The BC government will begin offering one free cycle of IVF treatment to British Columbia residents starting April 1, 2025. The annual program costs are estimated to be about $34 million, which translates to approximately 1,700 IVF cycles. This brings BC into alignment with Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec who have been offering publicly funded IVF programs for several years.
In making this announcement, the BC Finance minister declared that "People who want to start a family should be able to, regardless of their relationship status, who they love or how much money they make".
While the announcement is certainly welcome news to many couples in BC, it is not guaranteed for everyone. The BC government has not yet announced any restrictions, however Ontario and Quebec have limited access to publicly funded IVF treatments to women under 43 and 41 years old, respectively. The BC government has also hinted at additional requirements including service delivery options and care pathways.
Ontario and Quebec have limited access to publicly funded IVF treatments to women under 43 and 41 years old, respectively.
Many couples may now be asking; If IVF is covered in BC,
should I wait until next year before beginning fertility treatments?
Given the current shortage of fertility specialists in BC, along with the ambiguity in who may qualify for publicly funded IVF treatments, my recommendation is to start treatments as soon as possible.
When it comes to unexplained infertility, most couples will benefit from acupuncture even in the absence of IVF. There is no reason to wait until mid-2025 to get started on your fertility journey. In cases where there may be underlying conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis and fibroids, acupuncture can help manage the symptoms that are acting as a barrier to becoming pregnant. It is extremely important to deal with these underlying conditions first, regardless of any future plans for IVF.
With acupuncture treatments, there is no need to wait until April 2025 to get started on your fertility journey.
In some cases, acupuncture and lifestyle changes may be all it takes to get pregnant naturally. However, acupuncture is a much more gradual process compared to IVF. At a minimum, I strongly recommend that my patients plan for at least 3 months of acupuncture treatments in order to bring about substantial improvement in their reproductive health.
If you are experiencing infertility and are looking for help, please contact me or book your appointment online.