Why Twig Fertility?

How we think about care

At Twig, we’re on a mission to relentlessly pursue a better fertility experience for one and all. We believe that great fertility care requires a balance of both medicine and manner – that beyond great physicians and a best in class lab, patients need compassionate care to have a better fertility experience.

How we deliver our care

We have reimagined every aspect of the clinical experience to be more thoughtful, more personal and more comfortable for you. Our new clinic is tech-enabled at every stage of your journey for a more integrated, convenient approach to your care. 

Our on-site embryology lab is built with state-of-the-art equipment, including a world-class air system and timelapse incubator, designed to achieve the best possible outcomes.

We also have an in-house pharmacy that makes it simple and convenient to get the medications you need, all in one place. 

Who we care for

We are pleased to champion inclusivity and welcome all people regardless of their gender identification, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, ability or HIV status. We proudly serve the LGBT2SQ+ community, and are a trans-affirming space that is mindful of ensuring everyone feels welcome in every aspect of their care.

We believe in a holistic approach to achieve the best outcomes. That is why we have an in house reproductive counsellor and a range of wellness partners, from acupuncture, to nutrition and coaching. You can learn more about our support and wellness offerings here.

Once your initial consult is booked, you will receive communications from us that walk you through how to prepare for your first appointment and what to expect throughout your journey with us. 

You can book your consult directly with us, no need for a referral from your family doctor.

Yes, Twig has an on-site specialty pharmacy that is fully accredited by the Ontario College of Pharmacists and run by our team of knowledgeable pharmacists. Our pharmacy makes it simple and convenient to get the fertility medications you need. We also offer direct billing for your insurance coverage. 

You can learn more about Our Pharmacy here.

General

It is never too early to start thinking about your fertility. If you are already trying to conceive, planning to start a family soon, or think that having a family is in your future, we can help answer any questions you may have. 

If you are in a relationship where one partner has eggs and the other sperm, and neither of you have any medical conditions that increase your risk of infertility, you should see a fertility specialist if you have not conceived after;

  • 12 months if the person with eggs is under the age of 35
  • 6 months if the person with eggs is between the ages of 35 and 40
  • Within 3 months if the person with eggs is over the age of 40.

 

If you are single or need to use donor eggs, donor sperm or a gestational carrier to build your family, we recommend you meet with a fertility clinic as soon as you are ready to learn more about the process of family building. 

There is no one size fits all path when it comes to fertility. Your treatment plan will be personalized to you. Your physician will customize a plan for you based on your history, test results, and family building goals.

No, you do not need a referral to book an appointment; however, getting a referral prior to your initial consult will allow the consult to be covered by OHIP. You are welcome to ask for a referral from your family physician or we would be happy to book you a virtual appointment with Tia Health to facilitate a referral if you are an Ontario resident.

All patients, visitors, and support persons coming into Twig Fertility are encouraged to wear a mask. Anyone with mild cough/cold symptoms will be asked to wear a mask in the clinic and are encouraged to stay home if they are not well. 

 

Egg Freezing

There are a number of reasons why someone may choose to freeze their eggs, including focusing on professional pursuits, finding the right partner or feeling more financially stable. Whatever your reason, we’re here to support your short and long-term reproductive goals. 

Some key factors when considering egg freezing are: 

  1. Egg count
    • Eggs are a nonrenewable resource. People with ovaries are born with a finite number of eggs and over time that number declines. 
  2. Egg quality
    • Egg quality declines over time. As you age, the percentage of eggs with genetic abnormalities increases. 
  3. Fertility & age
    • Fertility naturally decreases as we age. This decline accelerates around our mid-30s. 

You can learn more about egg freezing here.

Any estrogen-containing birth control (ie. birth control pills or patches) interferes with our ability to check your hormone levels and stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs. For this reason, it has to be temporarily stopped while you do your egg freezing cycle. Your physician will work with you to ensure you have a personalized plan for stopping and restarting your birth control. 

If you have an IUD in place it does not have to be removed in order to freeze your eggs.

An egg freezing cycle takes approximately 2 weeks, during which time your  ovaries are stimulated to grow multiple mature eggs. The eggs are then retrieved by a physician during a short procedure before being frozen and stored for future use. From consult to completion, the entire process takes around 2-3 months.

We’re pleased to offer fertility preservation including egg freezing for trans men and sperm freezing for trans women. You can learn more about our inclusive, affirming approach to care and additional services for the LGBT2SQ+ community

IVF

All fertility journeys begin with a consult and assessment by your physician. Based on your medical history, test results and reproductive goals, your physician will review the treatment options available to you. They may recommend IVF as the best choice for you, or they may offer you a trial of a less invasive type of treatment first. You can learn more about doing IVF at Twig Fertility here.

Yes, we offer preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) of embryos. For patients who pursue PGT, we perform embryo biopsies in our own embryology lab and then freeze and store your embryos on site while we wait for the genetic testing  results. In addition to PGT for chromosomal screening (PGT-A), we also offer PGT for single gene testing (PGT-M). 

Costs & Coverage

For those needing help to build their families, OHIP covers most of the initial visits and tests that you will encounter along your fertility journey. This includes appointments with your physician, ultrasounds, most blood tests, and semen analysis. OHIP also covers cycle monitoring for timed intercourse cycles.

The costs associated with fertility treatment vary greatly depending on what type of treatment you do. At Twig, we believe in keeping our prices as simple and transparent as possible. Once you and your physician have created a care plan that’s right for you, you will meet with our billing coordinator to review any costs associated with your treatment. For more information, check out our pricing page. 

Medication is not included in the cost of treatment; however, some drug costs are covered by private insurance. Our care team will work closely with you to ensure you receive maximum coverage for supported services.

At this time, Twig does not have access to government funded IVF cycles through the Ontario Fertility Program. 

Yes, we work with a partner, Humm, who can support you with financing your fertility treatment.

Yes, there are! Modern Miracle and Fertility Friends both provide financial support for those going through fertility treatment.

Further questions?

Contact Us