Our 3+ Campaign

 FertilityNZ – The 3 + Campaign

New Zealand is proud of being a modern society where women are highly educated, well traveled and highly integrated into the economy. There is free maternity care and support for working parents

However, for the 20% of New Zealanders that experience infertility at some time in their life there is a gaping hole. Publicly funded infertility treatment is highly rationed – at best you will achieve two goes; many will not be eligible.

In Australia and much of Europe, 3% of all children are conceived from IVF or related treatment – in New Zealand it is half that. That represents 1000 children unborn in New Zealand each year.

New Zealand’s consumer society, FertilityNZ, aims to bridge this gap with it’s 3 plus campaign.

Addressing infertility is important not only for individuals, but also for society. New Zealand is following European trends where 25 – 30% of women reach 40 without having a child. It is important doing so is an informed choice, rather than women running out of time. Because so many women are not having any children, those that do will need to have larger families for population replacement.

FertilityNZ’s 3 plus campaign aims for government policies to be fertility friendly and aware of the educational need to promote planning for a family as well as a career.

This is what FertilityNZ would like achieve:

3 IVF Cycles – or sets of comparable treatment

§  3 cycles give an 80% chance of a child for women 37 and younger

§  3 cycles will let many couples have a second child if they become pregnant on their 1^st or 2^nd cycle

3 years waiting – at most before being eligible for treatment

§  The present wait of up to 5 years is too long

§  5 years reduces the chance of success because the woman is so much older

3% of all babies – born after IVF–related treatment in NZ

§  3% or more of all children born in Australia and many European countries are conceived from IVF

§  Anything less means many New Zealanders are missing out having a family

+ Remove the anomalies

§  The present scoring system for treatment is out of date – especially about women’s age

+ Education to preserve fertility

§  Government policies that are fertility friendly

§  Education to promote planning for children and career

+ Research to reduce the infertility toll in NZ

§  What can we do to halt the fall in male fertility?

§  What lifestyle changes really make a difference?

FertilityNZ actively advocates for its members and consumers and would be grateful for any feedback regarding our campaign. You are welcome to contact us at contact.us@fertilitynz.org.nz