Stigma still associated with IVF: survey

PAA Almost half of Australian women believe that if they need IVF treatment, they've failed.

Nearly one in two Australian women believes there's a common perception that you have "failed" if you seek IVF treatment, according to a survey.

Despite an increasing number of babies being born from fertility procedures each year - currently about 12,000 - research by fertility clinic Bump found 85 per cent of women feel there's a social stigma associated with having in vitro fertilisation treatment.

Nearly half of the 1007 women aged 25 to 44 surveyed say this is due to the perception that undergoing IVF treatment means you have "failed".

Added to this, 32 per cent believe the stigma is because women can feel responsible and guilty even when it's their partner who has the fertility problem.

Anne-Marie Pickard, 46, who had her son five years ago through IVF, said she can understand why many couples, and women in particular, would feel they've failed if they need IVF.

"There's probably a little bit in my subconscious brain that feels that I failed because I didn't fall pregnant naturally," Ms Pickard said.

"But consciously I know that's not the case."

Ms Pickard says she has felt a bit judged for undertaking IVF treatment because of her age.

"As an older woman, certainly from the stuff you can go and read, I did feel a bit judged for doing IVF.

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Stigma still associated with IVF: survey