your cycle, cleaned up your diet, and tried every supplement TikTok and your fertility group could name.
And yet… month after month, nothing changes.
As a fertility dietitian & nutritionist, I see this every week – individuals & couples doing everything right, just not everything right for them.
Most preconception plans focus on surface-level actions rather than the cellular foundations that determine egg, sperm, and hormone health.
Nutrition isn’t the last thing you try; it’s the first thing that makes everything else work better.
1. Over-Restricting: When ‘Healthy Eating’ Becomes Hormonal Stress
I often see clients who’ve spent years dieting or “clean eating” to the point of depletion.
They’ve cut out carbs or dairy thinking it’ll help – but what they’ve really done is reduce the very nutrients that build progesterone, support ovulation, and stabilise energy.
Your body doesn’t prioritise reproduction when it feels under-fuelled or unsafe.
Fertility is a luxury physiology – it thrives on abundance, not restriction.
Try this: include a slow-release carbohydrate, quality protein, and healthy fat at every meal. Balanced meals build balanced hormones.
2. Over-Supplementing: More Isn’t Better
When couples first see me, it’s not unusual for them to bring in a bag of random supplements, teas, miracle products… the list goes on.
Each one promising better egg quality, but without a personalised plan, supplements can compete or overload the system.
Nutrition isn’t a guessing game. It’s a biochemical equation that changes from person to person.
If you haven’t reviewed your labs or your supplement stack with a qualified fertility dietitian, there’s a good chance you’re either doubling up or missing something critical.
3. Focusing Only on The Female Partner
Around half of all infertility cases involve male factors – yet men are rarely part of the fertility conversation.
I see female partners carry the burden, while their partners quietly assume they’re “fine.”
But sperm is exquisitely sensitive to oxidative stress, heat, poor sleep, diet quality and nutrient deficiencies.
The right nutrition and lifestyle shifts can transform sperm health within months, improving outcomes for natural and assisted conception alike.
Fertility isn’t a female issue. It’s a shared cellular process and nutrition is the one intervention that benefits both sides.
4. Treating Fertility Like a 4-Week Cycle
Eggs and sperm don’t appear overnight.
It takes roughly 90 days for an egg to mature.
During that time, every meal, every night of sleep, and every nutrient absorbed directly influences their DNA, structure, and function.
Yet most people start “eating better” the month they plan to conceive – when the opportunity to influence egg and sperm quality has already passed.
This is what I call the fertility window of opportunity… the 90-day period before conception where nutrition and lifestyle choices have the greatest power to influence outcomes.
5. The Missing Piece: Nutrition as the Foundation, Not the Accessory
Here’s what many fertility journeys get wrong: nutrition is often treated as optional… something to think about after seeing specialists or starting treatment.
But I see it differently.
Nutrition is the foundation on which all fertility treatments sit.
Without the right nutrients, hormones can’t communicate, eggs can’t mature properly, sperm can’t swim efficiently, and implantation may not occur.
I see people go through multiple IVF cycles without ever addressing these fundamentals – spending thousands on technology without first supporting biology!
Working on preconception health isn’t just about conception itself; it’s about giving your baby the best possible start to life.
6. What Actually Works
When individuals and couples come to me, they’re usually exhausted… physically, emotionally, and financially.
They’ve tried every supplement and every cleanse.
But when we slow down and look at their nutrition, labs, and lifestyle through a fertility lens, the picture becomes clear.
We identify silent nutrient gaps, metabolic mismatches, and habits that are unknowingly working against conception.
Then we rebuild… step by step – with evidence-based, culturally inclusive nutrition tailored to both partners.
This is the exact process I take my clients through inside my fertility nutrition coaching program: The PLANT Method™ – transforming ‘doing everything right’ into doing what’s right for you.”
Because when nutrition and biology are finally in sync, conception often stops feeling like a mystery and starts feeling like alignment.
(Learn more about personalised fertility nutrition at poweredbynutrition.au.)
7. The Takeaway
If you’ve been doing everything “right” but still feel stuck, it’s not your fault.
You’re simply following a plan that wasn’t designed for your body, your culture, or your biology.
Fertility is a reflection of nourishment: physical, emotional, and relational.
When we build those foundations properly, conception becomes less about control and more about readiness.
Written by Pooja Adhyaru | Powered By Nutrition™ © 2025.
Pooja Adhyaru, APD, Fertility & Pregnancy Dietitian and founder of Powered By Nutrition™.
