Pregnancy & fertility

Guide to Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with many questions and concerns. Having accurate information is important. Download the Public Health Agency of Canada's The Sensible Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy for reliable information on pregnancy.

Food safety for pregnant women

Both you and your unborn baby are at an increased risk for food poisoning. Protect yourself and your baby by following some simple rules.

Fertility

Many people really want to become parents by having their own children. For some people though, getting pregnant can be a real challenge. If you are having fertility problems, the good news is that there are options and medical help for many couples experiencing infertility.

Cancer and fertility

Thanks to better medicine and testing, more and more young Canadians diagnosed with cancer survive. Many people lead normal lives after overcoming their disease. But life-saving cancer treatments can affect fertility.

Fertility treatment options

Are you or your partner having fertility problems? Are you single or a same sex couple, and looking to start a family? If so, you’ll be happy to know there are many treatment options, and new practices are quickly evolving.

Getting fertility counselling

Many people who have fertility problems or are having fertility treatments feel higher levels of stress. This is very common. Thankfully, help is available.

Coping with stress

Getting fertility treatments is often described as an emotional roller coaster. One day, you may feel hopeful and excited. The next, you may feel sad and uncertain. The ups and downs of getting treatments may cause you physical, mental, and emotional stress.

Health risks of fertility treatments

Like any medical procedure, there are risks to fertility treatments. Understanding the risks, and taking steps to prevent problems can increase your chances of a having a good experience.

Fertility information by province

In Canada, the provinces and territories set policies related to fertility treatments and assisted human reproduction (AHR).

Fertility treatments outside of Canada

Thinking about getting fertility treatments outside of Canada? Then you should know about the issues and risks you might be facing.

Genetic testing and screening

Genetic testing and screening can help you find out of your baby could develop certain genetic conditions (passed on through your genes). This is usually done when there is a family history of a major health problem that is likely to be passed on to the baby.

Genetic counselling

Genetic counselling can help you and your family understand and cope with genetic conditions. It can also help you find out what options, tests, and resources are available.

Multiple births

For couples who have had problems getting pregnant, the idea of having multiples may seem exciting. But you should know that giving birth to multiples presents greater health risks to both mum and babies.

Challenges of parenting multiples

Raising multiples is quite different from raising a single baby. While there are many moments of joy, there are also many challenges. The information here can help you prepare for what to expect when you become parents of multiples.

Stories from other parents of multiples

These stories are real-world examples of people who have been pregnant with multiples. They are meant to give you an idea of the challenges you may face as parents of multiples.

Test your knowledge about multiples

There are many myths about multiples. Here are some statements: see if you can tell if they are myth or reality.

One embryo, one baby: Single embryo transfer

The goal of all fertility treatments should be the birth of a healthy baby with as few risks to the mother as possible. To do this when undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), your doctor may advise you to have a single embryo transfer (SET).

Using donors or surrogates

Many Canadians undergo fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization using their own sperm or eggs. Sometimes, though, the best or only chance of getting pregnant means using sperm, eggs, or embryos that are donated by a third party.

Become a donor

Donating sperm, eggs, or in vitro embryos to help someone else start a family is a very generous act. But because this act creates human life, it is different from other types of donation (like giving blood).

Find information about a donor

It is natural to want to know where you came from. If you were conceived using donated sperm, eggs, or in vitro embryos, the answer to that question is a bit more complicated.

Talking to your donor-conceived child

Talking to a child about his or her conception isn't an easy topic for most parents. If you used donated sperm, eggs, or in vitro embryos to conceive your child, you may be even more hesitant to talk with your children about how they were conceived.