 |
 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
|
