She is an internationally-trained obstetrician and gynaecologist, and began her specialisation into fertility and reproductive medicine in 1985. Dr Clark’s career in fertility medicine began when the field was still very new - her registrar training was undertaken at New Zealand’s first IVF unit in the National Women’s Hospital, and she graduated from medicine just one year after the world’s first IVF baby was born in 1978.
Dr Clark became the first female doctor in Australia to obtain the highly-regarded Certificate of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (CREI) in 1994. The CREI is the highest level of attainment for fertility specialists, awarded by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists after an additional three years of advanced subspecialist training.
In addition to her clinical work and caring for her fertility patients, Dr Clark is regularly invited to share her expertise both locally and internationally, speaking on issues such as fertility preservation, male factor infertility, PCOS, and the medical management of IVF cycles and challenging cases.
In 2015, Dr Clark was appointed by the Federal Minister of Health to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) embryo research licensing committee for her expertise in assisted reproductive technology.
Yes, chronic stress can impact fertility by disrupting hormonal balance and ovulation patterns. Managing stress through relaxation techniques, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and mindfulness practices may help optimise your chances of conception. Consider speaking with a counsellor if stress feels overwhelming.
Sperm health accounts for about 40% of conception challenges. Your partner can improve sperm health by maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding excessive heat exposure (hot tubs, saunas, tight clothing), limiting alcohol, quitting smoking, managing stress, and taking a multivitamin with antioxidants. Sperm takes about 3 months to develop, so lifestyle changes need time to show results.
Your fertile window typically spans 5-6 days, ending on ovulation day. For a regular 28-day cycle, this usually falls between days 10-15, with peak fertility 1-2 days before ovulation. Track your cycle using ovulation predictor kits, basal body temperature, or cervical mucus changes to identify your unique pattern. Having intercourse every 1-2 days during this window optimises your chances.
Dr Clark is one of the directors of the Fertility Society of Australia (FSA) and an executive on the IVF Directors Group, a subcommittee of the FSA.
Though Dr Clark is committed to caring for her patients even outside of regular business hours to maximise their chances of success with their fertility treatment, she is also passionate about design and loves spending time with her family.
