Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health was founded based on what did not exist in Canada: unparalleled care quality, the highest pregnancy rates and the most technologically advanced fertility lab possible.

What is important for you to know as a patient deciding what fertility centre to work with:

The quality of a clinic’s IVF lab plays a significant role in determining your fertility treatment outcome. Not all labs are created equal, but our patients can rest assured that their clinic is home to a world-class embryology lab.

5 reasons why Anova Fertility is home to Canada’s leading embryology lab:

1. Special Cleanroom Technology
   

   In any embryology lab, optimal air quality benefits fertilization and embryo development¹. In our lab, we use cleanroom technology to ensure clean and sterile airflow 24/7.

2. Optimized Lab Design
   

   An airtight, double door window for the transfer of frozen specimens from our secure storage room to the embryology laboratory, ensuring your embryo(s) remain in a sterile, secure environment and air quality is never compromised.

3. Time-Lapse Embryo Incubation
   

   Our time-lapse incubators feature a multi-room chamber with built-in microscopes and cameras, allowing our embryologists to check on your growing embryos frequently without removing them from the safety of the chamber. This allows us to capture every moment of embryo development and provides essential information about each embryo. 

4. On-Site Storage for Eggs, Embryos, and Sperm
   

   Our patients’ eggs, sperm and embryos are frozen in a process called vitrification, and then stored on-site in secure, 24 hour a day monitored and generator-backed tanks for optimal safety of your eggs, embryos and sperm.

5. Modern ICSI System
   

   In the embryology lab, time and temperature are critical for success; our ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) stations have precise temperature controls that allow us to improve fertilization. Our warmed and temperature censored surfaces keep the eggs, embryos, and sperm at desired temperatures to simulate their natural environment.

At Anova Fertility, we are committed to making ongoing investments in our IVF lab to ensure we are bringing you the very best that reproductive science has to offer, resulting in the highest chance at success on your journey. As a patient, you will be cared for by our leading team of fertility specialists and benefit from the results of our top-tier IVF laboratory. To get started on your journey, book a consultation today.

Many LGBTQ2IA+ individuals choose to incorporate surrogacy into their fertility plan. Below, we provide an overview of the procedure, discuss some unique benefits that this process may bring, and highlight how to overcome family planning emotional challenges.

LGBTQ2IA+ family building doesn’t come with the ‘blueprints’ that many heterosexual couples have when planning their journey. It can feel overwhelming to navigate the field of infertility when a significant amount of the available information is directed at an idea of family-building that doesn’t align with your goals. However, this idea of starting from scratch and designing your fertility journey can also be a time of great excitement and possibility.

The exponential growth of assisted reproductive technology (ART) means that many families now have a wide array of family-building options. As the fertility field continues to grow, we encounter new emotional challenges. It is important to remember that these emotions are valid – building a family is no easy task – and the feelings you are experiencing may be more common than you think.

Benefits and Emotional Considerations when using a Gestational Carrier or Traditional Surrogate

A common concern of individuals using a gestational surrogate to carry their baby involves trust. For example, can I trust the surrogate to live a healthy lifestyle? Can I trust them not to become emotionally attached to my baby? Understandably, some intended parents worry about this aspect of surrogacy, as having a gestational carrier requires you to trust another person (often a stranger) with something so important to you. This is not easy to do, especially for individuals who have spent countless hours trying to build their families. However, many intended parents grow to have positive, trusting relationships with their surrogate.

Building this trusting relationship with your surrogate has a lot to do with good communicate and boundaries. A good balance for intended parents to establish in their parent-surrogate relationship is to be involved in the pregnancy without becoming controlling. This can be challenging at times, so it is essential to weigh these emotional considerations before pursuing this route for family-building.

Many of our patients grow their families through surrogacy, so we understand the emotions associated with this route. It is normal for individuals considering a traditional surrogate or gestational carrier to have questions about the process and even some uncertainties about if it is right for them. In your first appointment at the clinic, we can help answer any questions, ensure you understand your fertility plan’s implications and work with you to determine if this process would be a good fit for your goals.

For readers who are interested in learning more about this family-building option, be sure to follow this link where Anova’s Medical Director, Dr. Marjorie Dixon, explains the process of surrogacy in Canada.

Family Building: The Anova Way

At Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health, one of our core values is creating an inclusive environment for individuals to build their families. Our role is to facilitate a smooth experience for patients of all genders and sexual orientations.

It is essential to choose a fertility team experienced in LGBTQ2IA+ family building. One that is well-versed in the many ways to grow a family, allows flexibility in planning your fertility journey, and understands the emotional aspects of building a family.

