This content is part of a paid partnership with Concept Fertility
Concept Fertility recently launched a new enhanced outpatient gynaecology service and welcomed Medical Director Dr Sebastian Leathersich.
Concept Fertility takes pride in its leading team of fertility specialists, gynaecologists, scientists and nurses, as well as its state-of-the-art laboratories and day hospital.
Delivering the latest advances in fertility technology and women’s health, Concept’s priority is to ensure patients receive the highest-level of quality care, whatever their treatment journey entails.
A new era
Since the start of this year Concept has seen exciting changes, with the appointment of a new Medical Director, Dr Sebastian Leathersich, and the addition of new services including Office Gynaecology with Dr Babak Shakeri.
Leading this new era, Dr Leathersich brings a fresh perspective to Concept having recently returned from two years working in Spain. He is highly regarded for his clinical and academic experience, both locally and internationally, and his Certification in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (CREI) is the highest level of fertility training available in Australia, held by only two other practising specialists in WA.
“My local and international experience and my advanced training in reproductive medicine give me the background and perspective to further build and develop Concept moving forward, providing comprehensive, compassionate and exceptional care to couples and individuals seeking fertility care,” Dr Leathersich said.
“We have a brilliant team at Concept, who are deeply committed to providing the highest standard of care and achieving the best possible outcomes for patients. From one of Australia’s top scientists, Scientific Director Dr Melanie Walls, PhD, to our team of highly experienced nurses, Concept is backed by some of the greatest talents in the field.”
Dr Leathersich is also experienced in fertility preservation and oncofertility, a vital service ensuring any person who is facing cancer treatment that might impact their fertility can receive counselling and be offered fertility preservation, when appropriate.
Dr Leathersich will see urgent fertility preservation cases within one to two business days, giving patients time to consider their options and proceed with treatment as quickly as possible.
He also specialises in male infertility and can provide advanced treatments and procedures to retrieve sperm, from medical management to surgical sperm retrieval, including microsurgical sperm extraction (microTESE). These treatments are only offered by a handful of specialists in Perth.
Office Gynaecology with Dr Shakeri
Gynaecologist Dr Babak Shakeri joined the clinic earlier this year and recently introduced Office Gynaecology as a new service.
Providing convenient treatment where women can be seen, assessed and treated quickly (often in a single visit or within one to two weeks), this service reduces the anxiety of long wait times and allows patients to get back to normal life, fast.
With experience in both public and private hospitals, Dr Shakeri has worked in complex surgical and routine gynaecology and has seen firsthand how valuable office-based care can be for patients.
“I started my career in obstetrics and gynaecology in Sydney, including training in advanced laparoscopic and minimally invasive gynaecology. Since 2019, I have been a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist
at Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals. I also attend office gynaecology clinics at Fremantle Hospital,” Dr Shakeri said.
“In the public system I regularly see women in distress, waiting for care that could be provided quickly in the right setting. Working in these clinics has shown me how much patients value choice and efficiency. People want procedures done quickly and safely, with minimal disruption to their lives.
“At Concept, our aim is to meet this need by offering outpatient procedures within one to two weeks. By shifting suitable cases into the office setting, we not only help patients sooner but also reduce the strain on hospital operating theatres and inpatient beds,” says Dr Shakeri.
Office gynaecology, sometimes called ambulatory or procedural gynaecology, refers to procedures that are performed in a clinic instead of a hospital.
For complex and high-risk cases, inpatient surgery is essential, however many other lower risk common procedures are considered safe and effective in an outpatient setting. Evidence also shows that outcomes are comparable, and, in many cases, patient satisfaction is higher.
“My patients benefit from a quick diagnosis and treatment, for example, a woman with heavy bleeding can have a consultation, a hysteroscopy, and even a treatment such as polyp removal or ablation within one to two weeks. Similarly, a woman with an abnormal
cervical screening test can have a colposcopy and if required LLETZ within the same timeframe.”
Pain management is critical to making outpatient gynaecology successful. Depending on the patient and the procedure, there are a range of options used for
pain management, this includes oral analgesics and anxiolytics, local anaesthetic gel and targeted local anaesthetic injections, methoxyflurane commonly known as the “green whistle” and for selected cases – light or deeper sedation.
With Dr Shakeri, Concept now offers a complete suite of outpatient gynaecology services where everything is coordinated by a single team, offering patients seamless continuity of care.
To learn more about the service Concept Fertility provide, visit the clinic’s website here.
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