🌐 poweredbynutrition.au | Instagram: @fertility.dietitian.australia
If financial barriers are the primary obstacle preventing you from accessing fertility treatment, understanding your financial options and whether you meet the eligibility criteria for compassionate grounds release may open a meaningful pathway forward.
For many Australians pursuing fertility treatment, the financial aspect can feel as overwhelming as the fertility journey itself. While most people know that superannuation is designed for retirement, fewer understand that under specific circumstances, Australian legislation permits early access to these funds for medical treatments—including IVF, Obstetrics, IUI, donor programs, and related gynaecological procedures necessary for fertility treatment. This pathway exists not as a workaround, but as a legitimate compassionate grounds provision designed to support Australians when medical needs cannot wait.
How Access My Super Works: A Step-by-Step Guide
Applying for early release of superannuation on compassionate grounds involves meeting strict eligibility criteria set by the ATO. The process requires comprehensive documentation and approval before any funds can be released.
Step 1: Fee Estimates and Quotes (It’s best to begin the process after your initial consultation with your specialist)
To get started, you’ll need a fee estimate from your IVF clinic.
Step 2: Telehealth Psychiatrist Appointment
Access My Super arranges your psychiatrist appointment through our established network, typically within 24 hours. One part of the application process that often surprises people is the requirement for a psychiatrist’s report.
Understanding the Psychiatrist Requirement
It’s important to understand what this requirement means—and what it doesn’t mean.
This is purely an ATO regulatory requirement for accessing superannuation on compassionate grounds for IVF treatment. The psychiatrist consultation is:
• A one-off external assessment, not the beginning of ongoing psychiatric treatment
• Required to document that the financial barriers causing inability to access fertility treatment could impact mental health
• It’s not a reflection on anyone’s mental health status—it’s simply part of the legislative framework for all early release of super applications involving fertility treatment
Step 3: Telehealth GP Appointment Scheduled
We organise a GP consultation that provides supporting documentation that complements the specialist psychiatrist report, completing the medical evidence required by the ATO.
Step 4: Application Lodgement
Access My Super organises, prepares, and provides comprehensive administrative support for your entire application, ensuring:
• All documentation meets ATO compliance requirements before lodging
• The application addresses all eligibility criteria
• Nothing is missing that could delay processing
Timeline: 30-35 Business Days
From initial application submission to funds release, the typical timeline is 30-35 business days. This includes:
• Telehealth appointment scheduling
• ATO assessment and decision period
• Super fund processing and release of approved amount
Access My Super monitors your application throughout this period and ensures everything remains on track for timely processing.
Why don’t more people know about this option?
First, many people simply aren’t aware that the Australian Taxation Office permits early release of superannuation on compassionate grounds for fertility treatment specifically. Superannuation is often thought of as completely locked away until retirement, but the legislation recognises that some medical needs can’t wait decades.
Second, the application process involves quite a bit of administrative complexity—medical documentation, psychiatrist assessments, ATO applications—and many people find that overwhelming when they’re already managing the emotional demands of fertility treatment. That’s precisely why we established Access My Super: to provide specialised administrative support through the entire process.
The Financial Reality of Fertility Treatment in Australia
The costs are significant. A single IVF cycle in Australia typically ranges from $9,000 to $15,000, with many individuals requiring multiple cycles to achieve their goal of parenthood. When factoring in medications, additional procedures, and specialist consultations, the financial burden can quickly become unaffordable.
Research consistently shows that financial barriers are among the primary reasons people discontinue fertility treatment before achieving their goal. This is particularly difficult because time is such a critical factor—age-related fertility decline means that delays due to saving money can actually reduce chances of treatment success.
Early Release of Super for IVF on Compassionate Grounds
The framework acknowledges an important medical reality: that inability to access necessary fertility treatment due to financial reasons. We specialise in supporting individuals through the complex administrative process of early superannuation access specifically for fertility treatment.
By streamlining documentation, coordinating medical appointments with our established provider networks, and ensuring ATO compliance, we help remove the procedural barriers that can delay or prevent access to funds. This specialised support acknowledges that navigating government applications during an already stressful fertility journey can feel overwhelming.
What are some important things people should know before applying?
Several critical factors deserve careful consideration:
- Contact Your Super Fund First: Before applying, you must confirm your fund will release funds if approved, verify sufficient balance to cover treatment costs plus tax withholding and understand any fee or insurance implications.
- Seek Independent Financial Advice: This is a significant financial decision. Early withdrawal reduces your retirement savings and the compound interest those funds would generate. We strongly recommend independent financial advice to understand the long-term implications for your retirement planning.
