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AnovaFertility&ReproductiveHealthishelpingwomenofall
stages of their reproductive health
- Successful fertility journey
- Social egg preservation (freezing)
- Science addressing today’s women issues
- Non-invasive treatment for women’s arousal
(416)225-4440 • anovafertility.com
UF2• SPONSORCONTENT WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019
Infertility has long been stigmatized
as a “personal issue” and a
“women’s issue.” Yet one of the
most significantchallenges faced by
economically developedcountries
is a falling birthrate; average sperm
count in thesecountries has fallen
by more than 50 percent since
the 1970s.But the stigma has held
because it’s a topicfew people have
feltcomfortable talking about.
Through social media and support
groups, however, this is startingto
change, saysDr. Ken Seethram, a
fertility specialist with the Pacific
Centre for Reproductive Medicine.
“We’reinanera of reproductive
science advances that intersect with
more openness about reproductive
options.”
With his patients, he says, “a lot
of ourconversationscentre around
questions like, ‘DoIwant to have
my first at 40?’ and ‘Whatare my
risks whenI’m 42 and having a
second?’”
While it’s easy to be lulled into
a false sense that there is lots of
time because of tabloid headlines
about movie stars having babies
at 50, the reality of human fertility
is quite different. “Those births arealmost always enabled by egg
donors, surrogacy or some other
method,” saysDr. Seethram.
“Time is a huge enemy for human
reproduction.Wehavetostart
educating young people about
what their reproductive options
are.”INNOVATIONINSIGHT
Especially forcouples who are
carriers of geneticdisorders,advances in geneticscreening
are life-changing, with the
potential to eliminate potentially
devastating geneticdiseases such
asHuntington’s and hemophilia
in future generations. The new
technology – Pre-implantation
GeneticTesting (PGT) – also
reduces the risk ofchromosomal
issues that might lead to
implantation failure or miscarriage
during fertility treatments.EXPANDINGREPRODUCTIVEOPTIONS
Destigmatizinginfertilityiscompassionate–andessentialforourcollectivefuture
FROMPAGE
CHANGING:APATIENT-CENTREDAPPROACH
approach, to provide patients with
the best possible options for live
births.
“Growing up,Iwas toldIhad pow-
er and purposetochange the world,
and that’s whatIendeavour to do in
mycareer,”Dr.Dixon says. “Wehave
a whole department that’scommit-
ted to research and development.
We also have support groups for our
patients andconsider the emotional
toll thiscan take oncouples, on
women and their families.”
The operation launched with nine
employees and now has 70. There
are finance and operations depart-
ments, andDr.Dixon also employs
naturopaths, acupuncturists,
Chinese medicine doctors, massage
therapists and psychologists who
specialize in fertility.
“We use the Western approach
to science and medicine, butwe
also treat the entire woman, so we
alsoconsider howcan we support
women with alternative medicine.
There are many elementsto achiev-
ing pregnancy and much that we still
don’t understand.”
Dr.Dixon providescare regardless
of gender identity, sexual orienta-
tion or socio-economicsituation,
the latter because there is some
funding for somecases.In addition,
geography isn’t a barrier.
“We see patients who livein
remote areas in Ontario,” she says.
“Idoconsultations over the Ontario
health network.”
In her work, she alsoconsiders
the patient beyond her fertil-ity years. To that end, she offers a
product that enhances women’s
sexual health.During any period of
decreasing estrogen, such as peri-
menopause, tissue sensitivity and
blood flow diminish, as does lubrica-
tion, whichalso affects enjoyment.
Her technological answer, known as
Cliovana, uses sound-wavetechnol-
ogy – something that’s been used
in male sexual dysfunction for some
time – to enhance sensitivity of the
clitoris.
“It amplifies the physiologic
response by improving neuro-sen-
sitivity,”Dr.Dixon says. “In short,it
amplifies the intensity of orgasm.”
The non-invasive three-step
treatmentcosts $2,500.Cliovana
isn’tcovered by the OntarioHealth
Insurance Plan, but many of her
other services are, as are some of
the medications she prescribes.
“Ithinkconsidering the whole
woman through her reproductive
health is something that’scritical
that society doesn’t do well,” she
says. “Doctors see patients as a
problem that must be solved. That’s
not the right approach. We want
to be the best atchanging the ap-
proach to women’s healthcare.”FROMPAGEUNDERSTANDING:PARENTHOOD
NOTGUARANTEEDCanadians to help reach their repro-
ductive health goals by providing
support, awareness, information and
education.
“Iliked the idea of having acom-
munity where people were able to
share their experiences and give
advice,” says Niki. “WhenIrealized
Iwould be OK without kids,Ifound
itcould be helpful for peoplefacing
fertilitychallenges to be aware that
not havingchildren is also a potential
outcome.”
Darlene Tozer, executive director at
Fertility MattersCanada, sees more
and more peoplecoming forward
to share stories about strugglingto
build a family, whether they are suc-
cessful in havingchildren or not. “Itis
heart-warming and gut-wrenchingat
the same time,” she says. “The real-
ity is there are many people going
throughchallenges like this.”
According to a recent study, one
in sixCanadiancouples encounters
infertility – defined as the inability to
get pregnant after trying for at least
one year – and one in four pregnan-
cies ends in miscarriage.
While scientificadvances promise
hope for many prospective parents,
it is also important to bring fertility
struggles and pregnancy loss into the
light. “There is still stigma surround-ing these issues,” saysDarlene.
“People don’t think twice about
quizzing acouple about when they’ll
have a baby. When someone is strug-
gling to build a family, that question
can tear at their soul.”
Niki adds that people sometimes
presume that since they arechildless,
she andChris don’t want–oreven
like – kids. These assumptions hurt,
she says.
Shannon and her husbandoften
found themselves as the onlycouple
withoutchildren among their friends
and acquaintances, making it hardto
share their experiences. “Irecently
decided to tell everybody in my life,”
says Shannon. “Frankly, telling the
truth was a relief because keeping it
all in has been exhausting.”
For people navigating whatcan be
a turbulent time, she suggests, “Do
your research, learn the language of
fertility treatments and talk to people
in similar situations. You need to be
your own advocate.”
Darlene agrees. “Get the support
you need for your mental and physi-
cal well-being,” she says. “There are
so many people struggling to build
their families, not just heterosexual
couples but also single parents and
members of the LGBT+community.
“You are not alone.”MarjorieDixonisthefounderofToronto’s
AnovaFertilityandReproductiveHealth,
andherpracticehasbeendesigned
aroundherwishtotreatherpatientsas
humanbeings.SUPPLIEDWehave to start
educating young
peopleabout what
their reproductive
optionsare.Dr.KenSeethram
fertility specialist, the Pacific
Centre for Reproductive
Medicine