Ottawa Fertility Centre
Offering compassionate care, understanding, and hope on your journey.
OFC News
Ottawa Fertility Centre
Offering compassionate care, understanding, and hope your journey.
OFC News
Questions about recently announced updates to the Ontario Fertility Program?
The Ontario government announced on October 24, 2024 that there will be new investment in the Ontario Fertility Program as well as a new tax credit that will increase access to publicly funded fertility treatments, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF). On June 11, 2025 they announced further details regarding the program and investment.
The October 2024 announcement can be viewed at news.ontario.ca
The June 11, 2025 announcement can be viewed at new.ontario.ca
The government of Ontario has committed to updating their Ontario Fertility Program webpage as updates are firmed up: Ontario Fertility Program.
Our Ottawa Fertility team deeply appreciates the government of Ontario investment in expanding access to publicly funded fertility treatment. We will be completing the application process to increase IVF funded cycles at our centre to reduce our waiting list and waiting times.
Don't forget to collect your receipts for any fertility related expenses starting from January 1st, 2025. The tax credit program is already in place, and more information can be view at new.ontario.ca.
If you are struggling to conceive or have concerns about your fertility, we encourage you to book a full fertility assessment as soon as possible.
ZIKA Virus and Travel Risks
With travel becoming frequent again, it's important for those planning to conceive and those who are pregnant to be informed of Zika related risks.
The Zika virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. It can be transmitted by an infected pregnant person to their developing baby as well as sexually transmitted by an infected sperm provider to their partner. Typical illness either has no symptoms or mild fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes. Zika virus infection can in rare cases cause Guillain-Barre Syndrome, microcephaly, or other unknown risks. For more information please visit: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/travel-health-notices/152.
Pregnant people and those planning a pregnancy should avoid travel to countries with current or previous Zika outbreaks.
• For travelers intending to carry a pregnancy returning from countries with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks: it is strongly recommended that you wait at least two months before trying to conceive to ensure that any possible Zika virus infection has cleared your body.
• For sperm providing travelers, Zika virus can persist for an extended period of time in the semen of infected people: It is strongly recommended that you and your partner wait to conceive for three months after travelling or the onset of illness due to Zika virus by using a condom.
Ottawa Fertility Centre's COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy Statement
OFC Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination for fertility patients
The physicians at the Ottawa Fertility Centre recommend that individuals who are pregnant or who are trying to achieve pregnancy should receive the COVID-19 vaccination. If you have any questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccinations, please speak with your physician (special considerations may apply for dosages scheduled within 2-3 days of a fertility treatment procedure).
This is supported by guidelines from the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada:
https://cfas.ca/_Library/SOGC_Statement_/CFAS_COVID-19_Vaccine_Build_Final_April2021_Final_EN.pdf
Pregnancy is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease. Pregnant women who contract COVID-19 are at greater risk of pregnancy complications, significantly greater risk of requiring admission to the ICU, and at greater risk of death from COVID-19.