Fertility Issue—Feature Guest Editorial
Dr. Hananel Holzer  For many individuals and couples, the desire to have a baby may be one of the most powerful they will ever experience. And for those who cannot conceive naturally, the yearning can become all the more intense. Science has made remarkable advancements in addressing fertility challenges whether they are a result of illness, aging of hopeful parents, or other factors. However, the financial costs associated with fertility treatments can be extreme and, for many, the emotional investment can be as demanding. Nearly two years ago, the Quebec Government announced that it would subsidize in vitro fertilization (IVF), making hitherto expensive treatments more accessible.
In transitioning from a private to public service, the MUHC Reproductive Centre has been working to improve our standard of care and provide treatment to many more patients in need of our services. Since 2010, the Reproductive Centre has seen a doubling of patients, but has managed to ensure the time allotted to each patient has been preserved. Though we look forward to preparing for the move to the new Glen site in 2014, we are still looking at ways to optimize how we use the space at the Royal Victoria to facilitate Quebecers looking to grow their families. The dedicated team at the MUHC Reproductive Centre includes nurses, embryologists, administrative staff, psychosocial workers and so many more people who genuinely strive to ensure our patients have a positive experience - no matter the outcome. I invite you to read through the articles of this issue of the newsletter as we celebrate the second birthday of Quebec’s Fertility Program, and take a closer look at some of the research taking place at the MUHC on how certain everyday products can have a negative effect on women’s fertility; a profile of urologist Dr. Chan who has been unrelenting in raising awareness about men’s health, including research on infertility in men and reproductive preservation for men undergoing chemotherapy, and through the annual free clinic he oversees with an equally energetic team of volunteers that provides complete health exams to Quebec men. We also have an uplifting story about a couple of special guests who dropped by the Reproductive Centre recently to clown around and offer support to women undergoing IVF treatments. » Read more ― Dr. Hananel Holzer is Medical Director of the MUHC Reproductive Centre, Director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at McGill University. |
An unusually goofy presence swept through the McGill Reproductive Centre early Wednesday morning. Sporting the biggest shoes (ever), red noses (de rigueur) and a disarmingly sweet charm, two Israeli medical clowns paid a cheerful visit to the Centre’s waiting area. 
We are surrounded by brominated flame retardants (BFRs), chemicals which are added to consumer products to reduce their flammability. They are often used in plastics, textiles and electronics and are recognized as endocrine disruptors, which can have adverse effects on health by interfering with hormonal activities. Studies have already linked the toxins in these chemicals to male infertility.
Most women who have given birth at the Royal Victoria Hospital of the MUHC know that the distance between two points is not always a straight line. With clinics and patient rooms on five different floors of the F pavilion, and the Birthing Centre and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) located in Centennial, getting there is half the battle.