To learn more about family planning options, be sure to register to attend Dr. Dixon’s webinar on June 28th at 7:00 PM ET.

Many LGBTQ2IA+ individuals choose to incorporate an egg donor or sperm donor into their fertility plan. Below, we provide an overview of the procedure, discuss some unique benefits that this process may bring, and highlight how to overcome family planning emotional challenges.

LGBTQ2IA+ family building doesn’t come with the ‘blueprints’ that many heterosexual couples have when planning their journey.

It can feel overwhelming to navigate the field of fertility care when a large amount of information is directed at an idea of family-building that doesn’t align with your goals. However, this idea of starting from scratch and designing your fertility journey can also be a time of great possibility.

The growth of assisted reproductive technology (ART) means that many families now have a variety of family-building options. As the fertility field continues to grow, we encounter new emotional challenges. It is important to remember that these emotions are valid and the feelings you are experiencing may be more common than you think.

Family Building: The Anova Way

At Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health, one of our core values is creating an inclusive environment for individuals to build their families. Our role is to facilitate a smooth experience for patients of all genders and sexual orientations.

It is essential to choose a fertility team experienced in LGBTQ2IA+ family building. One that is well-versed in the many ways to grow a family, allows flexibility in planning your fertility journey, and understands the emotional aspects of building a family.

To learn more about family planning options, be sure to register to attend Dr. Dixon’s webinar on June 28th at 7:00 PM ET.

Many LGBTQ2IA+ individuals choose to incorporate reciprocal IVF into their fertility plan. Below, we provide an overview of the procedure, discuss some unique benefits that this process may bring, and highlight how to overcome family planning emotional challenges.

LGBTQ2IA+ family building doesn’t come with the ‘blueprints’ that many heterosexual couples have when planning their journey.

It can feel overwhelming to navigate the field of fertility care when a large amount of information is directed at an idea of family-building that doesn’t align with your goals. However, this idea of starting from scratch and designing your fertility journey can also be a time of great possibility.

The growth of assisted reproductive technology (ART) means that many families now have a variety of family-building options. As the fertility field continues to grow, we encounter new emotional challenges. It is important to remember that these emotions are valid and the feelings you are experiencing may be more common than you think.

Benefits of Reciprocal IVF and Overcoming Emotional Challenges

Reciprocal IVF allows lesbian or trans-men couples to both participate in creating their child. In this process, a variation of standard IVF, Partner A’s eggs are retrieved and fertilized using donor sperm.

The embryos that are created are then placed inside the uterus of Partner B to carry the pregnancy. Reciprocal IVF allows both parents to feel connected to their child, as one partner is their genetic parent, and the other is their birth parent.

However, it can be challenging for some couples to decide who will take on each role. Sometimes, both partners feel they must grieve the loss of the role they did not get to play in their child’s creation.

Some factors may help influence the decision, for example:

• • Medical conditions: One partner may be unable to carry a pregnancy due to medical conditions or uterine abnormalities
  • Age: younger eggs are typically more likely to result in a pregnancy. If one partner is over 35, age may be an important consideration when deciding who will provide the egg.

At Anova, we understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to family building with reciprocal IVF.

At your first appointment with us, we aim to help make this decision easier by facilitating discussions about each partner’s values and desires surrounding their baby. For example, one partner might place more importance on experiencing pregnancy while the second desires a genetic connection to their baby.

Deciding which partner will fulfill each role is an exciting, unique part of Reciprocal IVF, and our goal is to help make this decision process as smooth as possible.

Family Building: The Anova Way

At Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health, one of our core values is creating an inclusive environment for individuals to build their families. Our role is to facilitate a smooth experience for patients of all genders and sexual orientations.

It is essential to choose a fertility team experienced in LGBTQ2IA+ family building. One that is well-versed in the many ways to grow a family, allows flexibility in planning your fertility journey, and understands the emotional aspects of building a family.

To learn more about family planning options register to attend Dr. Dixon’s webinar on June 28th at 7:00 PM ET.

As this year’s Infertility Awareness Week came to a close, Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health’s CEO Dr. Marjorie Dixon partnered with Alex Johnston, author of Inconceivable in an very personal and candid opinion piece to the Editors of the Globe and Mail to stress the importance of the need for increased education and access in fertility care.

Both women agree on the most life-defining decision each of them ever had the privilege to make: to become a parent; however,  the path to parenthood was not a straight line for either of them, and both needed help to have their families. Learn what their respective journeys taught them and how they are using their experiences to push for much-needed change in fertility care in Canada: Link to full article.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) are two common fertility treatment options. For new patients, choosing whether to pursue IUI or IVF can be a difficult decision. In this article, we will give a complete breakdown of the two procedures and discuss associated medications, costs, and success rates.

