CARE Fertility and Women's Health

08/05/2025

💡 What does IVF really cost—and why are so many patients crossing borders for treatment?
Our latest blog dives into the true financial and emotional realities of IVF, far beyond the sticker price. While a single cycle may cost around $23,000 in Canada, most patients require 2–3 cycles to succeed—bringing the average cost closer to $50,000.

🌍 Global access is deeply uneven:

In places like the UK or Israel, public funding makes IVF far more accessible.

In the U.S., Australia, and Canada, access depends heavily on geography, income, and private insurance.

✈️ This inequality is fueling a rise in fertility tourism—with hopeful parents traveling abroad for affordable treatment, often without full legal protection.

📊 From country-by-country comparisons to policy gaps and patient risk, this blog unpacks the complex, evolving landscape of IVF affordability and access worldwide.

🔗 Read the full analysis: https://carefertility.ca/blog/the-global-ivf-landscape-a-comprehensive-analysis-of-cost-access-and-affordability

Explore a comprehensive analysis of the global IVF landscape, covering costs, access, affordability, and fertility tourism trends. Understand how healthcare policies impact IVF treatment worldwide.

08/01/2025

🧬 Improving fertility starts with cellular health—and yes, you can improve your egg and s***m quality. Here’s what science says:

• Eggs & s***m aren’t fixed at birth — they’re highly sensitive to oxidative stress, inflammation, blood sugar imbalances, and environmental toxins.
• Mitochondria (the energy producers in cells) are especially crucial in eggs. Damaged mitochondria = lower fertilization and embryo potential.
• S***m DNA integrity can be harmed by heat, smoking, processed foods, and even poor sleep. But targeted antioxidants can help reverse damage.
• What helps?
→ A Mediterranean-style diet (low sugar, high antioxidants)
→ Key supplements like CoQ10, omega-3, NAC, myo-inositol, and vitamin D
→ Avoiding BPA, pesticides, excessive alcohol, and high insulin spikes
→ Supporting the vaginal and gut microbiomes

This isn’t “try harder” advice—it’s about working smarter with your biology. Real, data-backed steps that may boost your IVF outcomes or natural fertility.

📖 Read the full evidence-based breakdown here: https://carefertility.ca/blog/the-cellular-foundations-of-fertility-an-evidence-based-guide-to-optimizing-egg-and-s***m-quality

***mHealth

Discover evidence-based insights into optimizing egg and s***m quality. Learn about key lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors that support cellular fertility health for better reproductive outcomes.

07/30/2025

The landscape of fertility is rapidly changing. Recent advances challenge long-held beliefs—from invasive genetic testing like PGT-A showing limited benefits, to new non-invasive methods that could revolutionize embryo screening. Tests once thought essential, like ERA for uterine receptivity, are now questioned for their actual effectiveness.

Meanwhile, promising therapies like platelet-rich plasma injections lack strong evidence despite widespread use. On the horizon, stem cell technologies such as Fertilo’s lab-grown egg maturation and the futuristic ability to create s***m and eggs from skin cells (IVG) could reshape fertility treatments entirely.

Staying informed about these breakthroughs and their true impact helps patients make better choices on their path to parenthood.

Read more:

Explore the latest breakthroughs in IVF and reproductive technology from 2023-2025, including advances in genetic testing, non-invasive diagnostics, and cutting-edge therapies like in vitro gametogenesis. Discover how these innovations are shaping the future of fertility care.

06/27/2025

Infertility isn’t just a medical issue—it’s an emotional one. Nearly 40% of women report anxiety or depression before their first fertility appointment. The stress doesn’t stop there: hormones used in IVF (like Clomid or Letrozole) can cause mood swings, insomnia, or even depression, making it hard to tell where the emotions are coming from.

Research shows anxiety and depression are common, not exceptional, in this journey. That’s why coping tools matter: things like mindfulness, consistent routines, setting emotional boundaries, and finding a support group can reduce stress and help treatment outcomes. CBT and ACT therapy are also shown to lower anxiety and improve mental health during fertility treatment.

Whether your path leads to pregnancy, adoption, or a child-free life, self-worth isn’t defined by fertility. This guide breaks down how to manage mental health through each stage—including what to do after a failed IVF cycle, how to communicate with your partner, and when it’s time to seek help.

📖 Read the full blog: carefertility.ca/blog/navigating-the-emotional-landscape-of-infertility-a-guide-for-patients

This in-depth guide from Care Fertility explores the emotional impact of infertility and offers practical tips for coping, support resources, and expert advice to help you navigate this challenging journey.

06/11/2025

Both ICSI (Intracytoplasmic S***m Injection) and traditional IVF help with fertilization, but they work a little differently. In IVF, thousands of s***m are placed near the egg in a lab dish and one swims in to fertilize it naturally. With ICSI, a single healthy s***m is directly injected into the egg using a fine needle — giving it a helping hand.

ICSI is often used when there are s***m problems like low count or poor movement, or if there have been failed fertilization attempts before. Success rates are similar to IVF, but ICSI is more targeted and useful in specific cases.

If you're exploring fertility treatments, knowing the difference can help you and your doctor make the right choice. Read more:

"Explore the differences between ICSI and conventional IVF, including how each technique works, when ICSI is recommended, and success rates. Learn which fertility treatment may be right for you.

06/06/2025

Chronic endometritis (CE) is a hidden condition that may quietly disrupt fertility. It’s often found in women who’ve gone through multiple failed embryo transfers or miscarriages. The condition is caused by long-term inflammation in the uterus—usually without symptoms—and it may reduce chances of pregnancy by affecting how the uterus responds to an embryo.

