MBBS FRANZCOG MREPROMED BBIOMEDSC
Hello. I’m Amber, a gynaecologist, fertility specialist and obstetrician based in Melbourne. I consult privately from rooms in East Melbourne and Heidelberg. I am also affiliated with The Mercy Hospital for Women, The Women’s Hospital and Newlife IVF.
My practice is dedicated to my key fields of interest: fertility and women’s health. As a woman and a mother of two, I know how important it is to feel in control of your reproductive health. Fertility and gynaecological issues can take a huge toll on our physical and mental wellbeing, particularly when they are not addressed in a timely manner. I firmly believe that women should prioritise their reproductive health to ensure prompt relief from troublesome symptoms and to minimise any impact on their future fertility.
As a patient of mine, you can expect a highly personalised care plan that you understand, feel comfortable with, and can confidently manage alongside all of life’s other demands. I take great pride in actively listening to my patients and taking the time to understand what ‘better’ means to you, as we go about the process of diagnosing and treating the cause of your symptoms or helping you fall pregnant.
I completed the majority of my specialist training at The Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg, including a fellowship in Reproductive Biology. I was also an Honorary Reproductive Services fellow at The Royal Women’s Hospital for two years, before taking up my current public appointments at The Mercy Hospital for Women and The Royal Women’s Hospital.
I see patients publicly via clinics at these hospitals and consult privately from rooms in East Melbourne. I am also part of Newlife IVF, one of only a few independent IVF providers in Victoria. Through this affiliation, I can offer comprehensive fertility care to individuals and couples needing help to conceive.
My special areas of interest include subfertility and reproductive endocrinology (including conditions like PCOS and endometrial hyperplasia that involve some kind of hormonal upset). I’m also currently undertaking a PhD exploring the long-term outcomes of IVF, an area I am particularly interested in given my role in facilitating IVF pregnancies.
Please feel free to explore my website so you can learn more about me, the types of services I provide, and the style of care I offer. Then please do come and say hello because it would be my absolute pleasure to meet you.
I look forward to helping you,
Dr Amber Kennedy
As a gynaecologist, fertility specialist and obstetrician, I can provide specialist care across a woman’s lifetime. This means I can help you optimise your reproductive health at every stage of life – from problem periods to assisted conception and beyond. I’ll be here to guide and support you as your body changes and matures, and should you choose to start a family, I can also be here to help you navigate your way through a little miracle or two or three …
As a gynaecologist, I encourage women who are struggling with gynaecological symptoms to seek help sooner rather than later – before symptoms impact day-to-day life and/or relationships.
Pelvic pain, problem periods, excessive bleeding, fatigue, bloating, painful sex: these are the symptoms that can indicate a problem that is gynaecological in origin. Not only are these symptoms annoying and embarrassing but they can also be a considerable source of anxiety. You may find yourself worrying about the possibility of infertility or cancer. You may be concerned about the impact your symptoms are having on your ability to work and keep up with other commitments. Or you may be anxious about opening up to your partner about the symptoms you are experiencing and how it is affecting your relationship.
Women can sometimes suffer in silence for a long time before seeking help. They may also downgrade the significance of symptoms like painful periods, heavy menstrual bleeding and feeling ‘hormonal’ because they assume their experience is the norm or something they just have to put up with. But ‘women’s problems’ deserve to be investigated and treated just like any other health problem. That’s why it’s so important to me that my patients feel comfortable opening up to me about the true nature and extent of their symptoms – while also being reassured that we will find a way forward together.
From menstrual disorders and menopausal complaints to more complex conditions like endometriosis and PCOS, my goal is to identify and treat the cause of your symptoms so you can get on with life without the extra hassle and irritation a gynaecological issue can cause. After a thorough assessment and discussion of the options available to you, we will agree and put in place a treatment plan that relieves your symptoms while treating the underlying problem.
My care may involve the use of procedures like laparoscopy (keyhole surgery to examine and/or operate on the pelvis/abdomen), as well as medication or supplements, depending on the specific diagnosis and any complications (such as iron deficiency anaemia).
As your gynaecologist, I can also advise on birth control options and coordinate routine screening and tests, like cervical screening (previously the Pap test) and screening for sexually transmitted diseases (such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia). I can also help you with family planning, including pre-conception carrier screening for hereditary rare diseases.
