73% of Ontarians believe province should fund in-vitro fertilization

Support is highest among women and those with children

To view the Enriched Media Release, click here: http://smr.newswire.ca/en/conceivable-dreams/73-of-ontarians-believe-province-should-fund-in-vitro

TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - New survey results released today show that more than 70 per cent of Ontarians believe the province should adopt a similar policy as Québec for funding in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

"These results show that a majority of Ontarians get the argument behind public funding of IVF," said Joanne Horibe of Conceivable Dreams, a grassroots patient organization representing thousands of infertile couples across Ontario.  "Even if they can't all relate, they understand that it makes good economic sense. What's more, they now look to Québec as proof it works."

Today, one in six Ontario couples struggle with infertility.  IVF is often their best and only treatment option. However, since IVF costs on average $10,000 per treatment cycle, including medications, many couples choose to implant more than one embryo. As a result, Ontarians using IVF are 10 times more likely to have a multiple birth than those who do not. Unfortunately, multiples are 17 times more likely to be born pre-term, to require a caesarean delivery and to need expensive care at birth and throughout their lives.

Québec faced a similar problem until, in 2010, they decided to publicly fund IVF and link it to a policy of single embryo transfer. In addition to helping more couples realize their dream of starting a family, Québec was able to reduce the number of multiple pregnancies from 27.2% down to just 5.2% in just six months. It is now on track to save tens of millions of dollars as the number of twins and triplets in neonatal intensive care units begins to drop significantly

New Survey Data:

• 73 per cent of Ontarians surveyed agree that Ontario should adopt a policy of publicly funding IVF treatments that is similar to Québec's.
• 63 per cent of Ontarians surveyed agree that Ontario families should have some form of public coverage for fertility treatments.
• Within the general public, support for some form of coverage was highest among those with children at 71 per cent and women at 68 per cent.
• 55 per cent agree that cost should not be a barrier to infertile couples who need assistance with reproduction.

During Canadian Infertility Awareness Week in May, Ontarians suffering with infertility met with several Ontario MPP's of all stripes who spoke favourably to funding fertility, specifically IVF.   However, none of the party platforms include a commitment to implement the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Infertility and Adoption, which found that $400-$550 million in healthcare savings could be realized through the public funding of fertility.

"Given the 71 per cent support among those who are parents, it's obvious that there is strong support among couples who have been able to conceive naturally," added Horibe. "No doubt they appreciate the challenge in building a family and the reward when your dream comes true. During this election, we're asking for their support in making our dreams a reality as well."

Over the course of the Ontario election, Conceivable Dreams and its supporters will be asking all candidates where they stand on funding of IVF and whether they will commit to helping 1 in 6 Ontarians create families in a safe way that helps reduce costs to the healthcare system.

About Conceivable Dreams
Conceivable Dreams, the OHIP for IVF Coalition is the provincial voice for thousands of infertility sufferers and their supporters across Ontario.  Our goal is to have OHIP coverage of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) reinstated by the Ontario government.

For more information, please visit -  www.conceivabledreams.org and visit Conceivable Dreams on Facebook and on Twitter - www.twitter.com/OHIP4IVF

About Leger Marketing
Leger Marketing is the leading Canadian owned market research and polling firm with more than 600 professionals working from its Canadian and American offices.

The survey was completed on-line from Monday, August 29 - Wednesday, August 31 using Leger Marketing's Online Panel - LegerWeb.

SOURCE Conceivable Dreams