Emily’s Experience with HFC’s Natural Conception Program
Emily had a vision for how she wanted to approach fertility treatment. She found the care she needed at HFC — and recently welcomed a healthy baby into her family.
Written by Corrina Allen
Emily and her husband had been trying to get pregnant for about a year when she decided to look into her options for fertility support.
When starting to consider fertility care, many patients go into it feeling anxious or sensitive, and Emily was no exception. “Often you're already feeling like, ‘What's wrong with me?’” Emily said. In our society, she added, “there's judgement around age and lifestyle and weight — and that made me nervous because I was already feeling very stressed about this. I was really scared that that was going to be my experience.”
At 33, Emily was clear about the kind of care she wanted to pursue. Though she knew she’d be willing to do IVF if necessary, her preference was to pursue low-intervention treatments first — and she wanted to find a clinic where she could be supported while exploring all her options.
While researching fertility clinics in Toronto, Emily read about Hannam Fertility Centre’s Natural Conception Program (NCP). The NCP team is made up of fertility-focused family physicians and nurses who help patients conceive through low-intervention treatments, including medication, timed intercourse, and insemination. HFC physicians also collaborate with HFC’s onsite Naturopathic Team to create a truly comprehensive, holistic care plan for each patient.
“The environment that they’ve curated at Hannam is very peaceful.”
At HFC, Emily found a team of fertility professionals who were there to listen to her and support her as she pursued treatments that were in line with her goals, values, and comfort. She also felt the clinic was a welcoming space. “Anytime I had to go into the clinic, I had a really good experience. The environment that they've curated at Hannam is very peaceful,” said Emily. “Even when I had to go in for a procedure or something that was not pleasant, I always felt a sense of calm there. Sometimes when you go to the doctor it's a crazy environment — but this was a very calming experience,” she added.
Emily got started by undergoing fertility testing with her NCP physician, including blood work and imaging. At the same time, she also consulted with an onsite Naturopathic Doctor.
Her comprehensive care plan included vitamins and supplements, coupled with a routine that helped improve her sleep, fitness, and stress. She also proceeded with cycle monitoring, including a medication that helped her body ovulate and made it possible for her to conceive at home.
“I feel like they put me in a place where my body was ready to have a baby, which was so important to my journey and for eventually carrying my baby to term.”
While pregnant, she continued to see her Naturopathic Doctor at HFC. This support helped her feel healthy throughout her pregnancy as well as during labour and childbirth. “Having the naturopathic clinic within the clinic demonstrated that this was a very integrated experience,” says Emily. “I feel like they put me in a place where my body was ready to have a baby, which was so important to my journey and for eventually carrying my baby to term.”
When it comes to fertility, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. “One thing will work for one person but it won't work for another person. It has to be an individualized experience,” says Emily.
At HFC, she felt empowered to seek the type of care she’d hoped for. “If I could recommend one thing, it would be to find someone who's going to support your vision. That's the most important thing. I felt very supported in pursuing my natural journey,” she shared.
“I never felt rushed. I just felt supported in all the decisions I was choosing,” she continued. And today, Emily’s baby is 18 weeks old.