- Approval Isn’t Guaranteed: Meeting documentation requirements doesn’t guarantee ATO approval. The ATO assesses each application against strict eligibility criteria. Applications may be declined if you have other means to pay for treatment or if medical documentation doesn’t meet their requirements.
That’s precisely why Access My Super operate on a ‘no approval, no fee’ basis— if the ATO rejects the application, we refund our entire service fee.
Are there any limitations on how much you can access or what it covers?
One of the key advantages for fertility treatment specifically is that there is no cap on the amount you can access.
You can also access your partner’s superannuation for your treatment in many circumstances. And importantly, accessing super for IVF doesn’t affect your Medicare rebate eligibility—you’ll still receive the full rebates your circumstances permit.
However, keep in mind that tax withholding applies to withdrawn funds, so you’ll need to account for that in your calculations.
Making an Informed Choice and Moving Forward With Clarity
Your fertility journey deserves to include all available options including Access My Super for IVF. If financial barriers are currently preventing you from accessing fertility treatment, understanding you have access to complete, accurate information to make the decision that’s right for your unique circumstances can make all the difference. Whether early release of super is appropriate depends on factors only you can evaluate: your age, fertility prognosis, financial situation, and personal priorities.
Access My Super is here to provide the administrative support and guidance through the process if you decide it’s the right path for you. Visit accessmysuper.com.au to learn more about eligibility and how we can help.
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Important Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and should not be considered financial, medical, or legal advice. Seek independent professional advice before making decisions about early superannuation access. Consult with your fertility specialist about treatment options specific to your circumstances. Approval for early superannuation release is at the sole discretion of the Australian Taxation Office.
Visit Access My Super for more information or to connect with us
No two fertility journeys are the same. Everyone arrives to their first appointment with a different set of circumstances, medical histories, emotional needs and personal goals. That’s why personalised care isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Fertility is complex, and so are you
Fertility treatment involves many variables including, hormone levels, egg quality, sperm health, medical conditions, past interventions, timing, lifestyle and more. These factors can interact in complex ways and look different for every person or couple.
Take, for example, a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Her treatment plan will likely be very different from someone with low ovarian reserve. Similarly, a same-sex couple exploring donor options will have their own unique considerations. There’s no standard route, and nor should there be.
Evidence and empathy working together
Personalisation isn’t just about adjusting hormone doses or choosing between IVF, ICSI or IUI. It’s also about taking the time to listen, to understand what matters most to you, such as your values, goals and emotional readiness.
Some prefer to start with the least invasive options. Others feel time is critical and want to move straight to more advanced treatment. Both approaches are valid. What matters is that your choices are respected and your care is guided by both clinical insight and genuine understanding.
Better outcomes through tailored pathways
Research consistently shows that tailoring fertility treatment to the individual leads to better outcomes. This could mean selecting a stimulation protocol that aligns with your egg reserve, recommending targeted tests to uncover hidden factors, or adjusting the timing of treatment to suit your life.
Fertility care shouldn’t take over your world, it should fit into it. It’s about getting the details right. The right treatment, at the right time, for the right person.
When every step is personalised, you get the best possible chance of success.
More than one path to parenthood
Many people assume fertility treatment means IVF. Personalisation starts with exploring all the options. For some, ovulation induction or IUI may be the most effective and least invasive place to start. For others, IVF, with or without genetic testing, might be the right path based on their specific circumstances. For single parents by choice and same-sex couples, donor eggs, sperm or embryos may be part of the journey.
Care that builds confidence
Fertility treatment can feel overwhelming. There are decisions to make, information to process and emotions to navigate. When you know your care has been designed specifically for you, it builds trust in the process and confidence in the plan.
Personalisation at Create Fertility
At Create Fertility, we bring together advanced reproductive science and deeply personalised care. We understand that no two patients are the same, which is why every treatment plan is designed around the individual, their medical profile, personal circumstances and emotional needs.
Whether that means starting with less invasive options like ovulation induction, or progressing to IVF with advanced genetic testing, we focus on what’s right for you. Because your fertility treatment isn’t just about science, it’s about you.
Author:
Dr Scott Pearce
Create Health
Create Fertility
IVF is often spoken about in medical terms protocols, embryos, transfers, statistics and doesn’t mention the emotional resilience which may be called upon during your IVF journey.
Behind every scan and every blood test is a human heart, carrying the weight of uncertainty, hope, grief, and longing.
