Dr Anthony Marren, a Sydney-based fertility specialist at Genea, was featured in an ABC Radio National article discussing the growing challenges fertility clinics face with egg and embryo storage as demand for fertility preservation surges across Australia.
The article examines how the number of women freezing their eggs and embryos has dramatically increased, creating storage capacity challenges for fertility clinics nationwide. Anthony explains the scale of this growth at Genea: in 2013, the clinic had 53 patients with 674 oocytes (developing eggs) in storage. By 2023, that had increased to 38 times more patients, with 34 times more oocytes stored.
"We are seeing quite a significant increase in patients and, obviously, an increase in the number of eggs. And, as it stands at the moment, of those people that have stored eggs, 80 per cent actually remain in storage," Anthony notes.
The surge in demand reflects broader industry trends. Research shows that egg-freezing cycles in Australia and New Zealand rose by more than 1,500 per cent between 2011 and 2021. However, the number of eggs being placed in storage is rapidly outpacing the number being removed, creating long-term storage challenges.
Anthony addresses the complexities of extending storage time limits, particularly if Australia were to follow the UK's example of allowing storage for up to 55 years. "I think having a blanket rule of 55 does mean that clinics are going to be in a situation where there's going to be this excess numbers of eggs, sperm, and embryos in storage," he explains.
The article notes that Genea is considering expansion to meet future storage demands. Currently, most of their liquid nitrogen tanks are located next to their Sydney laboratories, but as these fill up, storage may need to be relocated to other sites. The challenges include not just physical space, with some tanks measuring three metres wide by three metres tall—but also proper ventilation and safety considerations.
Dr Anthony Marren
Dr Anthony Marren understands the emotional journey couples endure when they have difficulty conceiving or experience recurrent pregnancy loss. He appreciates the importance of dedicating sufficient time during consultations to listen to his patients’ concerns and provide support. Anthony strives to offer clear, helpful information in order to empower couples to make informed decisions regarding fertility treatment.
