A prisoner should still be able to receive in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments despite imprisonment in the same manner that other inmates in the same jail could still fall pregnant through conjugal visits, a court has heard.

Kimberley Castles from Victoria is fighting in the Supreme Court for access to IVF treatment that she started receiving before she was sent to jail in November 2009 for welfare fraud.

Debbie Mortimer SC, her lawyer, said that jails were built to punish people by depriving them of their liberty, not by depriving them of having children.

"Prisoners don't stop being human beings," Ms Mortimer said.

She reported that four babies had been born to Tarrengower Prison inmates since Castles was imprisoned six months ago.

According to her, the low security prison's policy on conjugal visits was similar to "rubbing salt in the wound, watching other women to have the opportunity to conceive when she cannot".

The 45-year-old Castles will no longer be allowed for treatment at Melbourne IVF when she reaches 46 in December.

The civil trial continues.

Castles' two-year-old daughter lives with her in prison.

Ms Mortimer said in the court that Victoria's Department of Justice had neglected its duty of care, and her client's human rights, by not permitting Castles to continue with her IVF treatment.

She said it was not about "blanket access" to all Victorian prisoners, but whether the department's actions in this case were acceptable.