As Canadian Infertility Awareness Week begins, one Vancouver physician says a surprising number of women have never discussed the issue with their doctors.
Dr. Caitlin Dunne at Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine in Vancouver, says seven in 10 women report having never discussed infertility with a doctor — and she wants them to know it’s not their fault.
Infertility and miscarriages can bring about feelings of shame and stigma surrounding the patient with ovaries, Dunne says.
“When really, actually, 30 to 50 per cent of the time and fertility is a sperm problem,” she explained.
“This is something that we need both men and women in our society to be talking about and pressing much more openly so we can peel back that stigma and really get at the core ways that we can help.”
Dunne says fertility clinics are seeing patients choose to build families in unique ways, and there’s no “one-size-fits-all” treatment.
“As fertility doctors and health-care professionals, we certainly don’t jump to [in-vitro fertilization (IVF)] right away” she said.
“IVF is a very effective treatment… But there are other things before that. Some of which are very natural and don’t involve medications or treatments at all. So I think if you’re thinking of seeking fertility treatment, but in your mind you’re scared of that because you think it means IVF, and needles, and hormones, and drugs, I would just say, ‘don’t be intimidated.’”
The best place to start, Dunne says, is a conversation with your family doctor, gynecologist, or health-care provider.
She says she hopes the awareness week helps spark many conversations.
“Infertility is a disease and it’s worthy of treatment, and there’s no shame or stigma in that,” said Dunne, adding that there are several things people can do to support family members, friends, or advocate for support from employers or government.
“If they have to face this disease, they don’t have to do it so quietly or while feeling alone.”
In July last year, the B.C. government launched a publicly funded IVF program, providing one free round for those who are eligible.
The province’s annual budget, released in February, promised a renewed $34 million to provide access to IVF for “almost 1,800” British Columbians.
—With files from Sonia Aslam