Fertility Alberta aims to increase access to fertility care

Heather Cameron,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Michelle Chidley, Chair of Fertility Alberta Advocacy and Outreach Association, describes Fertility Alberta Advocacy and Outreach Association as a ‘patient-led, volunteer organization with the goal of increasing access to fertility care for all Albertans through education and advocacy.’

The Association, Chidley says, aims to achieve this through engaging patients across the province to get involved in advocacy, educating and lobbying government officials, and promoting fertility awareness through traditional and social media.

“Fertility Alberta works towards access to public funding for fertility treatment for all Albertans and aims to reduce the stigma and misconceptions around fertility issues by providing access to tools and sharing resources,” said Chidley. Chidley says that Fertility Alberta Advocacy and Outreach Association was started by current and former patients just over two years ago and they officially received non-profit status in June of 2023.

“Members of the Fertility Alberta board of directors started meeting with MLAs, Ministers, and staff in the Alberta government in the Fall of 2023,” said Chidley.

Fertility Alberta Advocacy and Outreach Association’s goal in meeting with government, Chidley says, is to ensure they understand how many Albertans are affected by infertility, which totals more than 250,000 people, and that patients have to personally pay 100 percent of the tremendous costs of needed medical treatments and medications unless they have employee benefits that include family building.

The biggest obstacle to accessing needed fertility care is cost, Chidley says.

“The average up-front, out of pocket cost of one round of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is $20,000 and most patients require two to three rounds of IVF to be success,” said Chidley. “The average Albertan cannot afford these treatments.”

The work Fertility Alberta does, Chidley says, is to increase access to needed fertility care for everyday Albertans who are struggling to have children. The Association is not seeking government funding for Fertility Alberta directly, however, even though Alberta is now the last province in Canada without a fertility program, or an announced plan to introduce a fertility program, to help patients afford needed treatments.

“A change in government policy on this issue would help thousands of Albertans have the family of their dreams,” said Chidley.

Canada, Chidley says, has a patchwork of programs that range from funded cycle programs, where the government covers the up-front cost of one round of IVF, to tax credits and reimbursement programs.

“We live in a country with universal health care; however, infertility is an area of medicine that is excluded from our publicly funded health system,” said Chidley.

Currently, in Alberta, Chidley says, the only place you can receive a diagnosis or treatment for infertility is at private clinics.

“The Government of Alberta currently covers the costs of the investigations to determine the cause of infertility, but not the treatments to help patients overcome their medical challenges,” said Chidley. “Fertility Alberta believes that being the last province in Canada to announce a fertility program presents an incredible opportunity.”

Alberta, Chidley says, can look at what other jurisdictions have done, learn from the pros and cons and review existing research, to create a best in class, made in Alberta program.

Fertility Alberta has built a network across the province and regularly works with doctors, university researchers, women’s health organizations, and others to better understand issues relating to reproductive health from all angles. Fertility Alberta, Chidley says, also collaborates with advocacy groups from around the country to heighten the awareness of the need for support for increased and equitable access to fertility care in this country.

“Infertility has historically not been talked about openly,” said Chidley. “The people going through it often feel isolated and ashamed, perpetuating the stigma and silence. As such, governments haven’t heard from constituents that this issue matters. However the proliferation of advocacy groups across Canada in the last few years has helped bring attention to this as a medical condition that affects 1 in 6 people of reproductive age. The less people feel alone, the more they speak out. We believe that the Government of Alberta is finally hearing the stories of patients and realize that more needs to be done to support Albertans to have babies and build their families. We are proud to be the voice of fertility patients across this province and are confident that our efforts to educate and advocate for an Alberta fertility program will bear fruit.”

Fertility Alberta, Chidley says has received national recognition for their efforts to ‘be a voice’ and that recognition was received in April when they received Fertility Matters Canada’s Change Maker Award.

“We often receive thanks and gratitude from Alberta patients for working towards the goal of achieving public fertility funding,” said Chidley. “Many are happy to add their voices to our messaging to let the government know how much public fertility funding would help them be able to build their families.”

Heather Cameron,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Taber Times