April 24-30 is Canadian Infertility Awareness Week. The objective of the week is to raise awareness and encourage support of infertility within our communities. Many individuals face challenges on their path to parenthood, which is why education is vital. Dr. Clive Lee, a Gynecologist and Obstetrician at Humber River Health, specializes in infertility and has shared insightful information in regards to the week.

Tell us about your role.
I am a staff Gynecologist and Obstetrician and have been at Humber River Health since 1998. I am also an assistant professor at Queen’s University, a certified sub-specialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. I have been a founding partner at the Reproductive Care Centre (formerly ISIS Fertility Centre) since 1999. I practice gynecology and perform gynecology surgery, provide obstetric care and delivery at Humber River Health, and participate in resident and medical student clinical training for Queen’s University. I am involved in fertility consultation and assessments, as well as provide fertility treatments, including In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), ovulation induction, egg freezing, and donor egg/sperm at the Reproductive Care Centre.

What is infertility and who does it affect?
Infertility, by definition, is the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse. It is estimated that 1 in 6 couples experience such problems within the general population. Infertility can affect anyone in the reproductive age range and include all genders and ethnicities.

What causes infertility?
Infertility seems to be on the rise nowadays. Age is an important factor in achieving pregnancy, especially in females, more so than in males. More people are delaying having babies until later in their lives due to education or career needs, which is becoming a common reason for infertility. Other external factors such as smoking, drugs (medical or non-medical use), and obesity are also common reasons that reduce one’s ability to become pregnant.

What treatments are available?
With advancements in fertility treatments, many infertility problems can be solved. Other options are also available depending on the issue. To name a few examples:
• Ovulation disorder can be treated with ovulation induction
• Tubal problems can be treated with IVF
• Sperm disorders can be treated by either IUI or IVF ICSI
• Males who have no sperm can use donor sperm
• Females who have ovarian failure can use a donor egg.
Advancements in fertility treatments, as well as awareness of such treatments, have encouraged people to seek help.

Why is Infertility Awareness Week Important?
Infertility Awareness Week helps people understand that infertility is a common condition, and any stigma surrounding seeking help must be eliminated. It is critical to seek help early, as time is essence for better success.

Anything to add?
It is important to remember that many options are available.
Nowadays, people can even undergo egg freezing for future use. This gives females the option of banking their eggs when they younger, if they wish to become pregnant at a later age. They will be able to use the banked eggs and have a higher chance of achieving pregnancy with these younger eggs. Same-sex couples can also use donor eggs or donor sperm to have their own family. Patients diagnosed with cancer, can also freeze their eggs or sperms for future use before starting treatments, as cancer treatments may cause irreversible damage to their eggs/sperms.