I often gauge my reader’s interest/reactions to see if I’m on track with a topic or trend. Specifically, I’ve been chatting about the need for publicly funded IVF for close to a year now – and I keep coming back to it with good reason.

SUPPORT from my readers. AGREEMENT with the need for change. SHARING stories and strategies.

I’ve made emotional pleas; have argued facts and figures, and have even taken a step-by-step approach to how both the Ontario and Alberta governments can actually save hundreds of millions of dollars over just 10 years. I welcome you to re-revisit any of my previous posts if you’d like a refresher on why publicly funded IVF just makes sense.

Today, I simply want to give you the facts in black and white.

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“Infertility is a significant medical condition. Just because a person wanders around and appears healthy, but is really not, is not something that is covered adequately by most provincial governments,” he said. “I don’t think they appreciate the issues of not being able to have a family and the cost that is born by those who can’t.” – National Post, May 23rd, 2012

“Dr. Cal Greene, the head of Calgary’s fertility clinic, who has been campaigning for publicly funded IVF treatments, said Tuesday the Alberta government has no financial excuse to sidestep the issue. ‘This is an idea whose time has come. It’s been shown to work in other jurisdictions. It’s time to apply that to the Alberta experience,’ said Greene. ‘It would end reproductive discrimination based on income, so treatment would be available to everyone.’” - Calgary Herald, May 23rd, 2012 (more…)

Since I’ve always succumbed to the notion “Life is Short; Eat Dessert First” – I’d like to give you my takeaway for this post now, rather than wait until the end. So here goes.

Infertility is not a choice. It is not a problem – nor is it bad luck – and it certainly does not discriminate. Anyone, at any time, can be faced with it. Infertility is a medical condition.

With that in mind, allow me to return to the meat of the issue, or the main course if you please.

A few months ago, I blogged a series of posts based on Conceivable Dreams, the OHIP for IVF Coalition. They are the provincial voice for thousands of infertility sufferers and their supporters across Ontario, with the single goal of having OHIP coverage of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) reinstated by the Ontario government.

Bad news: Ontarians are still waiting. (Seriously? What’s the holdup; this one’s a no brainer!)

Good news: The call for government support is continuing across the country, with Generations of Hope, an Alberta-based patient group raising awareness of infertility and the need for government support towards treatments like in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

Now in case you need a little nudge, here’s a reminder why publicly funded IVF makes complete sense: (more…)