Trying for a baby is one of those life stages we often anticipate without ever expecting we’ll run into problems. If you are finding it difficult to fall pregnant or you are a single woman or same-sex couple who needs assistance to conceive, I can help.
I am passionate about supporting you on your journey to parenthood. As a fertility specialist, I can identify if there are one or more reasons you and your partner are experiencing fertility issues and help you navigate the available treatment options. Fertility testing is a great place to start. It involves an assessment of both partners and typically includes the use of imaging studies (e.g. ultrasound), blood tests (e.g. to check hormone levels) and semen analysis (to assess sperm quality and number), as well as a comprehensive physical exam and medical history.
Through my association with Newlife IVF, I am able to offer a comprehensive range of fertility treatments, including:
Being pregnant is an incredibly special time in a woman’s life, as well as an amazing physiological feat! Obstetrics was my first real love in medicine, and I consider myself very fortunate and privileged to be part of such a profound and proud event in a family’s life.
I have a young family of my own at home and a commitment to complete my PhD (currently in its final year). For the time being, I will only be taking a small number of bookings for new obstetric patients, with priority given to my existing fertility patients. I perform private deliveries at Epworth Freemasons in East Melbourne and The Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg. I also practise public obstetrics at The Mercy Hospital for Women and provide occasional private obstetrics cover for my colleagues in East Melbourne.
I currently see patients publicly via clinics at The Mercy Hospital for Women and The Women’s Hospital. I also consult privately from rooms in East Melbourne and Heidelberg. Fertility treatment and related procedures are provided at Newlife IVF’s state-of-the-art treatment centres in Box Hill, Clayton and East Melbourne.
Suite 106, 320 Victoria Pde
East Melbourne VIC 3002
H: Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm
T: 03 9418 8445
F: 03 9418 8399
Suite 3, Ground Floor
116-118 Thames Street
Box Hill North VIC 3129
H: Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm
T: 03 8080 8933
F: 03 8080 8930
Level 6, Private consulting suites
163 Studley Road
Heidelberg VIC 3084
H: Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm
T: 03 9418 8445
F: 03 9418 8399
I’m very proud to say that I am part of the Newlife IVF team. Newlife IVF is one of only a few independent providers of specialist fertility care and IVF in Victoria. Fully owned and operated by doctors (not shareholders), clinical empathy lies at the heart of our practice – we put patients first, not profits. Along with our collective experience and expertise, patients can expect an exceptional level of personalised care, tailored to their specific circumstances, preferences and lifestyle.
I consider it a real privilege to work alongside and learn from a team of this calibre. With our firm commitment to best scientific practice, patients can feel confident that our all-new, state-of-the-art laboratory incorporates the very latest scientific tools and techniques, including the EmbryoScope time-lapse system, DNA fragmentation testing and non-invasive chromosomal screening. From these world-class facilities, we are able to offer services spanning the entire spectrum of fertility care, from fertility testing through to assisted reproductive techniques like IVF.
Learn more about Newlife IVF.
There is one rule in my practice and that is to never be afraid to ask a question! In keeping with this ethos, here are the answers to a few of the most commonly asked questions. If your query hasn’t made it on to this list, please don’t hesitate to contact my rooms on (03) 9418 8445.
Yes. All new patients require a referral from either a GP (dated within the last 12 months) or a specialist (dated within the last 3 months). A current referral is required for you to be eligible to receive any applicable Medicare rebates. Please send through your referral letter and any results you may have from your GP at the time of booking. You can do this via fax (03) 9418 8399 or email.
To make an appointment, please call my rooms during business hours on (03) 9418 8445 or . If you have a question or would like more information prior to booking, please fill out the enquiry form at the bottom of this page. We aim to reply to all enquiries within 24 hours.
Please bring the following with you to your first appointment:
If you are under the age of 35, I advise seeking help if you have not achieved a pregnancy within 12 months. If you are over 35, you should seek help earlier, after just 6 months of trying, as fertility does decline with age – for the best chance of success, it’s prudent to start investigating what may be going wrong sooner rather than later.