Doctors usually treat CE with antibiotics, but there’s still debate over how to diagnose it properly, how many plasma cells mean “inflammation,” and how to confirm if treatment worked. Some patients don’t respond to treatment, and even when CE seems “cured,” pregnancy loss can still happen—suggesting we may not fully understand what a healthy uterus looks like.

New research shows the balance of bacteria in the uterus (the endometrial microbiome) might be just as important as treating inflammation. A healthy, Lactobacillus-rich microbiome seems to support pregnancy, while an imbalance can trigger immune problems and reduce implantation.

In our latest blog, we cover all this in detail—from who should get tested, to new ways CE might be treated in the future, including probiotics and personalized medicine. CE may be subtle, but its impact on fertility is real—and deserves more attention. Read it here:

Discover how chronic endometritis affects female fertility, including its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and links to IVF outcomes.

06/04/2025

Curious about ovarian PRP? We break down the latest medical evidence behind this emerging treatment for women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), poor ovarian response (POR), or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).

Highlights:

👉 What is PRP?
PRP is made from the patient’s own blood and contains concentrated growth factors believed to support tissue repair. Injecting PRP into the ovaries aims to stimulate follicular activity and enhance ovarian function.

👉 Evidence of Effectiveness:
Some studies show improved egg count and embryo numbers in certain patients, but there's no strong evidence yet that PRP improves egg quality or significantly boosts live birth rates.

👉 Safety Considerations:
Short-term safety appears good, with minimal side effects. However, there’s limited long-term data, and potential risks—such as promoting abnormal cell growth—remain theoretical but important to consider.

👉 Patient Guidance:
PRP may offer hope to those with few options, but expectations must be realistic. Decisions should be made with a fertility specialist, based on up-to-date research and individual health factors.

👉 Bottom line:
PRP is a promising but still experimental approach. More high-quality studies are needed to confirm its long-term safety and effectiveness.

Read the full article: https://carefertility.ca/blog/a-medical-review-of-ovarian-platelet-rich-plasma-for-fertility-enhancement

Explore a comprehensive medical review of ovarian platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for fertility enhancement. Learn about its effectiveness, safety, and current scientific evidence to make informed decisions.

05/30/2025

Key Determinants of Natural Fertility 🤰

🎯 For Women:

- Ovarian Reserve: Women are born with a fixed number of eggs that decline with age. One marker of this reserve, Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), typically drops from around 3.5 ng/ml at age 30 to near 0 by the mid-40s. As the egg supply declines, so does egg quality.
- Chromosomal Normality (Aneuploidy): Age increases the chances of chromosomal abnormalities in eggs. While about 25% of embryos may be affected at age 25–30, this can rise to 90% by age 44—leading to higher risks of miscarriage, implantation failure, or conditions like Down syndrome.

🎯 For Men:

- Paternal Age: S***m quality also declines over time, especially after 35. Men over 40 have a lower chance of conception and may pass along increased risks of certain genetic conditions.
- S***m Quality: Healthy s***m need to have a good count, strong motility, normal shape, and intact DNA. Issues in any of these areas can reduce fertility significantly.

🎯 Lifestyle & Environmental Factors:

- Diet & Nutrition: Antioxidants, folate, and healthy fats can support reproductive health.
- Body Weight: Both obesity and being underweight can impact ovulation, s***m quality, and miscarriage risk.
- Exercise: Moderate physical activity supports fertility, but excessive training may interfere with hormones.
- Smoking, Alcohol, Caffeine, Drugs: All of these can impair gamete quality and hormone balance.
- Stress: Chronic stress has been shown to disrupt ovulation and reduce s***m quality.
- Environmental Toxins: Exposure to heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals may harm reproductive function.

🎯 Timing Matters:
Even with healthy s***m and eggs, timing in*******se during the fertile window—the six days leading up to ovulation—is critical. But when factors like age or s***m quality become limiting, perfect timing alone might not be enough.

When natural conception doesn’t happen despite good timing and healthy habits, a simple first step is Ovarian Stimulation with Timed In*******se (OS-TI)—a low-intervention treatment designed to boost ovulation and improve the chances of conception.

👉 In our latest blog, we explain how OS-TI works, who it’s for, and how it fits into the early stages of fertility care: https://zurl.co/731ra

Understand the key factors that influence fertility and treatment success rates, from age-related declines to emotional well-being. Learn how to make informed decisions with expert guidance and data-backed insights on your path to pregnancy.

05/29/2025

Explore the benefits of fertility preservation with CARE Fertility! From empowering women to take control of their reproductive health to preserving options for the future, our compassionate team is here to assist you. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your journey.

05/27/2025

🥚 Wondering if egg freezing is right for you? It’s a proactive way to protect your reproductive options. Our experts are here to support you through every step, from understanding the procedure to discussing emotional aspects. Schedule your appointment today!

05/27/2025

Big news for hopeful parents in Ontario! 🎉
A new Fertility Treatment Tax Credit is coming in 2025 — covering up to $5,000 in eligible expenses. We break down what it means and how it helps in our latest blog.



👉 Read more: https://carefertility.ca/blog/care-fertility-welcomes-ontario-s-new-fertility-treatment-tax-credit-improving-access-and-affordability-for-patients

05/25/2025

Ontario is making strides in fertility care with the new Fertility Treatment Tax Credit, reimbursing 25% of fertility-related expenses up to $20,000 annually! This initiative means up to $5,000 back in your pocket, giving you more financial freedom to pursue your dreams of having a family. At CARE Fertility, we're dedicated to supporting your journey with personalized care and expert guidance. Contact us today to learn how this credit can complement your fertility plan and make services more affordable for you.