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
Counseling & Support Groups
Dr. Gervaize
Counseling Services
Dr. Gervaize is a reproductive health psychologist focused on the emotional aspects of infertility and reproductive loss. She provides counselling to individuals and couples dealing with reproductive difficulties, treatment-related decision making, and offers strategies for coping with treatment and its outcomes. Dr Gervaize also provides counselling for individuals and couples considering the use of donor gametes in family building and will be happy to assist you with any concerns you might have.
Contact Dr. Gervaize by e-mail to book an appointment.
Peer support
Ottawa Peer Support Group: Join others each month to listen, learn, and hopefully laugh a little while you seek support. Meetings are held at the Ottawa Fertility Centre on the last Saturday of every month. Sessions are organized and led by a volunteer facilitator. Guest speakers are often invited to speak after the meetings.
General Information
Fertility Matters is a national organization, providing educational material, support and assistance to individuals and couples who are experiencing the anguish of infertility, the reproductive health disease that affects over half a million Canadian men and women.
My Fertility Choices enables men and women to obtain support in making the fertility and childbearing decisions that best fit with their unique life situations. The website provides current, professional, and reliable information about fertility, assisted human reproduction, and various lifestyle and family building options, including childfree living.
Single Mothers
Single Mother by Choice is a local Ottawa area group for those women who may already be a ‘Choice Mom’ or for those women who are thinking of proactively becoming a single mother.
Multiple Births
Multiple Births Canada has a mission to improve the quality of life for multiple birth individuals and their families in Canada. They provide support, education, research, and advocacy both nationally and internationally to individuals, families, Chapters, and organizations that have a personal or professional interest in multiple birth issues.
LGBTQ
Finding information and support to suit your unique circumstance can be a challenge. There are some good resources available for men and women within the LGBTQ community who are looking at options for having a family. Here is a good resource to start:
My Fertility Choices – LGBT Options
Jural Advisor
It is important for patients to seek appropriate legal advice when a third party is involved, either as a donor or surrogate. While we do not endorse any lawyer or legal form in particular, the following firms have experience with assisted reproduction.
Erin Lepine, LLB – Nelligan, O’Brien, Payne (Ottawa)
Sara Cohen, LLB – Fertility Law Canada (Toronto)
Sherry Levitan, LLB – Fertility Law (Toronto)
Support for people with polycystic ovary syndrome
PCOSupport Group is US based organization that is operated by women with PCOS and those who support them. This organization is dedicated to serve the many women who struggle on a daily basis to deal with quality-of-life as well as life-threatening consequences of PCOS if untreated.