What’s Betabase.info and is it reliable?
There’s been a lot of discussion about Betabase.info. For those unfamiliar, it’s an online database that has collected close to 90,000 real pregnancies’ beta test results. Beta tests measure the level...
View ArticleHow long do I have to take dexamethasone for, and what is 17-OHP?
“Part of my current fertility treatment includes dexamethasone, due to high levels of 17-OHP. The dexamethasone has lowered this level, but I was still told to keep taking it. Why? And what role does...
View ArticleNew data on non-donor egg freezing success rates!
Egg freezing is a relatively new procedure where a woman’s eggs are collected, frozen, and stored with the intention of later use. Women who are not yet ready to start a family may choose to freeze...
View ArticleWhat’s more effective: IUI or FSP?
“My husband and I have unexplained secondary infertility and are about to start our first IUI. I was reading about the success rates of FSP (fallopian sperm perfusion) for unexplained infertility and...
View ArticleSmoking, illicit drugs, alcohol and fertility
Such a difficult topic, of course, because the very clear-cut, medically/legally safe answer is entirely straightforward: never drink, smoke or use illicit drugs. As physicians, it’s our duty to inform...
View ArticleWhat can I do about pain during procedures?
“I am scheduled for an Echovist HyCoSy test as part of my fertility diagnostic process. I have serious concerns about the pain I will experience during the procedure given the scar tissue on my cervix...
View ArticleWe’re considering using an anonymous sperm donor. How does it work in Canada?
Health Canada has guidelines in place to allow women to have safe access to donor sperm. However, there are some logistical challenges limiting choice. There is only one Canadian sperm bank: ReproMed,...
View ArticleWhat are the guidelines for known sperm donation?
Health Canada does not support known-donor, fresh-sperm insemination. The rationale is to protect the health of women involved. Guidelines are clear that couples must be having sexual intercourse...
View ArticleWhat is DNA Fragmentation?
The DNA Fragmentation is one of several elements of semen quality used to assess the male fertility potential. Sperm’s ability to fertilize an egg is dependant on healthy DNA. But some sperm are...
View Article3 situations where you’ll want to consider IVF
Nobody wants to do IVF. Whenever a couple or individual arrives at a fertility clinic, the strong goal is to work as naturally as possible to maximize the chances for pregnancy. My suspicion is that...
View ArticleHypothyroidism and Fertility
The thyroid is a gland that sits in your lower throat and secretes a hormone called thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism is a condition that results when the gland does not produce enough of this hormone....
View ArticleMy TSH is low. Should I be worried? What should I do?
We received this excellent question from a woman whose email address seemed to have a typo in it, so we were unable to respond directly to her — we hope she’s reading this! The most common reason for a...
View ArticleIt’s September 2015, what’s the status of OHIP-covered IVF in Ontario?
17 months ago, the Ontario provincial government promised to extend OHIP coverage to cover one round of IVF for eligible patients. This change was expected to occur in 2015. However, many questions...
View ArticlePanel advises excluding women over 42, severely obese women, from...
OHIP-covered IVF was expected to roll out in Ontario months ago. To meet the province’s expectation of launching in 2015, things are going to have to develop quickly. And we’re already seeing that...
View ArticleImportant announcement: OHIP-covered IVF cycle to launch December 2015
The Ontario government has finally announced its plans for OHIP-funded IVF. In summary, starting in December 2015, the government will fund one cycle of IVF for women under 43 years of age. The...
View ArticleReceive email alerts about OHIP-covered IVF in Ontario
Because we’re a national blog, we don’t want to overwhelm patients outside Ontario with frequent updates about OHIP. So we’re going to slow down on the Ontario IVF news, but we encourage Ontarians...
View ArticleI’m trying to conceive or already pregnant. Should I get the H1N1 flu vaccine?
Yes, you should — in fact, receiving the vaccine is even more important for you. It’s our recommendation, and the Canadian National Advisory on Immunization, Motherisk, Mount Sinai hospital, World...
View ArticleAlberta health document supports publicly funded IVF
I’m a strong proponent of funded healthcare for infertility. Under Dr. Ellen Greenblatt’s direction, and with the support of the provincial government of Ontario, we will soon have access to public...
View ArticleDo I need to worry about Zika?
Concern about Zika — the fast-spreading West Nile-like mosquito virus linked to possible birth defects / microcephaly in the babies of some pregnant women who contract it — has been dominating the news...
View ArticleWhen is the optimal age (medically and financially) to freeze my eggs?
Many women are curious about freezing their eggs — preserving their fertility because they aren’t ready or able to start a family, but want to keep the option open for the future. This Chatelaine...
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