 |
IAAC
The Infertility Awareness Association of Canada (IAAC) provides assistance to
Canadians who are experiencing difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy.
For these people, the inability to conceive a child may be the most profound
medical and emotional challenge they ever face.
IAAC has helped thousands of women and men make careful, well-informed decisions
about fertility treatment, adoption and childfree living.
As the voice of the community for family building and fertility awareness in
Canada, IAAC is the only established patient advocacy group with a nationwide
network of support groups mandated to promote reproductive health.
The Infertility Awareness Association of Canada Inc. (IAAC) was founded in 1990
and originated from an Ottawa voluntary group called the Infertility Self
Support Group which began in 1983. We are committed to providing educational
material, support and assistance to individuals and couples who are experiencing
the anguish of infertility, a reproductive health disease which affects over
half a million Canadian men and women.
www.iaac.ca
2100 Marlowe Ave., Suite 342
Montreal, QC H4A 3L5
Phone: 514 484-2891
Toll Free: 1 800 263-2929
Fax: 514 484-0454
THE MONTREAL FERTILITY CENTRE
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most sophisticated form of infertility
treatment. It has been used for over 25 years and in this period of time it has
evolved to a relatively simple and very successful treatment option. IVF
treatment is offered to patients with damaged fallopian tubes, unexplained
infertility where other forms of treatment have failed, and in combination with
ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm insertion) for patients with male factor
infertility. It may also be offered to women with diminished ovarian reserve or
poor egg quality.
During the IVF process it is essential for a patient not to ovulate prior to egg
collection. To prevent this from happening we either suppress your natural cycle
with a GnRH agonist before beginning ovarian stimulation ("long protocol"), or
alternatively we use a GnRH antagonist after we have begun ovarian stimulation
("short protocol"). In general, we prefer to use the long protocol with a GnRH
agonist in women who are young and are expected to have a large number of eggs.
In contrast, we prefer to use the short protocol with a GnRH antagonist in women
who may not have such a robust response to ovarian stimulation.
If you are on a long IVF protocol, i.e. a GnRH agonist, you will begin daily
buserelin injections starting 7 days prior to your expected menstruation. In
general you will
continue with these injections alone for about 2-3 weeks prior to your baseline
down-regulation ultrasound scan. These injections are generally well tolerated.
On occasion, patients may have side effects such as headaches, hot flashes,
bloating, vaginal dryness or mood swings.
The purpose of your baseline down-regulation scan after 2-3 weeks of the
Buserelin is to exclude the presence of ovarian cysts and to verify that your
uterine lining is thin. If you have ovarian cysts or your lining is thick your
treatment with Buserelin may be continued for another week. If, however, your
baseline scan is normal then the dose of Buserelin will be decreased and you
will start the ovulation induction phase of the treatment.
www.montrealfertility.com
The Montreal Fertility Centre
5252 de Maisonneuve Boulevard West
Suite 220
Montreal, Quebec
H4A 3S5
Canada
McGill Reproductive Centre
Infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to conceive after one year
of unprotected intercourse or for a shorter duration in instances where the
woman is older.
In-vitro fertilization is the fertilization of eggs by sperm outside the body.
In IVF, eggs are removed from the woman’s ovaries and are fertilized with the
man’s sperm in the
laboratory to create embryos which can then be transferred to the woman’s
uterus. IVF treatment is used when there is damage to the fallopian tubes,
severe male factor infertility, severe endometriosis, or when other infertility
treatments have failed or in older women with a long duration of infertility.
The hormone therapy that precedes the egg retrieval is more complex than hormone
therapy given before IUI in basic treatment. With IVF, the goal of hormone
therapy is
twofold: to stimulate the ovaries to produce many mature eggs and, to prevent (a
premature) ovulation before egg collection. There are different medications and
strategies that can be used to achieve the two goals of ovarian stimulation and
control of ovulation. The plan and choice of medications will be made based on
the couple’s test results and unique history.
Before the procedure, a fine needle is attached to side of the ultrasound probe
normally used for vaginal scans. The probe is then placed in the vagina and when
the
ultrasound picture shows that the probe is lying next to the ovary, the needle
is advanced into the ovary. The needle punctures each follicle on both ovaries
and drains the fluid inside each follicle. The follicular fluid is examined
under a microscope for the presence of an egg.
Egg retrieval usually takes about 20-30 minutes to complete, but may vary
depending on the number of follicles. It is very important to us that you are
comfortable during the egg retrieval and that your treatment remains a positive
experience. We make a special effort to reduce any discomfort during the
procedure by administering a local analgesic into the vagina and supplementing
it with strong intravenous sedation and analgesics at regular intervals. If you
prefer, the egg retrieval may be done under spinal or general anaesthesia.
www.mcgillivf.com
McGill University Health Centre
Royal Victoria Hospital
687 Pine Avenue West
Women's Pavilion 6th floor
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 1A1
|
