A woman in Vancouver, nearing her 39th birthday, is feeling the pressure to have a baby as time runs out for her to take advantage of the province’s free IVF program.
British Columbia launched the program in July, but recent reports revealed that funding at one of the approved clinics, Olive Fertility Centre, had already been exhausted due to high demand and increasing waitlists.
The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, shared her distress at the slow progress of her application process with Olive Fertility Centre. Despite being deemed eligible by the clinic and signing her consent in October, delays including the BCGEU strike have pushed her to the edge of potential disqualification from the program if she has to wait until next April.
Expressing frustration over the lack of clear communication and timely updates from the program, she emphasized the time-sensitive nature of her situation as her egg reserve rapidly declines. Facing the possibility of missing out on her last opportunity to conceive, she highlighted the emotional toll of dealing with infertility issues on top of navigating the complexities of the IVF program.
While grateful for the government-funded IVF opportunity, she criticized the absence of mental health support for individuals undergoing the process and questioned the program’s rushed implementation without comprehensive planning for participant well-being.
With the current program scheduled to accept applications until March 2026, concerns loom over the sustainability and inclusivity of the initiative, given the limited funding and potential exclusion of eligible candidates.