Frequently Asked Questions
Prospective Patients
If you need a referral, and do not have one please click here.
If you have a family physician, OB-GYN or other physician, request a referral by giving them this form.
For a second opinion, please click here for our complimentary appointment with a Patient Services Associate.
They will arrange transfer of records.
Once we receive your referral, a Patient Services Associate will contact you within two business days, to schedule an appointment for you. Proceeding that, you will see a physician within 4 weeks.
- Ensure that your patient intake forms are completed
For New Patient appointments:
- Ensure your Internet connection is strong and that you have a camera available on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, as this will be conducted virtually
- Sit in a private, quiet, and comfortable place for the meeting.
- If there is an issue with the call quality, the physician will call you via telephone. Note that their number will appear on your phone as an “unknown caller.”
Physician schedules can run behind due to evolving patient needs. Please remain patient and allocate some extra time for your appointment in the event it starts later than expected.
A medical administrator will book you an in-person appointment to have further evaluation and testing completed to support the fertility assessment.
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), or recurrent miscarriage, is the occurrence of two or more consecutive pregnancy losses. If this describes you, we will gladly support you through your investigations and treatment.
Our medical team carries out a series of investigations along with close surveillance pregnancy monitoring to ensure our patients feel supported during this sensitive time.
These investigations may include:
- Assessment of the woman’s uterine cavity (sonohysterogram)
- Chromosome/karyotype testing
- Thrombophilia testing
- Endometrial biopsy
- Hormone profile
- Product of conception testing
To become a patient, please have your Doctor fill out a referral form along with any supporting documentation, and send directly to us at https://anovafertility.com/i-am-a-referring-doctor/.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder common among women of reproductive age. It affects eight percent of women.
Though the signs, symptoms, and severity of PCOS vary, they may include:
- Failure to ovulate
- Absent, infrequent, or prolonged menstrual periods
- Weight gain
- Acne
- Excess male hormone (androgen) levels
- Excessive hair growth
- Numerous ovarian cysts
Unfortunately, over 50 percent of PCOS patients are not diagnosed or receive the treatment they need. They often receive a diagnosis only after they struggle to get pregnant. Raising awareness of PCOS and its treatment options help improve diagnosis rates, patient experiences, and outcomes.
At Anova, we have a dedicated PCOS endocrinology program, and our specialists can address your questions and concerns around fertility and PCOS.
We commonly hear from patients about the importance of having a support network outside of the clinic. We highly recommend that patients participate in individual or couples counselling, and we can recommend from our partnered specialists.
To ensure that every Anova patient gets the support they need, we also facilitate support groups moderated by a trained counsellor. These support groups occur in person and virtually, creating a safe environment for patients to communicate openly and honestly about their fertility experience.
*Counselling is a mandatory component for patients proceeding with third party reproduction.
Anova was the one of the original funded centres and remains one of the few fertility clinics in Ontario that receives government funding allocation. Our waitlist time currently ranges from 18 to 24 months. Please note that you must be under the care of an Anova physician to get on our waitlist. To learn more about Ontario Fertility Program eligibility, click here.
If you are an Ontario resident with a valid OHIP number and under the age of 43, then you may qualify for Ontario Fertility Program funding offered by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. This program has a limited yearly funding allocation, meaning that in a typical year, more patients request funding than receive it.
The wait time for each of our specialists varies, however you will have an appointment with a physician within four weeks from your original intake call. Meet our medical team here.
Absolutely. Your cryopreserved eggs, sperm, and embryos can move between clinics and requires the use of couriers familiar with the shipment of cryogenically stored products. We work closely with patients and other facilities to safely move products from one facility to the next. Please contact us for more details.
For a patient wanting to retrieve eggs, our age limit is 44 years, 12 months, equal to their 45th birthday. We cannot provide this service to patients after their 45th birthday. For a patient wanting to carry a pregnancy with donor eggs or embryos, the limit is up to the age of 50 years, 12 months. Some exceptions apply for siblings. Our ethics committee can vet special circumstances on a case by case basis.
At Anova, our BMI upper limit for our IVF program is 40. Our goal is to ensure every patient’s safety and to optimize their chances for success. Should a patient need support in reaching a BMI goal, we are happy to help with support with nutritional, exercise and weight loss programs and resources.
IVF includes the process of stimulating and retrieving multiple eggs from a patient’s uterus and fertilizing them with sperm to create embryos.
Existing Patients
The cost is CAD $13,999 (not including medication, the cost of which could range from CAD $5,000-$9,000+). View Pricing Details.
A sonohysterogram, commonly called a sono, is a procedure that examines the uterus and the uterine cavity. This procedure is performed using a transvaginal ultrasound probe and a saline solution that safely expands the uterus and endometrial cavity. The purpose of this test is to detect any structural abnormalities.
We typically book your sono procedure between days six and 10 of your menstrual cycle. Some patients may experience cramping during and after the procedure. We recommend patients take ibuprofen beforehand. For more information about a sono, you might find this link from the American Society of Reproductive Medicine useful.
This test measures the count, motility, and morphology of the sperm. The analysis must be performed on a fresh sperm sample, collected either at home or at the clinic, with very specific transportation instructions for samples collected at home. It is recommended to abstain from ejaculation for two to four days before your test.
To schedule a complimentary consultation about semen analysis:
This test, which is part of a standard fertility assessment, measures the level of Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in your blood. Knowing your AMH level helps us understand your ability to produce eggs that can be fertilized for pregnancy. Along with other tests, it will provide your physician with a clearer picture of your ovarian reserve, as well as how you may respond to certain fertility medications.
You will need to have a full bladder for your first visit, which can be booked between cycle days two and five of your menstrual cycle. During this first cycle monitoring appointment, the ultrasound technician will perform a pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound. Having a full bladder helps clearly show the appearance of the ovaries and uterus. We will ask you to drink one litre of water one hour before your appointment. The scan should take about 30 minutes. Cycle monitoring appointments at later days in your cycle will not require a full bladder.