Research shows that fertility treatment significantly increases stress, anxiety, and depression, with many women reporting higher emotional distress than in almost any other medical treatment.
That’s why resilience isn’t just a nice idea during IVF. It’s a survival skill. Resilience doesn’t mean forcing positivity or pretending everything is fine. True resilience is about having tools to return to when the rollercoaster feels overwhelming, so you can steady yourself and keep moving forward.
Why I Do This Work
I’m Adele O’Connor, a psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist, fertility coach, and podcast host. More importantly, I’ve walked the path of IVF and donor conception myself.
When I was going through treatment, I couldn’t find the emotional support I needed. The medical care was there, but the psychological toll felt invisible. That gap inspired me to retrain and create the kind of support I once longed for. Today, I combine evidence based counselling, hypnotherapy, and mind body practices to help women and families feel steadier, stronger, and more supported.
Clients often describe me as a steady light on a difficult path someone who brings clarity, compassion, and perspective when everything feels overwhelming.
1. Coping with Uncertainty
If there’s one word that defines IVF, it’s uncertainty. Waiting for fertilisation results, embryo grading, or pregnancy tests can feel endless. Research shows uncertainty is one of the biggest drivers of anxiety because the brain craves prediction and control.
Quick tool: Try the 3, 3, 3 grounding rule.
Name 3 things you can see, 3 sounds you can hear, and move 3 parts of your body.
This simple reset pulls your mind out of “what if” and into “what is.”
2. Managing Anxious Thoughts
IVF can amplify the inner critic: What if my body lets me down? What if I never become a parent? Left unchecked, these thoughts spiral.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) shows that writing down anxious thoughts and testing them against evidence helps break the cycle.
Quick tool: Write your thought, list the evidence against it, then create a balanced reframe. For example:
Thought: “If this transfer fails, I’m never going to get pregnant.”
Evidence against: “Many women need more than one transfer before success.”
Reframe: “This is one step, not my whole story.”
3. Reframing Setbacks
A failed cycle or cancelled transfer is devastating. But how you interpret that setback shapes your ability to keep going.
Neuro linguistic Programming (NLP) highlights the power of reframing: changing the meaning you give to an event shifts your emotional response.
Quick tool: Ask yourself: What’s the learning here? How might this experience help me adjust next time? This doesn’t erase grief, but it creates meaning alongside it.
4. Regulating Your Emotions
When the nervous system is on constant high alert, the body suffers. Sleep is disrupted, hormones are affected, and stress compounds.
Mind body practices like EFT tapping and breathwork have been shown to lower cortisol and reduce anxiety.
Quick tool: Place one hand on your heart, one on your stomach. Inhale for 4, hold for 2, exhale for 6. Repeat 5 times. This simple reset calms your body and helps you feel safer in the moment.
5. Self Compassion and Support
Many people in IVF pride themselves on being strong and independent. But isolation often makes the journey harder. Research shows self compassion is linked to lower anxiety and depression, especially during times of high stress.
Quick tool: Notice your self talk. If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself. Replace “I’m failing at this” with “This is hard, and I’m doing my best.”
Support also matters. Counselling, peer groups, or even a trusted friend can make the load feel lighter.
Final Thoughts
Resilience during IVF doesn’t mean never crying, never doubting, or always staying upbeat. It means having tools to return to when things feel hard, so you can keep moving forward with steadiness and self compassion.
If you’re attending the Melbourne Fertility Expo on 8 November, come and connect with me.
I’ll be sharing more about how to build your own IVF Resilience Toolkit and offering practical strategies to help you navigate the emotional toll of treatment.
Free Resource: The Emotional Truth of IVF
If this blog resonated with you, I’ve created a free guide: The Emotional Truth of IVF, What nobody tells you about the thoughts and feelings you may face, and how to navigate them with more steadiness and self compassion.
Inside, you’ll find five journal prompts to help you calm your mind, process difficult emotions, and feel more supported. It’s the resource I wish I had during my own IVF journey, and I’d love to share it with you.
Head to my website www.ivfsupportspace.com to get your free download
Meet Dr Sascha Edelstein, Thrive Fertility
Dr Edelstein is a renowned Fertility Specialist at Thrive Fertility, a new fertility clinic in Melbourne. At the Melbourne Fertility Expo, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Dr Edelstein and talk to him about your fertility journey. He will also be speaking on the topic: What really matters when choosing a fertility clinic.
Dr Edelstein, can you tell us about Thrive Fertility?
