75% of Ontarians support IVF funding: poll

A group lobbying for government funding of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is citing a new poll that suggests most Ontarians would support the move.

The Leger Marketing survey found three-quarters of 969 Ontarians 25 years and older support IVF funding similar to the policy in Quebec. The poll was conducted Sept. 19-21 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

“We’re disappointed that no party has acknowledged the support of Ontarians towards funding IVF,” Joanne Horibe of Conceivable Dreams said in a news release. “It’s a missed opportunity that would improve health outcomes and reduce costs.”
 
The organization, which represents infertile couples in the province, argues funding three cycles of IVF would dissuade couples – who pay $10,000 on average for each procedure – from trying to save money and increase their chances by transferring several embryos at a time.

Conceivable Dreams said the resulting multiple births lead to more premature babies, C-sections and costly care at birth and throughout the children’s lives.

In 2009, the Expert Panel on Infertility and Adoption estimated the decrease in IVF-related multiple births would save the province between $400 million and $550 million.

Last year, Quebec became the first jurisdiction in Canada to publicly fund IVF treatments. One year later, it has brought the rate of multiple births down to 5.2 per cent from 27 per cent.

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