However, if you have a specific reason to be concerned about you or your partner’s fertility, or you simply want to understand what steps you can take to improve your fertility before you start trying for a baby, you are welcome to book a fertility check-up at any time, as part of the normal family planning process.
Through my association with Newlife IVF, I am able to offer the complete range of fertility treatments, from fertility testing right through to IVF. This includes specialised IVF (plus ICSI or IMSI), genetic and chromosomal testing of embryos prior to implantation for high-risk patients, as well as donor- or surrogacy-assisted conception for single women and same-sex couples. For a full list of services, please visit Newlife IVF.
Located in the heart of Box Hill’s medical precinct, Newlife IVF offers comprehensive fertility care for individuals and couples needing help to conceive. As one of only a few independent specialist fertility centres in Victoria, the Newlife IVF team prides itself on offering patients a more personalised, caring and supportive experience than that of corporate-owned clinics.
Newlife IVF offers a wide range of fertility services from its brand-new, purpose-built fertility centre in Box Hill where patients can undergo all their investigations and treatment in the one place. Co-located services include a fully accredited, state-of-the-art laboratory, day surgery (operated by Epworth Eastern), specialist nursing and counselling services, medication dispensing, ultrasound, pathology, and an andrology lab for semen analysis. Some of these services are also available at Newlife’s satellite sites in Clayton and East Melbourne.
For the latest information on the Covid-19 pandemic and fertility treatment, please see the updates provided on the Newlife IVF blog.
Gynaecologists are doctors who have completed additional training in women’s health and the female reproductive system. I commonly see women for one or more of the following reasons:
While it would be ideal to schedule your appointment for a time when you don’t expect to have your period, I understand that this isn’t always possible! Please do not feel like you need to cancel your appointment, as in most cases, menstrual bleeding will not affect my ability to perform an exam (if one is required). However, if you have an upcoming procedure with me, it’s best to call my rooms for advice specific to that procedure.
There are many reasons why you may notice a change in the frequency of your period. Pregnancy is the most common cause of a missed period in sexually active women. If you think you could be pregnant, an at-home pregnancy test is a good first step.
Other common causes of irregular periods include declining hormone levels during perimenopause and menopause. If you’re in your 30s or 40s and your periods have become less reliable in their timing, you may be perimenopausal. If it has been more than 12 months since you had your last period and you are in your late 40s to early 50s, it is likely that you are in menopause.
Other causes of missed or irregular periods include excessive weight gain or loss, emotional stress, drug use (including contraceptives) and hormone imbalances.
If you’re experiencing some kind of irregularity in your periods and are concerned, please book an appointment so I can provide advice specific to your circumstances.
Of course. Any personal or medical information collected will be handled in the strictest of confidence, in accordance with Australia’s national privacy laws. In some circumstances, I may be required (by law) to share your information to third parties, including your general practitioner, Medicare, hospitals, police or courts of law.
No. Private health insurance, by legislation, is unable to contribute towards any outpatient treatment where Medicare pays a benefit. Unfortunately, this means you won’t be able to claim a rebate from your insurer for any specialist consultation fees, ultrasounds or pathology tests. However, if you need to undergo a procedure as an inpatient in a hospital or day surgery, you may be eligible for private health insurance rebates. You should contact your health insurer for further information based on your level of cover.
Consultation fees are payable on the day of your appointment. I accept cash, EFTPOS or credit card.
I like to think that I care for my patients with real compassion, kindness and warmth. I am genuinely interested in hearing my patients’ experiences and understanding how I can make a tangible difference in their life. Each time I open my door to a new patient, I aim to make them feel comfortable – but perhaps most importantly, heard. To me, you’re more than just a number. You’re an individual with a unique story to tell who deserves the very best of care. So if you’re a woman or couple in need of specialist expertise, I’m here to help and to offer the guiding hand you need.
Sometimes it can be hard to separate fact from fiction when you search for information online. For credible information and useful resources, I refer you to the following organisations who I consider to be highly reputable sources on the topics of fertility and women’s health.
Please come and tell me your story. I would love to help you on your journey for answers, as you strive to improve your reproductive health or start a family of your own.
H: Mon–Fri: 9am to 5pm
T: (03) 9418 8445