Thrive Fertility is a new clinic in Melbourne’s north, offering comprehensive and premium fertility care. At Thrive Fertility, we’ve invested in a state-of-the-art lab, but that’s only one piece of the puzzle. Just as important are personalised treatment plans, a team who treat people with compassion, and a transparent approach to costs and outcomes.
What is your mission and your approach to care?
Our mission at Thrive Fertility is simple: To combine science with humanity. The best technology means little if patients don’t feel supported or understood. Every person’s infertility journey is different, so we tailor treatment to the individual. At Thrive Fertility, we also put a huge emphasis on being transparent about treatment options, results, and costs, with the goal to enable our patients to make informed decisions with confidence.
Can you share your personal journey to parenthood?
My wife and I went through our own fertility challenges, so I know how tough and isolating infertility can feel. My infertility experience shaped my vision for Thrive Fertility: To provide a clinic where patients feel seen, supported, and empowered, not just processed. We built Thrive Fertility to provide premium care that encompasses holistic treatment while still being accessible.
Dr Edelstein, what’s one thing you wish more people understood about infertility?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that infertility is always a woman’s issue, when in fact male factors account for around a third of infertility cases. Another misconception is that IVF always works the first time. Unfortunately, the reality is more complex, and IVF outcomes depend on age, egg and sperm quality, and other health factors. Patients often blame themselves unnecessarily, when infertility is rarely anyone’s “fault.”
What are the top things you wish people knew before starting IVF?
IVF isn’t a one-size-fits-all. IVF success depends on many factors, and no two infertility journeys look the same. It’s important to know that results aren’t guaranteed, and it can take time and persistence. What makes the biggest difference is having the right pieces in place: A high-quality lab, a treatment plan tailored to you, a compassionate team to walk beside you, and a clinic that is transparent about results and costs. At Thrive Fertility, we pride ourselves on these fundamental components.
What are you most excited about at the Melbourne Fertility Expo?
I’m excited to connect with people, answer their questions, and hopefully make their fertility journey feel a little less daunting. It’s also a great chance to share what we’re building at Thrive Fertility and to be part of a wider conversation about how fertility care in Australia can keep improving. At Thrive Fertility, we’re here to make advanced fertility care accessible, transparent, and compassionate and we would love to walk your fertility journey with you.
At the Melbourne Fertility Expo, you’re speaking about ‘What really matters when choosing a fertility clinic’. Can you please give us a brief overview of your presentation?
Many people think IVF success is only about the doctor. The truth is, it’s a team effort and the lab is a critical part of that. Not all labs are equal. The technology, environment, and expertise of the embryology team can have a big impact on IVF success rates. Patients should be empowered to ask questions about their fertility clinic including proximity of the operating theatre to the lab, clean room conditions, access to time-lapse technology, AI optimisation, and radio-frequency identity traceability. These are just a few of the features that should be standard of care when choosing a fertility clinic. During my presentation, I’ll talk about these fundamentals and what each one means.
While the lab is important, premium care should also recognise the patient experience, providing individualised care, a supportive and compassionate team, and clinicians that are transparent about fertility treatment options, results and costs. My talk is about giving people the tools to look past the glossy marketing and focus on these fundamentals.
How can people get in touch with you?
If you are considering fertility treatment and want to learn more about Thrive Fertility and your options, we would love to help. Visit our website or call (03) 9124 3896 to speak with our team. You can also follow us on Instagram @thrivefertility for updates, educational content, and behind-the-scenes insights from our lab.
Introducing CycleGuide: Your fertility treatment planning app
Dr Caroline Fiddler is a Doctor and the Founder of the CycleGuide app. At The Melbourne Fertility Expo, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Dr Fiddler and talk to her about how CycleGuide can help you with your fertility treatment planning.
Can you tell us about CycleGuide?
CycleGuide is an innovative, simple and intuitive app to help you organise your fertility treatment instructions.
It’s purpose-built with a pre-cycle checklist to help you prepare for your Day 1 and your IVF cycle (e.g. appointments, ultrasounds, medication). There are several helpful features, including:
• A calendar and a ‘to do list’, so you know exactly what you need to do for each day of your cycle.
• Colour-coded tasks for easy identification and visibility on the calendar.
• Notifications, which can be especially helpful with medication timing.
• Editing function so tasks can easily be deleted or edited (e.g. the duration of medication can be modified).
• Free text. Medication names and directions are entered by you, so that you can enter instructions in a manner that makes sense to you.
