Online Forums
Babycenter.ca: Online IVF Support Forum
https://www.babycenter.ca/thread/3313784/pulled-the-trigger-last-night
The online IVF support group on babycenter.ca was created in February 2012, includes 701 members and 820 posts. This forum allows Canadians going through or considering IVF to connect with others via the web. The forum section allows people to post about their experiences or ask questions regarding cost, process or just general advice. People can post themselves as well as comment on others posts. Their webpage includes a link where people can join the group, which gives them access to post and comment. All the posts and comments are public for anyone to see, including non-members.
Support Groups
Calgary Infertility Support Group Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/calgaryinfertilitysupport/
The Calgary Infertility Support Group is a Facebook group run by Lacy Park. The group is currently active and has 74 members. This group is a place where couples experiencing infertility can go for peer support, professional support and referrals. The Facebook group has guidelines about what can and cannot be posted. Sharing of personal stories and experiences is strongly encouraged. Posts and discussions cannot be seen by non-members.
Edmonton Infertility Support Group: Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1610104965943288/
The Edmonton Infertility Support Group is a Facebook group for those experiencing, or have experienced, infertility in the greater Edmonton area, or are doing treatments at Edmonton Clinics. The group is run by Amanda Butt, and has 373 active members. In the group, members can post and comment advice or experiences according to community guidelines. Posts and discussions cannot be viewed by non-group members. Proof of location must be available on your Facebook account to join the group, with special circumstance exceptions
Infertility Support Group Meetups in Calgary
https://www.meetup.com/topics/infertility-support-group/ca/ab/calgary/
This webpage provides links to four local infertility support groups that schedule meetups in Calgary, Alberta. The four groups are called “Calgary Trying to Conceive Meetup”, “Women Connected Calgary Endometriosis and Fertility Support”, “Calgary Endometriosis Group” and “Calgary Mastering the Chi and Coaching Meetup.” Each group has different goals, meetup frequencies, and member populations. More information about each group can be found once a member joins.
Single Mother by Choice
https://www.meetup.com/choicemomsedmonton/
This webpage belongs to a group based in St. Albert Alberta, called “Single Mothers by Choice.” This group includes women from the Edmonton area that chose to become a mother without a partner using assisted reproductive technologies like IVF, IUI, with donor sperm or by adoption. The group focuses on sharing stories and creating a support network for women who chose this path. Single Mothers by Choice was founded in 2015, has 41 members, and has had 20 meetups. Further information about the group is only available once an individual has joined and been approved online.
The International Social and Networking Club for Childfree Couples and Singles
No Kidding! is an online social club for singles and couples that have never had children, either by choice or due to infertility. No Kidding! is a non-profit, volunteer-run, social club for adults from any background that for whatever reason decided that parenthood was not for them. Members range from aged 18-80 and there are chapters of the club in 5 countries, including New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. The “Chapters” section has links to each of the chapters’ websites and contact information for in-person meetings.
Websites
Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society
https://cfas.ca/public-affairs/canadian-art-register/
The Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) is a “multi-disciplinary non-profit Society that serves as a voice of reproductive specialists, scientists and allied health professionals working in the field of Assisted Reproduction in Canada.” This website includes career postings, position statements, news and publications, and statistics. The CFAS has been releasing ART live birth rates since 2001, and in 2016 the website included Results from the Canadian ART register that covers a variety of statistics and trends. The Society, which is based in Montreal, has annual meetings each year, and summaries of previous meetings can be found on the website as well. Although this website is mainly for professionals in the field, it can be very informative for those considering ARTs.
Fertile Future
http://fertilefuture.ca/fertility-preservation-centres/
Fertile Future is a Canadian non-profit organization that provides fertility-related services to young cancer patients, which are mainly fertility preservation methods. A medical advisory panel is included on the website, which consists of 15 specialists. Their biggest project is called “Power of Hope” which is an initiative to reduce the costs of fertility treatments for qualifying cancer patients. There is a list of fertility centers which are partnered with “Power of Hope” on the website. The website includes several patient resources which include information about cancer and fertility. There is also an events page which has information about meetings and fundraisers across Canadas. The webpage also includes stories of cancer survivors.
Fertility.ca
Fertility.ca is a website founded by Dr. Tom Hannam, a Reproductive Endocrinologist in conjunction with The Hannam Center. It is a non-profit resource with the main goal of empowering women to become informed during the fertility process, though information that is easily accessible and readable. In addition to blog posts and FAQs, the website is divided into four main sections: “Starting Out,” “We’re Having Trouble”, “My Diagnosis” and “Tools.” The first three links dive into simple, but scientific explanations of infertility and the process, which are organized by reproductive organs, types of fertility tests, and diagnosis type. The “Tools” sections include informative PDFs and website links that provide a variety of support and additional information. There is also a section for Doctors that includes resources they can place in their clinics.
Fertility Helper
http://www.familyhelper.net/iy/iysup.html
Fertility Helper is a branch of a larger online resource called Family Helper. The website includes links to Canadian fertility centers, a list of treatments offered in Canada, infertility websites and newsletters, support groups, articles and current events. In the infertility support groups page, there are names and contact info for many support groups throughout Canada.
