In light of the increasing global COVID-19 challenges and aligned with recent direction from the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), we regret to inform you that the Ottawa Fertility Centre (OFC) must temporarily suspend all non-essential services to our patients effective today, including both our blood lab and ultrasound departments.
All patients with upcoming appointments will be contacted by our staff to communicate your personal care plan over the upcoming weeks. We will also be in touch to reschedule any cancelled appointments when we are able to safely re-open and re-establish normal OFC operations. We are able to offer some appointments with OFC physicians through the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) or phone calls, and if applicable, this option will be offered to you.
If you have any immediate medical emergencies related to your fertility care please call 613-722-7000 and ask to speak to the IVF physician on-call, or present yourself to your nearest hospital emergency department. If you have questions or concerns about your ongoing fertility treatment you can call us at 613-686-3378 ext 617 to discuss it with one of our nurses. General questions can be directed by email to info@conceive.ca or by phone at 613-686-3378 ext 200. Please also visit our website for ongoing updates regarding our operational pause.
We recognize that this temporary interruption of services decision may pose its own challenges, but the health and safety of our patients and staff is our utmost priority. At this time, temporarily shutting down OFC operations is our safest course of action to safeguard everyone’s health. We look forward to seeing you again as soon as this public health situation is resolved.
Please note: Dr. Gervaize will be available for online / telephone appointments during the time we are closed, you may contact her at pgervaize@conceive.ca
Fertility Treatments
CAUSES OF MALE INFERTILITY
- Varicose veins around the testicles (varicocele).
- Obstruction (blockage) of the genital tract
- Anatomical abnormalities of the genitals, such as undescended testicles.
- Genital injury.
- Intercourse problems such as premature withdrawal or poor timing with their partner’s menstrual cycle.
- Genetic abnormalities.
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Opiates.
- Smoking.
- Hormonal disturbances
- Cancer medications and radiation therapy.
- Sexually transmitted diseases.
- Use of some medications, such as some for high blood pressure, some antidepressants, and male hormones.
- Mumps after puberty.
- Prostate surgery.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Spinal cord injury.
- Urinary tract infection.
- Illicit drug use (e.g. using cocaine, smoking marijuana).
- Steroids.
- Environmental factors may also affect male fertility.
- Prior vasectomy
INVESTIGATIONS FOR MALE INFERTILITY (Depending on cause)
- History and physical examination
- Semen analysis
- Scrotal/prostate ultrasound
- Hormonal testing
- Genetic testing
- Post-ejaculate urinalysis
- MRI of the genital tract
- Sperm DNA testing
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR MEN
- Varicocele repair
- Microsurgery to correct obstruction
- Vasectomy reversal.
- Hormonal treatment
- Surgical sperm retrieval.
- Surgical Procedure-Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA) and Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE).
- Surgical Procedure- Micro Surgical Testicular Sperm Extraction (MicroTESE)
- Trans-urethral resection of ejaculatory duct
- Healthy Living