Fertility Services
We see you. We hear you. No fertility journey is the same. The best way to know which services apply to you, and what the specific cost will be for your treatment, is to meet with one of our ARC Physicians.
Fertility or Family Planning Consultation
At your initial consultation, you will meet with one of our ARC Physicians who specialize in fertility care. They will review your medical history along with your personal dreams for building your family. They will order any investigations you still need. Your ARC Physician will make a personalized treatment plan that takes into account your needs – physically, emotionally, financially. It is important to us that you feel understood and supported. Your ARC Physician will guide your care and meet with you on a regular basis throughout your journey.
Your consultations and investigations are covered by your Alberta Health insurance. For additional information on your initial consultation at ARC, please visit our FAQ page.
Surgery
Some barriers to getting pregnant may be correctable with surgery. Our ARC Physicians are advanced reproductive surgeons who operate at several area hospitals.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
IVF is one of the most innovative fields in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), where eggs and sperm are combined in the ARC Laboratory to create embryos. IVF has helped many hopeful parents complete their families in challenging circumstances. The ovaries are first stimulated with medication to produce multiple eggs which are then retrieved (surgically removed) from the ovaries. To fertilize a retrieved egg, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) may be performed where one sperm is chosen and injected directly into an egg using a tiny micropipette by one of our Embryologists. ICSI may be recommended prior to, or on the day of fertilization, depending on the parameters of the sperm sample. ARC is here to support you during your personal IVF journey with our experienced Embryologists, Andrologists, Nurses, Pharmacists, and Physicians in our state-of-the-art facility.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
IUI involves placing a sperm sample directly into the uterus during the most fertile window. Sperm preparation involves the collection of a fresh sample of sperm, or thawing a previously frozen sample of sperm. The sample is then washed to remove debris, abnormal sperm, and immotile sperm, to provide a concentrated sample of the best sperm for careful placement inside the uterus. Our ARC team will care for you during your personalized IUI treatment, whether it involves your natural cycle, the use of medications, or ultrasound monitoring.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing
Preimplantation Genetic Testing — for Aneuploidy (PGT-A), for specific diagnosed mutations (PGT-M) or for chromosomal rearrangements (PGT-SR) are tests that can be performed on embryos during IVF. PGT-A tests for the number of chromosomes of an embryo allowing for a chromosomally normal embryo can be transferred to the uterus. PGT-M tests for a specific already known genetic condition that may be passed onto offspring. PGT-SR tests for embryos with an unbalanced amount of genetic material in patients with a known chromosomal rearrangements. At ARC, our goal is to support you during your personal fertility journey and help you understand your options for treatment.
Donor Eggs and Sperm
Donor eggs and sperm have opened the door to more fertility treatment possibilities using an anonymous third party. Whether you are ready for this step in your fertility journey, a member of our LGBTQ2SIA+ community, or a single parent by choice, our dedicated and holistic team of medical experts are ready to care for you every step of the way.
Fertility Preservation (Eggs, Sperm, Embryos)
Freezing your eggs, sperm or embryos now, opens the possibility to start your family in the future. Fertility preservation is important for people who have reason to believe their fertility could be affected by medical conditions or planned treatments — those for example with endometriosis, undergoing a vasectomy, planning gender affirming hormones, or requiring cancer therapies (surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy). Fertility preservation is also used to protect against a decline in fertility due to aging, therefore empowering you to start your family on your own timeline. We understand the importance of keeping fertility options open for your future. Egg freezing involves stimulating the ovaries with medications, retrieving multiple eggs, and keeping them frozen until you are ready to build your family. Sperm cryopreservation for future use is similarly performed in our secure state-of-the-art facility. In some circumstances, non-IVF treatments are also available for fertility preservation. We are committed to the need for urgent and compassionate care.
Semen Analysis
A semen analysis is one of the first steps to investigate for sperm factor infertility. A semen analysis can be performed through Alberta Health Services or ARC. A semen analysis provides information about the sperm in the ejaculate. A semen analysis measures the following parameters:
- Volume (ml): amount of ejaculate
- Concentration (million/mL): amount of sperm in each mL of ejaculate
- Total Sperm Count (million): total amount of sperm in the ejaculate
- Motility (%): percentage of sperm that are moving in the ejaculate
- Morphology (%): percentage of sperm that look normal in the ejaculate
- Sperm Antibodies: a test looking for special proteins (antibodies) that fight against sperm (note: this test is important but is not done routinely, and must be specifically ordered)
Examination of these parameters will allow for the assessment of reproductive function and give direction on the appropriate treatment for individuals and couples.
Sperm Cryopreservation
Sperm Cryopreservation is the process of freezing sperm for your future use. You should consider sperm freezing before a procedure that may interfere with sperm parameters (eg. cancer treatments, vasectomy, gender affirming hormone therapy, or testicular/inguinal/prostate surgery), if you have trouble producing a semen sample for IUI or IVF, you have an increased chance of injury to you or your testicles, or of death (eg. military service, firefighters, police, athletes, high risk hobbies), or you will be away while your partner undergoes fertility treatment. Whether you are cryopreserving sperm for medical or personal reasons, we are here to understand your dreams and help you plan for your future.
Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing
Sperm DNA fragmentation is a test used to determine the number of “breaks” in the genetic material of the sperm. This test is not routinely ordered but may be recommended based on your past treatment by your ARC Physician. Causes of high sperm DNA fragmentation in sperm can be attributed to such things as a varicocele, infection, oxidative stress, radiation, or chemical exposure as well as certain genetic conditions. Results of this test are reported as a DNA Fragmentation Index Percentage (DFI%). A combination of techniques are used at ARC to overcome a high DFI%.
Satellite Patients
For patients who are living in or near Edmonton, but who are working with a fertility clinic outside of Edmonton, we offer the convenience of care at ARC. We can assist you with services such as follicle and endometrial thickness ultrasound monitoring, saline infusion sonohysterogram, bloodwork and dispensing of fertility medications.
To access this service, please have your clinic who is providing treatment fax a Satellite Referral Form to ARC at (587) 442-2757.
