ADVERTISEMENT MARCH 2025 | HEALTHINSIGHT.CA
@MediaplanetCA
Please recycle
A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
N AV I G AT I N G
Parenthood DR. MARJORIE DIXON FROM ANOVA FERTILITY
on Why Inclusive Fertility Matters Dr. Marjorie Dixon shares her insights on inclusivity in fertility and helping diverse individuals navigate their pathway to parenthood. Tania Amardeil
D
r. Marjorie Dixon, Founder, CEO, and Medical Director of Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health, is a passionate advocate for inclusive fertility care. Tania from Mediaplanet spoke with her about the evolution of reproductive care, common misconceptions, and how Anova is making parenthood more accessible.
Tania: Fertility is often perceived as a journey for heterosexual couples. Can you elaborate on the concept of inclusive fertility and how fertility care is evolving to be more inclusive of 2SLGBTQI+ couples and single prospective parents? Dr. Dixon: The idea of “what is a family” and how families are created has evolved. Although the individual needs of each patient varies, we see and treat all patients, regardless of their marital status, sexual identity, preference or race.
Family-building for the 2SLGBTQI+ community often involves additional steps, including legal considerations, finding inclusive health care providers, and navigating options like sperm or egg donation, surrogacy and adoption. These technologies give those in historically marginalized communities the chance to become parents.
Tania: What are some common misconceptions about fertility treatments? Dr. Dixon: Fertility health is multifaceted and doesn’t discriminate. One in six Canadian couples experiences infertility, including individuals from all ethnicities, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses. It’s not solely determined by age or lifestyle factors — genetics, medical history, and environmental factors also play a role. Contrary to common misconceptions, fertility awareness isn’t solely for women. Men play an equally essential role in the conception process. Understanding factors like sperm quality, quantity, and lifestyle choices is key.
Tania: What options are available for those exploring their fertility journey? Dr. Dixon: At Anova, we provide
customized fertility care options to support all patients. We offer a range of services like egg freezing, in vitro fertilization (IVF), third-party reproduction, genetic testing, and embryo selection for couples with specific genetic conditions. Egg donation and gestational surroFertility health gacy are available, is multifaceted as well as reciproand doesn’t cal IVF for lesbian discriminate. couples and gestational surrogacy with various egg donor options for male couples. For transgender patients, we offer gamete extraction and gestational surrogacy with egg donation.
Tania: When should someone consider seeking fertility care? Dr. Dixon: The earlier, the better! Early fertility assessments provide insight into ovarian reserve, sperm quality, hormone levels, and overall reproductive health, enabling proactive planning for patients. By understanding your fertility health as early as possible, you can make informed decisions about your future family planning.
Meet Your Trusted Partner, Anova Fertility, on Your Pathway to Parenthood More than just a fertility clinic, Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health is a trusted friend in your journey to parenthood.
A Kim Kopyl Chief Growth Officer, Anova Fertility
nova Fertility’s value of delivering exceptional individualized, inclusive and innovative care is precisely what fertility patients need to feel supported and empowered in their journey. With offices across Ontario, including North York, Toronto, Guelph, and Waterloo, Anova offers curated fertility journeys tailored to each patient. “Anova Fertility was founded on the premise that all patients have a fundamental right to access fertility care and to become parent(s),” says Kim Kopyl, Chief Growth Officer at Anova Fertility. “As your friends in fertility, we hold your hand, every step of the way throughout your family building journey,” says Kopyl.
A patient-centric philosophy “Our award-winning team sees more than the patients behind the charts” says Kopyl, “We see their future family. We appreciate their unique pathways to parenthood, and we’ve dedicated our practice to providing a compassionate, inclusive, and respectful environment for all patients. ”
“Our five core pillars — empathy, innovation, friendliness, inclusion, and privacy — shape every aspect of care at Anova,” says Kopyl. “Empathy means we recognize the deeply personal nature of fertility care and ensure every patient feels heard and supported. Innovation keeps us at the forefront of reproductive medicine, making advanced treatments accessible while ensuring patients fully understand their options. Friendliness and inclusion create a welcoming space where patients feel comfortable, not just like a number,” says Kopyl.
Supporting all patients Anova Fertility offers fertility assessments, egg freezing, IVF, IUI, ovulation induction, oncofertility, 2SLGBTQIA+ family building, and wellness therapy. “Our team of expert doctors use key results, along with other factors such as medical history, age, lifestyle, and genetics to create unique treatment plans to improve chances of conception. We try to look at everything, from genetic testing to addressing nutrient and vitamin deficiencies with IV vitamin infusion therapy,” says Kopyl.
Anova’s state-of-the-art on-site embryology lab is recognized as the top embryology lab in Canada, and its team is second to none. “We continually place extraordinary effort and make ongoing financial investments towards advancing our laboratory technology. We think about every aspect of the lab, from airtight, double air-locked windows to ensure air quality is never compromised, to time-lapse incubators that allow us to capture every moment of embryo development. All these different technologies ensure that we maintain the quality of the genetic material, optimizing our patients’ outcomes even in the face of any challenges,” says Kopyl. Beyond medical treatments, Anova offers a full spectrum of support and wellness, including fertility counselling, peer support groups, integrative wellness options like nutrition, IV vitamin therapy, and acupuncture, to optimize the highest success rates and to ensure that patients feel cared for at every level.
Book your appointment now, with Your Friends in Fertility at anovafertilty.com for your free consultation. This article was sponsored by Anova Fertility.
Publishers: Avery Hall, Emily Hellam Business Development Manager: Sarah Ferreira Content Strategy Manager: Nicole Kansakar Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Production & Delivery Manager: Michael Taylor Creative Director: Kylie Armishaw Digital Designer: Miranda Robinson Digital Media Manager: Karm Rathod All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve Toronto Life Magazine or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.