The Ontario government recently announced the opening of two new publicly funded fertility clinics offering in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, located in Brampton and Oakville. This initiative is part of a broader provincial effort to enhance access to fertility care, following a $250 million investment over three years announced in June 2025 to expand the Ontario Fertility Program (OFP).
Understanding IVF Treatment
In vitro fertilization involves creating an embryo outside the body in a laboratory before implanting it into the uterus. The process typically includes hormone therapy to stimulate egg production, egg retrieval via ultrasound-guided needle, fertilization with sperm in a petri dish, and embryo transfer. Embryos may be screened for genetic defects and frozen for future use. Artificial insemination is another fertility treatment option available.
Costs and Coverage
The Ontario Fertility Program covers one IVF cycle per lifetime, including egg retrieval, fertilization, and implantation of all created embryos. Without OFP funding, a single cycle can cost patients up to $12,000. However, patients must pay out-of-pocket for medications (often $5,000), genetic testing ($2,000 to $5,000), and annual storage fees for frozen embryos (up to $1,500). The province offers a Fertility Treatment Tax Credit allowing Ontarians to claim 25% of uncovered costs, up to $5,000 annually.
Emily McIntosh, executive director of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society, noted that many families require three IVF cycles for a live birth, suggesting that expanded coverage for additional cycles could be beneficial. Previously, OHIP covered all fertility treatments until 1994, when coverage was limited to IVF for bilateral tubal obstructions.
