Fertility Benefits Campaigns

'Fertility Benefits Matter' is a national awareness campaign launched in Canada on February 2nd. The campaign is a collaborative project by Conceivable Dreams, "a volunteer-run patient group that advocates for equitable access to fertility treatments," and Fertility Matters Canada, "the national organization that empowers Canadians to reach their reproductive health goals."

With many Canadians facing fertility challenges while trying to conceive, studies show that the majority of the nation's employers don't offer fertility benefits, with those that do limiting funding access to an average of $3,500. This lack of funding access has left many families in debt due to high treatment and drug costs. Moreover, these stats are especially devastating as the number of Canadian couples facing fertility challenges has doubled over the last 40 years.

"In Canada, the average cost of one round of IVF is approximately $20,000 and surrogacy costs upwards of $80,000," leaving many fertility benefits programs unable to cover minimum costs. In addition to raising awareness about the importance of inclusive fertility benefits for all, the Fertility Benefits Matter campaign aims to remove the stigma surrounding fertility discussions in the workplace as they can be a taboo subject, forcing those facing challenges to suffer in silence.

The campaign was teased in a compelling panel discussion earlier this week, moderated by Wendy Litner, "a lawyer-turned-writer and creator of the Emmy nominated CBC original digital series, How to Buy a Baby." Litner spoke with panelists Dr. Marjorie Dixon, Conceivable Dreams Advisor and Founder of Anova Fertility, Tara Wood, Fertility Patient, Advocate and, President of Conceivable Dreams, and Maria Fraga, Global Head of Benefits and Wellness at Manulife.