Fertility Health and Preservation
Hope to have children in the future? Here are some steps you can take today to prepare, including testing and fertility health preservation.
Here are some steps you can take to begin your family-building journey, even if you do not plan to have children for a few years.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Focus on maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Regular exercise and weight management are also crucial for overall health and fertility. Certain medications and environmental toxins may also affect fertility, and should be discussed with your healthcare professional.
Manage stress: High levels of stress can interfere with reproductive hormones. Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as practicing mindfulness, engaging in hobbies, getting enough sleep, and seeking support from loved ones or a therapist if needed.
Avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake: Smoking can have negative effects on fertility, both in men and women. It's also advisable to limit alcohol consumption as excessive drinking may impact fertility.
Practice safe sex and protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Some STIs can lead to infertility if left untreated. Ensure you and your partner use appropriate protection during sexual activity, and get regular screenings for STIs.
Remember that fertility can vary from person to person, and changes can occur naturally as you age. Monitoring fertility health provides a way to gather information about your individual fertility journey and helps you make informed decisions about your reproductive health.
Testing now will establish your fertility baseline. If you test again in the future and see significant changes, that may impact your decision to take more preventative action.
For people with eggs
Testing and evaluation: Proactive testing can help you understand your current fertility status, and also monitor changes over time. Here are some tips:
Track your menstrual cycle: Monitoring your menstrual cycle can help you understand your body's fertility signs and identify any irregularities.
Bloodwork: Testing to determine your Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) level
Internal ultrasound: To look at your Antral Follicle Count (AFC)
Fertility preservation options: If you have concerns about your fertility or anticipate future difficulties conceiving, you may want to explore fertility preservation options, such as:
Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation): This is a process in which eggs are harvested, frozen, and stored for future use. When the person is ready to conceive, the eggs can be thawed, fertilized with sperm, and transferred to the uterus through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Embryo freezing: Embryo cryopreservation involves fertilizing eggs with sperm to create embryos through IVF. These embryos are then frozen and stored for later use. When the individual or couple is ready to conceive, the embryos can be thawed and transferred to the uterus.
For more information on egg and embryo freezing, click here.
Service Cost Summary
| Service | Approximate Cost ($CAD) |
|---|---|
| Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Testing | $100 |
| Antral Follicle Count (AFC) Testing | Covered by provincial healthcare |
| Egg Freezing |
$6,500 - $10,000 procedure $4,000 - $6,000 medication $500 - $1,000 annual storage |
| Embryo Freezing | $8,000 - $12,000 procedure $4,000 - $6,000 medication $500 - $1,000 annual storage |
For people with sperm
Testing and evaluation: Proactive testing includes a physical health assessment and semen analysis. This can indicate the quantity and quality of your sperm.
Fertility preservation options: If you have concerns about your fertility or anticipate future difficulties conceiving, you may want to explore fertility preservation options, such as:
Sperm banking (sperm cryopreservation): People with sperm can preserve their fertility by providing a sperm sample, which is then frozen and stored. The stored sperm can be used for artificial insemination or in conjunction with assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the future.
Testicular tissue freezing: Testicular tissue freezing is an experimental option for preserving fertility in people with sperm who may face infertility due to medical treatments. Small samples of testicular tissue are removed and frozen for potential future use.
Embryo freezing: Embryo cryopreservation involves fertilizing eggs with sperm to create embryos through IVF. These embryos are then frozen and stored for later use. When the individual or couple is ready to conceive, the embryos can be thawed and transferred to the uterus.
Service Cost Summary
| Service | Approximate Cost ($CAD) |
|---|---|
| Semen Analysis | Covered by provincial healthcare |
| Sperm Freezing | $500 - $1,000 annual storage |
| Embryo Freezing | $8,000 - $12,000 procedure $4,000 - $6,000 medication $500 - $1,000 annual storage |
Where should you start?
Speak with your Family Building Advisor about your personal goals and lifestyle. Your FBA can then advise you on proactive steps you can take to today to learn about your reproductive health.
