Getting Started
Welcome to Genesis Fertility Centre. Here is some information to help you get started with your fertility treatment at Genesis.
Booking an appointment
Booking an appointment at Genesis is easy. You can book in one of three ways:
- 1 Your referring physician’s staff calls us and books an appointment for you.
- 2 Your referring physician completes our referral form and faxes it to us; we call you to book your appointment.
- 3 If you don’t have a referral, you may call us directly to book your appointment. There is a $100 nonrefundable fee for a consultation without a referral.
Your first visit
When you arrive for your first visit you will:
Complete a Patient History Form
Have an in-depth consultation with one of our fertility specialists. Click here to see other history forms.
At your appointment, the doctor will review the results of your diagnostic tests and those of your partner, and arrange additional testing for both of you if necessary. Your appointment takes approximately one hour, and you will have a chance to ask questions and discuss your concerns and treatment goals with the doctor at this time.
Common fertility tests
Women
Common tests for women include blood tests that measure your hormone levels and indicate your egg quality. As well, we examine your fallopian tubes and uterus with a special x-ray (HSG).
- Day 3 follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol
- Prolactin
- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Tests for chicken pox and rubella immunity
- Blood Type
- HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis testing
- Hysterosalpingogram
- Hysteroscopy
Men
- Semen analysis
- Blood work including: hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV testing
Most fertility tests are covered by MSP.
Your Personal Treatment Plan
Every couple’s fertility situation is unique. Based on your fertility evaluation and your treatment goals, you and your doctor will decide on a personalized treatment plan that is best for you.
Genesis offers a complete range of fertility treatment, including:
- In vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection ICSI
- Superoverulation
- Clomiphene treatment
- Egg freezing
- Sperm freezing
- Donor sperm
Orientation
Superovulation, IVF and ICSI fertility treatments begin with an orientation where you will learn more about your treatment process. At your orientation, you and your partner will have a chance to ask questions, learn how to administer your medication, plan your treatment schedule and discuss payment options.
Your doctor’s booking assistant will schedule an orientation session with a nurse.
A typical orientation includes:
- 1 A vaginal ultrasound to assess your ovaries (you don’t need to have a full bladder).
- 2 A meeting with a nurse where you and your partner discuss the process involved, patient consent, and information regarding medication and injections that may be used in your treatment.
- 3 A chance to meet with a representative from the accounting department to discuss payment options.
If you are having IVF or ICSI, you can expect your orientation to last about two hours.
We encourage you to see the Genesis video on IVF & ICSI to prepare for your orientation. You can access the video here.
Booking tests
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
This is an x-ray to determine if your tubes are open and your uterus is of normal shape. During this process, a radiologist injects x-ray dye through your cervix in order to fill the cavity inside your uterus and your tubes. The dye can be seen on the x-ray video screen, and a few pictures will be taken. Some women find this test to be quite “crampy,” so we suggest that you take 2 tablets of Advil, Ibuprofen, or Motrin about one hour prior to the procedure.
On cycle day one (the first day of your period), call the radiology clinic at Laurel (604.879.7726) or UBC to book an appointment for an HSG. They will organize the appointment between days 7 and 13 of your cycle. Take the requisition with you to the appointment.
If you live out of town (Vancouver Lower Mainland), please contact your family doctor and/or gynaecologist to organize the HSG for you.
Hysteroscopy
A hysteroscopy is a procedure where the doctor passes a hysteroscope — a narrow telescope like instrument — through your vagina and cervix and into the uterus to see if there are any problems with your uterus.
You can arrange to have hysteroscopy done by one of the Genesis Fertility Centre doctors by calling the clinic on day 1 of your cycle. (See Contact Information.)
For more information click here.
Semen Test
If possible, please take the semen sample to an MDS Metro Lab. Additional instructions and a list of their labs that accept semen samples can be found here. A courier transports the samples to a main lab for analysis, so please call the local lab to confirm the time for specimen drop-off.
The lab must receive the specimen within one hour of collection.
A sterile specimen container can be picked up at our clinic or any local lab.
Semen testing can also be performed at the Genesis laboratory for a fee. For more information click here.
For more information on fertility evaluations and tests, see: