Family Builder is a specialist IVF treatment package designed to enable patients to bank euploid (an even number of chromosomes) embryos. Embryos that are identified as euploid have a higher chance of leading to a successful and healthy pregnancy.

As we age, our eggs get older. Sometimes, chromosomes don’t arrange themselves properly and embryos form that may have misaligned chromosomes, or fragmented chromosomal material. This is called aneuploidy. Aneuploidy is the main cause of embryos not implanting, or miscarrying. Embryos with chromosomes that form normally are called euploid.

Under the Family Builder package, you can choose to optimise your chances by testing the embryos through PGT testing, and then allowing us to choose those embryos that are more likely to result in a successful pregnancy.

This means that, especially for those for whom time is limited, Family Builder optimises the chance of them being able to have the number of children that they really want.

We have two different packages:

• Family Builder 2 (2 cycles of treatment)
• Family Builder Plus (3 cycles of treatment)

Family Builder 2 option:

Under this option, you proceed through a standard IVF cycle and eggs are retrieved as normal. After fertilisation, on day 5 or 6 of embryo development, depending on the speed at which the embryos develop, we biopsy all embryos (take a small sample from each embryo) which are PGT tested. The embryos are then frozen. This is then repeated for a second cycle and again all the embryos from the second cycle are biopsied and PGT-A tested (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies). These embryos are also then frozen.

Family Builder Plus option:

Under this option you will have a third cycle of IVF treatment and the biopsy and testing process is repeated and the embryos are frozen. You may do a third cycle if you need to bank more embryos to get your ideal number of children.

For Family Builder 2, the package includes screening on up to 9 test samples and for Family Builder Plus the package includes screening for up to 12 test samples. The expectation is that under Family Builder 2, we will get at least 3 to 4 embryos that are suitable for replacement and 5 to 7 under Family Builder Plus.

If we don’t get the expected number of suitable embryos from the first batch of samples, then we will continue to run the PGT-A screen until we get the suitable embryos or we run out of embryo samples.

For Family Builder 2 this will mean that, ideally, you will have 3 to 4 embryos that are identified as euploid, suitable for embryo replacement. For Family Builder Plus, this number should be 5 to 7 embryos. All the remaining euploid embryos from Family Builder 2 or Family Builder Plus remain frozen to be used at a later stage.

Family Builder 2 covers two cycles, and Family Builder Plus covers three cycles of IVF with:

• Stage 1: Medication and monitoring
• Stage 2: Egg collection and embryology
• Frozen embryo storage is covered for the first 6 months.

If required, we can include:

• ICSI - sperm microinjection
• TiMI - time lapse morphometry imaging, if we have sufficient capacity in the lab at the time of embryology.

ICSI and TiMI are complimentary for Fertility Cover and Family Builder packages, subject to availability. There is no refund if they are not used.

What’s not included?

• When you decide to use the embryos, the embryo replacement fee is applicable at that time.
• The PGT-A screen does not include a screening for gene disorders outside aneuploidy.
• If we have embryo samples that have not been screened in the PGT-A screen still available (because we have already identified the 7 euploid embryos), you may choose to have these screened as well – the fee for this is an additional $910 per embryo.

The cost saving between using the Family Builder 2 package and having two cycles of treatment with PGT-A at our normal fees is around $7000 and for the Family Builder Plus package, around $8000.

How many embryos do we need?

The graphic below shows how many embryos you may need to reach your ideal family size:

** Family Builder includes PGT-A on required number of embryos to reach target.

Any charges not listed as specifically included are excluded, as well as any additional charges outside of the standard IVF packages. Current prices can be found on the Treatment fees page of the website.  Note that the embryo transfer fee is applicable at the time you decide to use the embryos.

Additional fees may be recommended by your doctor, but this would be discussed with you in advance, for example:

• egg collection and embryology: additional charges may include AOA (artificial oocyte activation);
• if you require sedation with an anaesthetist;
• storage of embryos after the initial 6 month period.

If either you or your doctor decide during treatment that continued treatment will be unwise then we will calculate your account using our normal fees and refund the difference between your treatment costs and the Family Builder fee.

ICSI and TiMI:

ICSI and TiMI are complementary for Fertility Cover and Family Builder Packages. However, these may or may not be used.  TiMI is used if there is capacity of this equipment in the lab, and ICSI is only used if recommended by the lab/your doctor. Note, there is no refund if either of these services are not used.

What if there are excess embryos for PGT-A screening?

If there are excess embryos and you decide that you would like to have these tested, the current fee $910 per embryo.

What if there are fewer euploid embryos?

Under Family Builder we would continue to biopsy and test the embryos available, but there is no guarantee you will achieve a minimum number of euploid embryos.  There is no refund if we do not manage to achieve viable embryos.

Counselling and support services:

Family Builder offers one free counselling appointment included in the package. One doctor consultation is also offered if a cycle is discontinued or the outcome is unsuccessful. If you require additional consultations with your doctor or counsellor, these will be invoiced separately.

Talk to your doctor to see if Family Builder is right for you. If so, talk to your local Clinic Manager who will talk through your options.

If Family Builder is not right for you, you may also like to consider our Fertility Cover package.

Q. Can you switch from Family Builder Plus to Family Builder 2?

Yes - we refund the difference between the two.

Q. Can you switch from Family Builder 2 to Family Builder Plus?

No.

Q. What happens if I get lots of embryos on the first cycle?

You can opt to transfer to 'pay as you go' as you may have sufficient euploid embryos available. You must make this decision before embryo testing.

Q. What if I don’t get the target number of euploid embryos?

Family Builder cannot guarantee a particular number of embryos, however by doing two or three cycles you are maximizing the chances of getting euploid embryos.

Q. Why do we wait to send all embryos at the end of the 2 or 3 cycles?

We batch the biopsy samples and the run these all samples from all cycles at the same time. This is more cost effective, which allows us to provide a discounted service under this package.

Q. Is embryo storage covered under Family Builder?

Yes – it's the same as standard IVF, for the first six months. You will be invoiced for storage after the initial six month period.

Can same sex couples participate in Family Builder?

Same sex females may participate in the Family Builder programme with approval from their doctor. Typically, they would choose Family Builder 2 and have one cycle each. Donor sperm would be in addition.

Q. Embryo banking process and timelines:

The timeframe for IVF cycles would be over about two months for Family Builder 2 and over about three months for Family Builder Plus. It would then be up to 4 weeks for the biopsy results to return. 

Q. When do we start putting the embryos back?

Once you have completed the required number of cycles, and the required number of euploid embryos have been determined, (or we have run out of embryos to test), then we can start to transfer the embryos back.