After enduring multiple unsuccessful rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in her 30s, Abbotsford’s Sarah Tremblay and her partner Marc were forced to abandon their dream of having a biological family. The emotional toll of their fertility struggle was compounded by a staggering $80,000 debt.
Now, at 43, Tremblay sympathizes with other couples who had hoped for an affordable IVF option but are now in limbo following the delay of British Columbia’s public IVF program. The program, originally set to launch in April, has been postponed by three months, with applications now scheduled to open on July 2.
Three months is an eternity when you’re fighting infertility,” Tremblay said. “The emotional cost of waiting is unbearable.”
Currently, IVF treatments are publicly funded in provinces like Ontario and Quebec, making B.C.’s delay particularly frustrating for those seeking accessible fertility care. The B.C. government had announced last March that the program would launch in April, but due to complications with the rollout, it is now slated for summer.
The government has allocated $68 million in its 2024 budget to fund the program, which will provide up to $19,000 in one-time funding for a standard IVF cycle at participating clinics. This funding will cover frozen egg storage but does not yet clarify whether surrogacy will be included.
Without such coverage, the cost of a single IVF cycle can exceed $10,000, making it financially out of reach for many families.
Experts emphasize that every delay can significantly affect a woman’s chances of conception. Dr. Al Yuzpe, co-founder of Olive Fertility Centre in Vancouver, noted that many couples are choosing to postpone IVF cycles in hopes of accessing the provincial funding, which could further delay their chances of success. “The longer women wait, the lower their chances of conceiving,” Yuzpe explained.
B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne acknowledged the delay, citing the program’s complexity and the need to establish clear eligibility criteria for patients aged 18 to 41. Osborne assured that those who age out before July 2 will still be eligible for the program.
“As this is a new initiative, we want to ensure everything is properly set up,” Osborne stated. “That’s why we need more time.”
Fertility specialists like Dr. Jason Hitkari, who also co-founded Olive Fertility Centre, warn that the delay will cause a two-fold waiting period: first for clarification on funding details and later for the inevitable waitlist once the program is up and running.
“It’s an incredibly stressful process,” said Hitkari. “For many families, the emotional and financial burdens are overwhelming.”
Despite these setbacks, both Yuzpe and Hitkari have been strong advocates for public funding of fertility treatments for over a decade. According to the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society, infertility affects one in six women in Canada, yet many are still left without affordable treatment options.
UBC professor emeritus Judith Daniluk emphasized the importance of accessible IVF, noting that multiple IVF cycles are often necessary to achieve a viable pregnancy. “At least having one paid cycle will give many families the chance to try IVF who otherwise couldn’t afford it,” she said.
For Tremblay, the financial strain during her fertility treatments became unbearable, pushing her to the brink. “I even thought about ending my life because it seemed easier than continuing to put my family through the emotional and financial toll,” she recalled.
While some extended health plans offer limited IVF coverage, many British Columbians are still waiting for the government-funded program to provide a more accessible path to parenthood.
Looking back, Tremblay believes that if the provincial IVF program had been available when she was trying to conceive, it would have alleviated much of the stress she endured. “Knowing that the government was there to help would have given me more hope and made me feel supported,” she said.
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