What is intrauterine insemination (IUI)?

IUI, sometimes called artificial insemination, is a non-surgical outpatient procedure where a fertility doctor or nurse inserts sperm directly into the uterus. Your IUI timing is key, as it should be performed around the time your ovary is releasing an egg for fertilization. This procedure increases your chance of pregnancy by reducing the distance sperm must travel to reach the egg.

What is a cycle like?

Like other fertility treatments, your care team will begin tracking your cycle at the beginning of your period. Patients opting for a medicated IUI cycle will start taking hormone medication, such as Clomid or letrozole, which stimulates the ovaries to produce more eggs. This increases the chance that one will successfully fertilize. However, some choose to go without medication in an unmedicated cycle.

IUI treatments are performed around your regular cycle. When you are about to ovulate, it is time to perform your IUI procedure. Sperm can live in the reproductive tract for up to five days, and this timing ensures that sperm are ready to fertilize the released egg.

First, the sperm must be collected for the procedure, either from a donor or a partner. The sample is first “washed” to separate the individual sperm from the rest of the seminal fluid. Next, a catheter is placed through the cervix into the uterus. The sperm is then injected into the uterus through the catheter.

When is IUI recommended?

Usually, an IUI is recommended for couples under 35 who have had trouble conceiving naturally or are pursuing fertility treatment for non-medical reasons, such as a same-sex couple using donor sperm.

What is in-vitro fertilization (IVF)?

IVF is slightly more invasive than an IUI procedure. Here, an individual’s eggs are removed from the ovaries and fertilized in the laboratory before being transferred back into the uterus.

What is a cycle like?

Like IUI, an IVF treatment cycle begins at the start of your period. To maximize the number of eggs to be fertilized, most patients are given hormone medication that stimulates the body to grow multiple eggs. When the eggs have grown to an appropriate size, your doctor will retrieve them in the clinic. These eggs will be fertilized in the embryology lab and placed in an incubator to develop to the blastocyst stage, about 5 or 6 days after fertilization.

Adding Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

 ICSI is a common form of IVF where instead of placing the sperm in the dish with the egg and allowing fertilization to occur on its own (like in conventional IVF), one single sperm is injected directly into the egg for fertilization.

Adding PGT-A

Another benefit of IVF is that it allows for genetic testing of the embryos before implantation to ensure that they are healthy. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) can check for chromosomal abnormalities and specific single-gene disorders like sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis.

When is IVF recommended?

 IVF bypasses many common obstacles to achieving pregnancy, especially male factor infertility and fallopian tube blockages. This procedure allows your doctor to bypass the fallopian tubes entirely, which means that it is a great option for those with absent or blocked tubes. IVF is a powerful fertility treatment, with high success rates for many different types of infertility.

Cost of IUI vs IVF

In Ontario, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) compensates patients for some parts of their fertility care. Below we have highlighted the costs associated with each procedure:

Success Rates

Although IVF is more expensive than IUI per cycle, it may be a cheaper and more time-efficient option in the long run for certain patients due to significantly higher success rates. For IUI, studies show an average rate of clinical pregnancy between 5-15% per cycle for patients under 40 years of age¹.

For IVF patients under 35 undergoing IVF, clinical pregnancy rates are reported as:

• Roughly 36% per cycle in Canada²
• 50-60% after three cycles^3,4

For good IVF candidates, this procedure’s high success rates mean that someone might only need one IVF round to achieve pregnancy versus needing many IUI cycles. Many studies agree that after 3 unsuccessful IUI cycles, further IUIs are unlikely to result in a pregnancy. At this point, the “cost-per-live-birth” becomes very high for additional IUI procedures.

Do other factors influence success rates?

Exact success rates for either treatment option depend on both clinic and patient factors. A patient’s medical history, diagnosis, and age can all play a role in determining the chance of success with IVF or IUI. Additionally, success rates can differ between fertility clinics. One of the main factors influencing a clinic’s overall IVF performance is the quality of the embryology lab and the experience of the embryologists . If you are interested in learning more about factors to consider when choosing an IVF clinic, you can find more information here.

Which is right for me: IUI or IVF?

Each fertility treatment method comes with benefits and drawbacks. IUI is cheaper per cycle and less invasive but has lower success rates. IVF typically shows a faster time to pregnancy and can reduce the chance of miscarriage through genetic testing (PGT) but is significantly more expensive per cycle.

It is important to speak with your fertility specialist, as factors like age, fertility diagnosis and medical history might make you a better candidate for one treatment over another. Your doctor can further discuss each treatment option, working with you to develop a treatment plan unique to your family-building goals.

