Finding Your Voice: #OHIP4ivf #onpoli Advocates for Greater Infertility Awareness

Since sharing our miscarriage story over the past couple of months, we have been touched, and a bit overwhelmed, to hear from so many families who are struggling with infertility. 1 in 6 people struggle with infertility. Almost everyone knows someone who has been struggling publicly or privately. Recently, I participated in a fundraiser with Hanlon Lain Photography to raise funds and awareness for families who struggle to conceive.

It was a chilly day in October, but the sun was bright and our hearts were full of joy as we set out to photograph women, families and children who were struggling, had triumphed and some who have given up.  My eyes were opened to the incredible financial hardships that these families undertake when fertility treatments and in vitro fertilization become their only hope at having children. The strength and determination of these women was incredible, and we shared hugs, tears, laughter and stories about where our journeys have taken us. 

 

The fundraiser was a full day of photographing families, couples, children, and individuals who were ether struggling with their own infertility challenges, or simply wanted to support others who were going through a difficult journey to become parents. Not for a calendar, a special promotion for the clinic or anything of the sort. We wanted to honour these families and respect where they are in their journey. Some released balloons to their angel babies, while others breathed in a moment of peace and comfort. 

 

With the holidays approaching, it is important to note just how difficult they are when you are struggling to conceive. A loss is a loss, whether it be an unborn baby, a parent, or the dream of becoming a parent. It weighs heavy on your heart, and during the holidays there are constant reminders of what should be there celebrating with you. 1 in 6 people struggle with infertility and infertility has been recognized as a complex health care issue by the World Health Organization. In fact, 75% of Ontarians support public funding for IVF treatments, costs of which begin (on average) at $1000 for the very first visit and range as high as $10,000 for in vitro fertilization. These families take on the financial hardship alone, often mortgaging homes, taking out loans, second jobs, and adding to their stress while trying to pay for their IVF treatments.

Quebec, Belgium and Australia have all demonstrated successful funding models for infertility treatment. In doing so, each of these countries and provinces managed to trim their health care costs by millions of dollars. They have also shown commitment to maternal and infant health care. In provinces where couples spend $10,000 and take on three jobs just to pay for the fertility treatments they need, infertile patients are more inclined to ask for multiple embryos to be transferred. That leads to higher numbers of high risk twins and triplets. Twins and triplets are a blessing, but they also carry higher lifetime health and medical needs placing a burden on already overtaxed health care systems. In Quebec the province has saved money by funding IVF and mandating single embryo transfer. The result is healthier babies born to healthier families.

At the recent local fundraiser, we were able to donate just over $2000 to Southern Ontario Fertility Technologies to be put into the compassionate care program to help couples pay for medications, treatments and health care. Not nearly enough, but something at the very least. Infertility impacts everyone; family members, couples, workplaces and support systems. The journey is difficult, emotional and financially draining. What this journey has taught me is to never give up hope, and to raise your voice. There are people struggling. There are people stressed, going into debt and in some cases families being torn apart because of their struggles with infertility. We can change that. We can stand together and raise a voice for government assisted funding for IVF treatments. 

Find your voice. Share your story. Conceivable Dreams is an Ontario group of infertility patients advocating greater infertility awareness and seeking public funding for IVF. To find out more about Conceivable Dreams, please visit their website.

Follow them on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. The conversation on social media never stops. Follow the hashtags #OHIP4ivf #onpoli to join in.

Disclaimer: I am a valued member of the Conceivable Dreams blog team. I have been paid for this post. My opinion, advocacy and story are 100 % my own.

Building hope with Conceivable Dreams

Since our miscarriage in August, I have spoken openly about the emotional turmoil, grief and guilt that have come along with the physical changes. I have talked about not understanding why this happened, blaming myself for pushing my body too hard and wanting so badly to have changed the outcome. By now, we would have known the gender and would be narrowing down names on our plentiful list.

Support from the online community has been incredible, , but having been through this once, my heart breaking thinking those couples who have been through miscarriage multiple times. Infertility and miscarriage are emotionally, physically and sometimes financially draining too. Did you know that 1 in 6 people struggle with infertility? On a full capacity standard city bus, that means that 13 of the people you are riding with are struggling with infertility. Sort of puts it into perspective, doesn’t it?

I have gotten to know some very beautiful women who have reached out during our struggle, and have told me about their own battle. Many of these women have fertility experts who have recommended that in vitro fertilization is the medically necessary treatment to help them conceive.  Did you know that there is no OHIP funding  for IVF (unless both tubes are blocked), and typically it can set the couple back $8000 to $10,000 per treatment? Many families transfer multiple embryos in the belief it will increase their chances of conceiving. While multiples are adorable, they typically wind up costing the health care system a great deal more than a healthy single baby.

One of the most powerful things that we can do for our future children is to advocate for ourselves, as women. OHIP funding would mean not only saving a couple monetary stress and hardship, but also result in fewer high risk pregnancies and reduce instance of multiple births, allowing for healthier pregnancies and healthier moms.

In Canada, Quebec is currently the only province that publicly funds IVF. Many other areas of the world invest in healthy outcomes by funding IVF. In Australia there is a successful public funding model for IVF that has helped patients deliver healthy babies. In Ontario, we know that 73 % of residents surveyed  support public funding for IVF. Still infertile people struggle and many will give up on the dream of becoming family in this province. It makes me so sad to think that our options to become parents are so few.

I encourage you to find your voice. Speak out about what you have been through. Talk about your miscarriage, or fertility struggles, reach out and find support within your community, and turn your experience into something beautiful. Support other women dealing with infertility.

The story of my miscarriage has resonated with so many women, and I am thankful that they have reached out and shared their own stories with me. We all have found ways to cope, and in our own time, have and will get through a struggle that breaks our hearts. The grief is real, the guilt is real and being silent about it is not the answer.

Find your voice.

Disclaimer: I am a valued member of the Conceivable Dreams blog team. I have been paid for this post. My opinion, advocacy and story are 100 % my own.

Please follow Conceivable Dreams on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ohip4ivf

And because there is strength in numbers please join this patient group on Facebook as well.

https://www.facebook.com/ConceivableDreams