Sudbury gets fertility clinic

Sudbury gets fertility clinic First fertility clinic in Northern Ontario opens in Sudbury. Callam Rodya reports.

Conception doesn't always come naturally.

For many people, starting a family can be very difficult or even impossible without seeking fertility treatment.

Here in the north east, receiving that specialized treatment has meant long and regular commutes to southern Ontario.

But now, there's a local option for people in Northern Ontario.

Doctors Jennifer Jocko and Karen Splinter of North Eastern Ontario Women’s Health Network have opened the NEO Fertility Clinic in Sudbury.

"Anywhere between one in six and one in eight couples will have trouble getting pregnant when they want to." said Splinter.

And those physical barriers can take an emotional toll.

"Resentment and anger and things like that. The struggles are very real and create a lot of stress in a relationship." said Jocko.

Medical science has come a long way, and these days, thanks to doctors like Splinter and Jocko, starting a family the old fashioned way isn't the only option.

But until now, it still wasn't easy for people in the north east.

"Women driving down to Toronto for an ultrasound that takes 10 minutes, and then driving back home. The cost to them, to their time off work, their traveling, obviously was just a bit ridiculous." said Splinter.

Now that 10-minute procedure, and virtually every other stage of fertility treatment, is for many just a 10-minute drive away.

After seeing firsthand those same struggles play out over and over, these two women’s health specialists have just opened the first fertility clinic in Northern Ontario with the simple goal: helping heterosexual couples, same sex couples, and even single women start the families they want much closer to home, all under one roof.

"Achieving fertility is now more accessible, and perhaps shorter and maybe a bit more pleasant." said Jocko.

And thanks to the previous Liberal government, all of it, except medication, is covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

"That's phenomenal right? As a physician, we want to help as many people as we can and I think it's encouraged people to say something, right? Like when they're trying to get pregnant and having trouble, to say something sooner." said Splinter.

And here in the north east, expecting to expect is now much easier to conceive.