If you have questions about whether IUI or IVF is right for you, book a consultation today.

Infertility is a challenging and emotional journey, but it doesn’t have to be an isolating one. Infertility is becoming more prevalent, with as many as 1 in 6 Canadian couples experiencing trouble conceiving. Learning how to provide proper support to someone with infertility can make a world of a difference on their fertility journey.

When someone reveals that they are going through infertility, some worry about saying the wrong things. Others wonder about the right way to react: should they address the situation or change the subject to avoid making the individual feel uncomfortable?

Unfortunately, the answer isn’t so simple. We must consider the nature of our relationship with the person to know what kind of conversations they might want to participate in. Supporting a loved one experiencing infertility might look completely different from supporting a coworker.

Although specifics will differ depending on your relationship to the person, there are still general dos and don’ts to consider when someone in your life is going through infertility.

Here are some tips on how to support someone experiencing infertility.

1. Be there for them.

Infertility can be emotionally and physically draining, with lots of frustrating waiting periods. This is especially the case for individuals that are going through fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF). One of the best ways to support someone going through infertility is simply by being there for them and offering your time.

This can be through check-ins, especially on certain dates that might be more difficult for them. These might be days like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, holidays, or due dates that did not come. Make note of these days, and be sure to check in and give some extra support when they arrive.

If they are open to it, some may welcome being engaged in a fun, distracting activity. Sometimes infertility can feel as though it consumes your whole world, with many conversations, thoughts and web searches devoted to fertility-related topics. So, being involved in an activity that doesn’t focus on these topics might allow a well-deserved mental break.

2. Practice active listening.

One of the best ways to be supportive is through the power of silence – just listening! Sometimes, individuals just need a safe space and someone to listen as they work through their thoughts and emotions. Allowing the person to discuss their feelings on their own terms without offering unsolicited advice or solutions can help them feel heard and validated.

Here, remember the key ideas of active listening: try your best not to interrupt, impose opinions or plan out what to say next. Instead, stay focused and show the person you’re listening by using body language and giving nods of encouragement. Sometimes, it is helpful to ask open questions like “how did that make you feel?” or “what do you think is the right decision”?

3. Be inclusive.

Be sure to invite individuals facing infertility to social events like birthday parties, baby showers or holidays. It is true that certain events can be triggering to individuals experiencing infertility, so it is a good idea to be sensitive when discussing topics like gender or pregnancy announcements, baby-showers, or births. However, excluding individuals from these events altogether can make infertility feel even more isolating. Instead, when events such as the above come up, it is a good idea to first ask your friend about the event and explain that there is no pressure for them to attend.

4. Educate yourself

While it is impossible to fully understand the emotions that come with infertility unless you have personally experienced it, educating yourself on infertility can help give you a better idea of what they are going through. By reading stories from other people facing infertility and learning more about fertility treatment, you will be able to better empathize with the individual.

In the process of educating yourself, you might also dispel some of the myths you believe about infertility. For example, did you know that while many people think that stress can cause infertility, research has not yet shown a causal mechanism between stress and infertility? After learning about this, you may be less inclined to offer unsolicited advice like “just relax and it will happen.” Comments such as these are hurtful because they cast blame on the individual.

5. Show compassion and be mindful with your words

Like any other medical condition, infertility does not only affect one’s ability to conceive. It comes with other mental, physical, and financial hardships. Many individuals place blame on themselves for the condition when it is truly no one’s fault. It is good to be sensitive of inadvertently placing blame when discussing infertility with someone having trouble conceiving.

The following are some examples of good and bad statements:

The statements on the left place blame on the individual, make them feel invalidated, and minimize the struggle of infertility. Infertility is a complex medical issue, for which there are no quick-fix solutions. Someone struggling with infertility might come away from these statements feeling hurt and isolated. They will probably not return to this individual for support again.

The statements on the right focus on support instead of advice or suggestions. It is not easy to reveal to someone that you are facing infertility, so it is a good idea to start out by thanking the individual for sharing this with you. These responses validate the emotions and experiences of someone going through infertility. In contrast to the statements on the left, someone might come away from this conversation feeling supported and heard and will likely feel a renewed sense of trust with this individual.

Takeaway

The fact that you are reading an article about how to support your friend, family member or coworker is an incredible start and shows that you truly care about them. As you learn to support this person, remember to also be patient and kind to yourself. There may be times where, despite your best intentions, you accidentally say something hurtful. In situations like this, it is best to simply apologize and explain that you are still learning to try and find the right words to say. Remember that imperfect support is better than no support at all. A supportive friend who is willing to learn from their mistakes can make a world of a difference along someone’s fertility journey.

If you have other questions about infertility, book a consultation today.