As more Canadians seek IVF treatment, advocates warn about infertility ‘crisis’

Cassie and Brady Staigh had been trying to have a baby for about three years when they finally decided to seek help. The Regina couple were referred to a special clinic in Saskatoon and were told that in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment was their only option apart from trying on their own.

Read more: Paying to treat infertility — Coverage varies widely across Canada After being put on a wait-list in 2018, the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the treatment as fertility clinics across the country were shut down.

It took multiple trips to Saskatoon from Regina for testing, ultrasounds and injections before the couple got pregnant. They welcomed their first child in June 2021. “It’s definitely stressful just because there is like a lot of … unknown,” said Cassie, 28.

Besides the physical and emotional stress, the process also took a big financial toll on the Staighs, as they ended up spending upwards of $15,000. “We got lucky with ours for the first time,” said Cassie. “If we had to do it again, I feel like again, it’s … a stressful financial burden.” Coverage for IVF treatment — where eggs are removed from a woman’s body and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory before being implanted back into the womb  — varies across Canada, with seven provinces offering some form of financial assistance.