Regional fertility clinic a first

WA’s first regional fertility clinic has opened in Denmark providing Great Southern residents with a “vital” service, according to the State’s peak medical association.

Embryologist Stephen Junk, who moved to Denmark after purchasing Estate 807 winery, is now the scientific director of Fertility Great Southern, attached to Denmark Medical Centre.

The clinic and laboratory will host four specialist visiting gynaecologists from Perth, carrying out appointments in Denmark and some procedures at Albany Health Campus.

“Patients don’t have to go to Perth, there’s a big need for something like this, this is the first regional fertility unit in WA,” Dr Junk said.

“There are a lot of younger people down here who are in their fertile part of life.”

Dr Junk said the Great Southern had a lot of farmers who often needed a fertility clinic because of pesticide use.

“A number of people put off having treatment because they have to go to Perth,” he said.

“To go to Perth for several weeks at a time can be expensive and stressful.”

The clinic houses specialist equipment and treatments the clinic will perform include ovulation induction, hormonal treatment, in-vitro fertilisation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

A fertility nurse will be employed at the clinic and more staff would be hired as needed.

Dr Junk said they would accommodate patients from across the region.

Australian Medical Association WA vice-president Michael Gannon said the opening of Fertility Great Southern would provide local residents with a vital health service.

“This is a great step in reducing the gap between metropolitan and rural health services, and we hope to see similar services set up in more regional areas in WA,” he said.

“We should not expect WA citizens to travel hundreds of kilometres to access the healthcare services enjoyed by those in metropolitan areas.”