Fertility Matters Canada
Fertility Matters Canada (FMC) is a national association dedicated to helping Canadians reach their reproductive health goals through support, awareness, information, and education. FMC is also a huge advocate for equal access to fertility treatments. The website includes a toll-free contact number and a page listing support groups by province. This resource also includes links to insurance coverage information, success rate statistics, and shared personal stories.
Generations of Hope
Generations of Hope is a charitable organization based in Calgary, Alberta. The Fund raises money to financially support families that could not otherwise afford fertility treatments and raises awareness about the widespread occurrence of infertility in Canada, and about the high costs of the ART treatment in Canada, including lack of insurance or healthcare coverage. The website also has a petition for Alberta to have IVF and other fertility procedures covered by insurance and/or healthcare. Generations of Hope also has an annual fundraising event called Images of Hope, which feature photographs and stories about in vitro fertilization. A link to information about the event as well as a gallery of previous photographs is included in the website.
Infertility Network
https://www.infertilitynetwork.org/home
Infertility Network is an international web resource that provides information regarding infertility for those in the USA, Canada, Australia and some European countries. The website includes upcoming events in these countries, as well as open webinars focused on counseling, support, and mindfulness. The Canadian events are held in Ontario and links to these events are provided. The website also has a store where books and previously recorded sessions are available for purchase. Unfortunately, Infertility Network’s monthly support group had its last session in 2012, but there are links to infertility support groups in Quebec, Ontario and others. The website also has links to seminars that cover topics such as LGBTQ perspectives, bioethics discussions and adoption. There is also a link to a newsletter and contact information is provided.
IVF. ca
IVF.ca is an online infertility outreach resource created by patients with the goal of helping people connect with peers and experts, as well as gain access to relevant information. This website includes forums for those in different stages of their fertility journey, as well as “ask an expert” style forums, a bio of each expert is included in the “About” section of the webpage. There is also a “Calculators” tab with a variety of online calculators such as due date and tax credit calculators. A list of several Canadian fertility clinics with contact information is included as well. IVF.ca also has a statistics page that displays stats from Cyclebase.
IVF connections
http://www.ivfconnections.com/
IVF connections is an infertility focused web portal based in Austin, Texas. This serves as a place for an online infertility community and a source of IVF related news updates. The website is overloaded with articles that cover various infertility topics. Members can comment on these articles. This website also includes forums, where members can discuss, share stories and offer advice and support in relation to a huge variety of infertility related issues and topics.
Motherisk Helplines
The Motherisk program at the Hospital for Sick Children provides current information about the risks of medications and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Motherisk counselors are available to provide information for pregnant women, their families of healthcare providers. The webpage includes the toll-free numbers of the Motherisk Helpline which addresses diseases, exposures, and medications, and the Alcohol and Substance Use Helpline which gives information about the risks of ingesting alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs while pregnant. The hours of operation of both helplines are included on the page. The webpage also includes the information about the Motherisk Clinic in Toronto and links to other Motherisk resources such as donation pages and FAQs.
Myfertility.ca
myfertility.ca is a practical, Canadian website that offers information about fertility, which was compiled by a gynecologist and fertility specialist. The “About Fertility” tab defines what infertility is, and explores the various potential causes of infertility, such as male, female, and lifestyle related. This page also includes information about the reproductive system, and how to seek help. There is also a page on the website that describes infertility symptoms, for both men and women, outlines the tests used to determine causes, and describes diagnoses. The website also outlines treatment options, including procedure, potential risks, and side effects. Information about coping with successful pregnancy and unsuccessful treatments is also available.
My Fertility Choices
http://myfertilitychoices.com/
This website is a massive Canadian infertility support resource. There is a very detailed about section which describes the mission, the founders, and the affiliates. The website offers information about all the different infertility types and treatment options, including holistic medicine. Articles about readiness for men, women, families, children etc. are also included. The website also outlines the various factors involved regarding decision making for fertility. The website also offers advice about how to handle the effects infertility has on relationships.
Counseling
Michaela Kadambi Ph.D., R.PSYCH. Registered Psychologist
http://www.drmkadambi.ca/fertility.html
This website includes services offered by Dr.Kadambi, such as couples counseling and infertility. The site also includes an “about” section, including Dr. Kadambi’s detailed approach to therapy, fees, FAQs and contact information. In the fertility page of the website, there is an outline describing why counseling, either couples or individual, can be beneficial when using ARTs.
Blogs
His Take on Infertility
https://histakeoninfertility.com/about/
His Take on Infertility is a blog by a man named Felipe, where he shares his thoughts on his personal journey of infertility with his wife. Although Felipe and his wife began trying to conceive in 2006, the blog includes entries from September 2013 to February 2014. In his entries, Felipe explores the difficult journey of fertility from a male’s perspective, which includes topics like dealing with hormones, to reflecting on not feeling any physical pain from the treatments. Although the purpose of this blog was to be a place to share his feelings, Felipe highlights the lack of resources out there for males when experiencing infertility, and hopes that his blog can be inspiring for men sharing similar experiences.
Faith and Fertility 