Clear as mud? Fertility regulations in Canada

From time to time you may bump up against the some of the rules and regulations that govern our particular field. For example, you are probably asked to sign a “Section 8″ consent when you first walk through the door. This is a requirement of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.
Dr Elinor Wilson has worked in combination with [...]

Prions and fertility medications

In Canada, the main three injectable medications, in alphabetic order, are Gonal F, Menopur, and Puregon. In different countries, they will have different names (in the USA for example Puregon is called Follistim) but worldwide these are the three leading products.

Gonal F and Puregon are synthesized in the lab. Menopur, however, is a human urine-derived product. And therein lies its strength, and its potential weakness.

Pre conception folic acid

For years, we have been encouraging women to take folic acid, or folate, while they are trying to conceive and  through the first trimester of pregnancy.
 
Folic acid helps cells to divide and grow. In this way,the vitamin will help the spine fuse properly during embryo development. Since the widespread supplementation of  folic acid to our diet, [...]

Expert Panel in Ontario supports IVF funding

The Ontario government convened the Expert Panel on Infertility and Adoption to create funding guidelines for Ontarian seeking fertiilty treatments. We hope the recommendations will be implemented; the result would have implications for all Canadians

IVF: choosing the best embryo, and the best day for embryo transfer

The “perfect” embryo for transfer depends on the couple, their embryos, and the lab itself. This post describes embryo selection, grading, and the decisions that go into selecting embryos for transfer

Elective Single Embryo Transfer (eSET): is it right for you?

The fertility community would certainly like to see more singleton pregnancies…in contrast with the multiples that so often arise in our practices (or in the newspapers). The challenge is to balance this goal with our patients’ desires to maximize their chances for pregnancy

Donor Sperm in Canada

There are different issues that face women looking to donor sperm. I will address them here, from choosing your donor to improving your success rates.

Infertility Testing

When you first arrive at a fertility clinic, an initial set of tests will be offered. This post tells you what tests to expect

The best IVF protocol

The best IVF protocol is the one that works for you. The goal is to individualize your care against several standardized approaches….

Recent Articles in the press

Two articles in the local Toronto newspapers recently caught my attention. One associated morning sickness to the eventual IQ of your baby; another questioned the safety of folate, an integral part of every prenatal vitamin.