Low-cost fertility clinic in Calgary could be Canadian first

Originally published on May 12.

If a budget baby-making clinic getsthe funding it needs to set up shop in Calgary this fall,women struggling to get pregnant mayhave a cheaper option forfertility treatments.

Traditional in vitro fertilization (IVF)can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 per cycle.

The new Calgary clinicEffortless IVF Canadapromises "IVF for half the cost" or $6,500 per cycle.

The first 100 patients will get an even better deal: $4,000 for their first treatment.

The medical startup launched the promotion and crowdfunding campaign on Thursday. If it raises enough capital, Canada's first low-cost IVF fertility clinic could open in Calgary as early as October.

Ex-MLA heads clinic

Albertans mayrecognize the president of the private clinicDr. Lyle Oberg,aformer PC cabinet minister.

He's working with thecompany's CEO,Jason Broome, toopen clinics across Canada thatwilloffer just one type of fertility treatment.

"You don't need an expensive lab, you do less testing, you use less hormones to stimulate the body, you use less ultrasounds," Oberg told the Calgary Eyeopener

"It's a much more natural process which all leads to being able to be cheaper, as well, and being more cost-effective for people."

'Plastic egg'

The procedure usesa "plastic egg" calledINVOcell, which isabout the size of a champagne cork, Oberg says.

Sperm and eggs are placed inthe egg, and thedevice is inserted insidea woman's vagina.

"The huge advantage to this is you're truly simulating the woman's natural environment. You're a couple of centimetres away from the uterus where conception normally takes place," said Oberg.

"Same temperature, same carbon dioxide concentration all of these great things that leadto a good fertilization."

After five days, INVOcell is removed and the best embryos are transferred back to the uterus.

Success rate 'about the same'

WhileINVOcellhas been approved by Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, like all new treatments, there islimited data on how well it works.

"At themoment, our success rate is about the same asIVF," said Oberg, noting the procedure hasbeen around for about a year.

"As we evolve, as we do more cycles, we'll refine the technique and hopefully we'll get our number up even higher."

The figure matches the latest clinical trial of the device, published inFebruary in theJournal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, which foundthat women who used INVOcellwerejust as likely to have alive birth as women who hadtraditional IVF treatment.

However, as a Calgary fertility doctor points out thattrial had 40 participants and only half of them got the plastic egg.

"Wealways would support reproductive choice and access in terms of different options for patients," said Dr. JosephO'Keanewith theRegional Fertility Program in Calgary."Butthis isa verynew, potential treatment."

Cheaper IVF not 'best' answer

Right nowOntario,Quebec and Manitobaare theonlyCanadian provinces that provide some public funding for IVF.

• Ontario offering 50 government-funded fertility treatment clinics
• CBC INVESTIGATES |IVF treatments drop dramatically since Quebec funding cut 6 months ago

In October, Ontarioannounced that it wouldhelp cover the cost for roughly 5,000 families trying to conceive a child.Manitoba offers atax credit for fertility treatments ofup to $8,000 a year. Quebec used to pay the full cost of IVF, but reduced itsfunding last fall.

"So the more important question, in many ways, is why is our government in this province not funding patients foraccess to IVF rather than a cheaper IVF which may or may not be helpful?" said Dr. O'Keane.

Meanwhile,Generations of Hopea Calgary charity that providesgrants to families who cannot afford traditionalIVFhas concernsabout a clinic that markets itself as low-cost.

"I worry that patients ... may try thisbecause it is cheaper, and maybe not get the best treatment for them,"said president Terri Abraham."And then they've wastedstill half the money towards a treatment."

According to theEffortless IVF website,INVOcellis not for everyone. There is a sectionthatdetailswho may or may not bea good candidate.

Oberg said the INVOcell method is already being used inclinicsin Dallas, Washington and Phoenix but Calgary could be the first dedicated site in Canada to offer this type offertility treatment.

Calgary Eyeopener6:07Low-cost fertility clinic planned for Calgary

Former Alberta cabinet minister Dr. Lyle Oberg joins us to discuss plans to open up a low-cost fertility clinic in Calgary.