An in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic located in southern Ontario will soon offer services in the northern community of Sudbury.

The Markham Fertility Center (MFC) recently announced it would partner with clinics in Barrie-Innisfil, Orillia and Sudbury and open a satellite clinic in the city.

Renee Higgins, of Sudbury, recently gave birth to her son, Jackson, via IVF on October 19. November 6, 2024 (Amanda Hicks/CTV Northern Ontario)

Renee Higgins of Sudbury recently gave birth to her son, Jackson, via IVF on October 19.

Higgins said the feeling was surreal after what seemed like a long road.

“It’s hard to explain in words what it feels like to be here,” she said.

“You know, we’ve been trying since Christmas 2019, so we’re almost five years later now to finally have him in our arms. And it was just unreal. I’ve never been happier. I’ve never felt like that. I look at him and I start crying sometimes because I can’t believe he’s actually there.

Higgins became pregnant on her seventh IVF trial, thanks to treatment at the Markham Fertility Center (MFC).

Higgins estimates she and her husband have traveled to southern Ontario at least 50 times, at a cost of $100,000.

Throughout her journey, she has become an advocate for infertility and has long hoped for better access to IVF services in the North.

She has worked closely with MFC in an attempt to expand their services in Northeastern Ontario.

“It’s just going to open the door to a lot more people.” And it’s not just in Sudbury that this helps,” Higgins said.

“Tons of people all over northern Ontario were passing through Sudbury on their way to Toronto, so this will help them as well.”

Dr. Meivys Garcia, an infertility specialist at MFC, said 30 to 40 per cent of his patients come from outside the Greater Toronto Area.

“Fertility care is difficult for people,” Garcia said.

“It’s expensive. It takes a long time. Sometimes the journey can be very long. So there are already obstacles no matter where you live. But to those obstacles, you know, you add more five, six.” -hours of travel.”

She said the satellite clinics would reduce travel time as well as travel and accommodation costs.

“Thanks to satellite monitoring, patients can now, in their own community, take about 10 minutes, 15 minutes or less than an hour to go and have satellite monitoring, blood tests, ultrasound,” he said. Garcia said.

“They’ll meet the nurse there. They’ll be able to get their medications. And then the doctor, the fertility specialist, will get that information. They’ll be able to get the instructions for the next step, and they can do it in their communities.

Recently, the Ford government announced $150 million over two years to improve access to fertility services and the addition of a tax credit to help families seeking IVF services.

“It feels like my three biggest dreams all came true in two weeks, after, you know, five years of racing to get there,” Higgins said.

“It’s just unreal. I can’t even describe in words how I feel.”

In Sudbury, MFC will partner with the WELL Health clinic on Larch Street. Garcia said that if patients use IVF services and additional treatment is needed, patients are under no obligation to use MFC.

“We want to make sure this satellite site can work with other fertility clinics so that patients, regardless of which fertility clinic they choose to work with, have access to it,” she said.

Garcia said they are currently looking for a nurse to work at the Sudbury clinic and over the next few months they will begin moving equipment.

They plan to offer IVF services by spring 2025.

Higgins said she is enjoying motherhood and will continue to share her story and advocate for people struggling with infertility.

“When I was there, I often found myself searching for success stories on Google and that’s what gave me a lot of hope. That’s why I continue to share my story,” she said. she declared.

“I hope people see me as an unlikely success story and that if they choose to continue treatment, they will find some inspiration and hope.”