CycleGuide is also available for fertility clinics. You can simply enter your fertility instructions from your clinic, or the clinic can send instructions directly to the app on your phone.
Why develop CycleGuide?
I was convinced there had to be a better way to organise my fertility treatment instructions in a more modern, simple and portable manner. I also thought there should be a more direct method for fertility nurses to communicate vital, and sometimes complex, fertility treatment instructions to their patients.
What is CycleGuide’s mission?
There are so many unknowns during IVF. We want to help reduce the anxiety of IVF and help you be organised. CycleGuide helps you take ownership of the aspects of IVF you can control, e.g. following your treatment instructions correctly.
I also want to help fertility staff. As I doctor, I have often been frustrated by the inflexibility and clunkiness of hospital systems. CycleGuide can be integrated into existing clinic systems without the need for new software or upgrades. Treatment instructions can be sent directly from the clinic software to the app on patient’s phones without nurses having to re-enter information. This gives nurses certainty that patients have received the correct information in a timely manner.
Our aim is also to reduce delayed, incorrect or missed injections that may cause a cycle to be cancelled, or modified, leaving guilt or uncertainty for the patient, especially if the cycle is unsuccessful.
Can you share your journey to parenthood?
I never met Mr Right, and I moved around a lot due to medical rotations which is why I didn’t think about children until later on. I saw a fertility specialist when I was 38 to discuss egg freezing but I couldn’t face fertility preservation. In retrospect, it wasn’t explained to me properly. At 40, I saw another fertility doctor and started egg freezing. I asked a friend to donate sperm, and he very kindly agreed.
I had a growing concern however that my doctor wasn’t really invested in my results and that we were just doing the same, or similar protocols, with little direction. I changed fertility doctors to one recommended by a fertility psychologist and I have continued to see this doctor in Victoria. After 2.5 years of IVF, I am now fortunate to be the mother of my daughter Alice who is 20 months old.
I am now going through the process of egg donation from overseas because I have exhausted all of my frozen eggs and embryos. The use of overseas eggs is banned in Victoria, unlike the rest of Australia where it is legal. As such, my IVF team is liaising with a clinic in Albury, NSW.
What are the top things you wish people knew before starting IVF?
I wish all young women, especially those with demanding university degrees and careers, would consider freezing their eggs or visit a fertility doctor to discuss their fertility options.
Also, I encourage you to get a second opinion if you feel your doctor doesn’t have a plan for both short and longer term. It can be hard to tell why things aren’t working or are taking many months/cycles/years to work.
Finally, it can be very difficult to keep hearing pregnancy and birth announcements. There seem to be baby reminders everywhere. I just kept telling myself that I had started the process and to hang in there. It can be very tough though and I encourage you to chat to your fertility clinic for support.
What are you most looking forward to at the Melbourne Fertility Expo?
I’m really looking forward to meeting anyone considering fertility treatment and explaining how CycleGuide can help you with your fertility treatment planning. I’m also excited about being surrounded by enthusiastic fertility professionals and meeting my fellow exhibitors.
As the founder of CycleGuide, can you give us an overview of your role?
My role was to come up with the idea and to have the courage to pursue the app. I then collaborated with Appetiser Apps project managers and designers to create CycleGuide – Your fertility treatment planning app
I recall spreading all my IVF medications, paper instructions from various egg collections and embryo transfers (from different clinics and doctors), over a large table with Appetiser apps staff Jarrod, Sharon and Tovah. We met regularly to discuss the best way to design a simple, clear and flexible app.
For example, one key decision was whether to add a pre-populated list of IVF medications, with a drop-down list to choose from. But my concern was that medications change their name and branding, doctors have different preferences, and medications vary between countries. I liked the idea that patients could add their medications by a name or description that resonated with them. We decided to make it free text and free of medical lingo. Typing in the information also reinforces your treatment instructions to help you follow them correctly.
Where can people learn more about CycleGuide: Your fertility treatment planning app?
You can visit my website CycleGuide or follow us on Instragram @cycleguide ivf app. We’re also on Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn.
To download the app, visit CycleGuide: IVF Treatment Mobile App | Appetiser or the Apple store. It’s available in Australia and New Zealand: 7-day free trial, AUD $8.99/month and NZD $9.99/month. For clinics, there’s bulk discounts for 3, 6 and 12-month subscriptions per patient. CycleGuide is currently in progress for the UK, and our aim is to expand globally.
You can also contact me at caroline@cycleguide.com.au and contact@cycleguide.com.au
