Achi news desk-
A survey by Fertility Alberta shows that cost is a major barrier for many people struggling to start a family.
The advocacy and outreach group conducted a survey of nearly 650 Albertans in September 2023. It found that 74 percent of those surveyed had not proceeded with fertility treatments because of cost and 90 percent of those respondents said they would financial support from the provincial government has enabled them to do so. try
“We think it’s very important that our government says this is important to Albertans,” said Dr. Ariana Daniel with the Alberta Reproductive Centre. “We would very much like our government to step in and either offer IVF provision, tax exemptions… offer patients something to enable them to seek the care they need and have the child or children they want want it.”
“It’s heartbreaking,” Daniel added. “The situation is not something that people did. This is a medical issue.”
The province responded with an emailed statement when contacted by Global News, saying they will “continue to receive valuable feedback from Albertans” as they “continually review the treatments” covered under the Care Insurance Plan Alberta Health (AHCIP).
“The government of Alberta understands that fertility treatment can be expensive for Albertans who wish to start or expand their families and appreciates advocacy on behalf of families facing these circumstances.”
The Alberta Reproductive Center opened in Edmonton in 2023 in an effort to increase patient access to fertility care.
Daniel said her clients range from couples trying to conceive to members of the LGBTQ+ community and those seeking fertility preservation services to those undergoing cancer treatments.
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Daniel said infertility affects 17 percent of the population.
“That means everyone watching today knows someone who is struggling, whether they’re open about it or not,” he said.
One of those patients is Devonee Gilson. She and her husband have been trying to have children for more than seven years and have so far spent more than $100,000 on treatments.
“With us, along this journey we have had to save so much money,” he said. “We are the ones who don’t want to go fully into debt to have these treatments.”
Gilson has been capturing her journey with unexplained infertility on her Instagram page, @ivfgotyou in the hope of helping others going through something similar.
“Trying to conceive for us has been very trying,” she said. “It’s been exhausting … financially, emotionally exhausting.”
She said she felt alone in her journey and turned to social media to find community.
“What I realized is that maybe there were people around me when I was going through it initially, but they were silent victims like me,” Gilson said. “You can be lost and you want to give up, but I’m here to carry on.”
Earlier this year British Columbia announced it would join Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec in funding in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments starting in April 2025.
That province will fully fund one round of IVF treatments for British Columbians who need help starting a family. The program, estimated to cost $34 million a year, will not be means-tested and will cover treatment and medication for one cycle.
Albertans get no money for IVF. Global News reached out to the Alberta government to see if it is being considered but did not receive a response.
April 21-27 marks Canadian Fertility Awareness Week.
The Alberta Reproductive Center is teaming up with Whole Family Health for a number of events to bring awareness to the issue.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
