KELOWNA — Infertility is a condition people often suffer in silence.
However, a group of Kelowna residents hoped to raise its profile by publicly sharing their personal stories at the Third Annual Infertility Awareness Walk, which took place Saturday afternoon.
“There are people out there we’re trying to reach to let them know they’re not alone and this is a common medical condition — there’s help available,” says Dr. Kathy Wise, a physician at the Kelowna Regional Fertility Centre.
Dr. Wise says one in six couples experience infertility.
In addition to the emotional struggles people must overcome, the hope of having a child often comes with financial challenges.
“We certainly are able to assess and diagnose it, but the treatment is not funded, so anything patients choose to pursue is unfortunately paid for privately,” says Dr. Wise.
Monica Campbell’s son and daughter-in-law have been trying to conceive but have hit a financial roadblock.
Campbell urges the government to provide financial assistance.
“We’re hoping the government will step up and provide some funding for these people, so they don’t have to spend their whole lives’ savings and go broke trying to have a baby,” says Campbell.
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