Message to Patients April 26, 2021

These are unprecedented times, and this past week specifically has presented incredible challenges for our health care system, our clinic and our patients.  At the direction of the Ministry of Health, we took pause over the last 5 days to evaluate the impact our clinical activity has on our already stretched regional health care resources.  In this process, we have recognized the need to balance the provision of time-sensitive fertility care to our patients, with the need to help in every way that we can to support our critically over-burdened hospitals.

After review of the directives, and in consultation with the majority of fertility clinics across Ontario, we have made the decision to resume diagnostic services and treatments. We sincerely apologize to everyone who has been impacted over the past 5 days and will reach out immediately to all patients affected by these changes.   We must emphasize that although we are resuming care, the Ottawa Fertility Centre remains gravely concerned about the current situation of COVID-19 in the City of Ottawa and the Province. The variants of concern increase the risk of severe disease and death in reproductive aged people. In addition, pregnant patients are increasingly occupying ICU beds. The risk of severe COVID-19 is real. The stress on the health care system is nearing a breaking point. Avoiding any potential need for non-urgent medical care at this time should be a priority, as unfortunately there may come a point when the health care system is not able to provide you with the care you need.

Therefore, the Ottawa Fertility Centre is currently strongly recommending that all patients postpone fertility testing and treatment until the acute COVID-19 situation in Ontario has improved.

We do however understand that for some people, postponing is not an option. Individuals may feel that their situation, from either a medical or a psychological perspective, requires that they continue with treatment at this time. For those individuals who need to proceed now, we will support that decision by resuming operations with all our COVID safety measures in place including screening, PPE and both physical and temporal spacing of patients.

Finally, we strongly encourage patients to get their COVID vaccination as soon as it is available to them, ideally before treatment start. Do not delay! Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others.