Response to: Yazdani A. Surgery or in vitro fertilisation: The simplicity of this question belies its complexity. When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Abstract

This is perhaps the most apt mantra of IVF (in vitro fertilisation) as a treatment in Australasia in this day and age. It is also important to note the truth in the identification of IVF being low skill-based, largely independent of the practitioner, but more importantly costly, and with few exceptions, only available in the private sector. Such revelations really require a rethink of the entire reproductive endocrinology and infertility (CREI) subspecialty. In fact, if there is only one solution to all fertility problems - that of the 'effective IVF procedure' - why not do away completely with the clinician and simply have nurse practitioners who oversee the identified issue of an individual or couple wanting a pregnancy? This in conjunction with the outstanding scientific advances that led to the initiation and promulgation of IVF really would reduce costs by cutting out the unnecessary clinician middle-person who is unimportant in the equation. It may be that such cost reduction, the disbandment of the irrelevant subspecialty and protocol-driven, high-quality fertility checklists would allow this to be a publically accessible service for all, not just those who can afford it.