What’s nice about Olive Fertility Centre Vancouver is that this clinic handles every step of the fertility journey in-house, from diagnostics to embryo transfer. So, patients won’t have to juggle between multiple clinics for testing, retrieval, lab work, or transfer.

Speaking of lab work, we learned that they have a lab with advanced technologies like ICSI and genetic testing, which can help with more complex cases.

We also love that the clinic includes fertility wellness services like counselling, acupuncture, mindfulness, diet, and lifestyle to help patients manage stress and emotional stress. 

On top of that, it’s heartwarming to see that they explicitly support LGBTQ2SIA+ family building, reciprocal IVF, and third-party reproduction. This type of upfront inclusivity makes for a safer and more comfortable space to be in during something significant and sensitive. 

The catch? You’ll probably have to shell out a hefty sum, especially for medication, genetic enhancements, donor gametes, storage and monitoring. 

Still, since the clinic is participating in BC’s publicly funded IVF program, eligible patients can have one IVF cycle covered, taking some financial weight off their shoulders.

Competent and caring

“Dr Woolnough and her team were amazing. Every Dr we had met during appts and ultrasounds was competent and caring.”

Sarah Vallee Injectables, Google Review

The staff and facility are exceptional

“We cannot thank you enough for making our dream come true, especially after the long and frustrating journey at the other clinic. The staff and facility are exceptional. Dr. Hitkari is not only an outstanding professional but also a highly ethical, compassionate, and caring person.”

Tanya Demchenko, Google Review

Grace Fertility offers a wide range of services, from fertility assessments and IUI to fertility surgery and genetic testing. Thanks to their comprehensive and tailored fertility care, many patients get to successfully build the family they want.

And given how daunting this can be, we appreciate that they also provide wellness programming for lifestyle guidance, stress-relief, and emotional support. Many patients mentioned how they felt more in control after being guided through the process.

Their lab safeguards and technology are worth mentioning, too. They’re one of the first clinics in Canada to adopt the RI Witness System that tracks eggs, sperm, and embryos, and Reassure 24/7 equipment for monitoring in the lab, which are more advanced safeguards that not every clinic has. 

Just a heads-up, though; we noticed some reports regarding wait times and scheduling concerns. On the bright side, they’re a participating clinic in BC’s public IVF funding program, which may also be the reason why they’re always booked. 

Amazing doctors and nurses

“It’s been quite the journey for us and we couldnt have gotten through all of it without the amazing doctors and nurses at grace fertility. Easy communication and all the care we received felt very personal which made this journey for us a whole lot easier!”

KC, Google Review

Personalized and comfortable

“We had a great experience and a great result with the staff at Grace. They are not a large operation so it feels personalized and comfortable. I would highly recommend :)”

Jayden Caramia, Google Review

PCRM, or Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine, has grown to become among the largest fertility clinics in Canada with multiple locations. This clinic can provide many services, including fertility testing, IVF, IUI, and even male infertility services. 

We like that the clinic supports fertility preservation and oncofertility (for those facing cancer treatment), since this means patients whose fertility is at risk due to medical conditions can still have a chance and find appropriate care. 

And the thing that stood out to us the most was how thorough they run diagnostics. Some patients shared that PCRM helped uncover fertility-related issues, like fibroids and endometriosis, that had been missed elsewhere, allowing doctors to provide more targeted treatments. 

But here’s what threw us off a little: their lack of continuity of care. Some patients we chatted with mentioned that they rarely see the same nurse or doctor twice, which leads to frustration and repeating medical history often.

Nonetheless, we can’t deny that PCRM is a solid choice, especially for those with more urgent or sensitive fertility risks.

Great knowledge 

“It’s been a year since I completed my egg retrieval and embyro freezing here with my partner. It was a very unexpected situation, as I was diagnosed with breast cancer rather suddenly and had to complete things before I began my treatment. Life was overwhelming to say the least, but Dr. Rubenfeld and team took wonderful care of me, and made me feel so supported in such an emotional time. They had great knowledge and knew what to do with my situation and I am extremely grateful. I’d happily recommend PCRM to anyone.”

Natalie Bridge, Google Review

Overall great and successful experience

“We had an overall great and successful experience with PCRM! We can’t thank the team enough for bringing our dream to life. The nurses are exceptional!! And although we did have some communication issues with the various doctors and support staff at times, it did not impact our overall experience. Specifically, Dr Havelock, Dr Dunne, Dr Roberts, and Dr Seethram were beyond amazing. Thank you for all that you do!”

Shelby H, Google Review

Yinstill Reproductive Wellness takes a more integrative approach when it comes to fertility care. Instead of the clinical side, they focus on addressing lifestyle, diet, stress, gut health, and emotional well-being.

This natural and holistic fertility support includes traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, fertility coaching, IVF support, and more. 

We’re particularly impressed by their wide array of testing, such as hormone panels, metabolic panels, sperm DNA fragmentation, stool and parasitology, heavy metals, and food sensitivities. This means that the care and treatment plan they provide is for your needs.

The major drawback, though, is that they don’t offer direct IVF or actual surgical/medical fertility procedures like egg retrieval, embryo culture, or other invasive ART services. So, if you’re hoping for a one-stop shop type of service, then you might need to look elsewhere.

On a positive note, they do maintain relationships with IVF clinics to coordinate care, allowing patients to bridge between natural and conventional medicine. 

Vast knowledge

“Junko at Yinstill is simply the loveliest. She makes you feel at ease with her calm, friendly nature and with her vast knowledge of all things fertility and Traditional Chinese Medicine. I’m so grateful to know her!”

Lauren March, Google Review

Great level of support 

“I’m not currently having fertility issues, but a friend recommended Yinstill for overall health before trying to conceive. The stress management benefits have been magnificent and I keep going for the great level of support I feel with every practitioner!”

Sophee, Google Review

Dr. Laura Nicholas combines conventional and naturopathic methods by using lab testing, evidence-based medicine, and naturopathic modalities to optimize fertility and wellness. It gives patients more options and potentially fewer side effects.

And we love that her support revolves around maintaining a broader scope in women’s health. So, her support covers things like infertility, IVF/IUI, miscarriage care, PCOS, etc, because fertility is tied to overall health, which means she can address root causes rather than just symptoms.

To avoid visiting multiple providers for complementary support, the clinic can also offer IV nutrient therapy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, lab testing, and gynecologic procedures (IUD insertion, etc).

As for addressing the elephant in the room, no, they don’t perform IVF procedures, egg retrievals, or embryo transfers themselves. The good thing is that they have close relationships with endocrinologists and IVF clinics where they can refer patients to without a hitch. 

Made me feel very comfortable

“Dr. Laura made me feel very comfortable; she kept me updated on exactly what she was doing and what I could expect to feel through out my procedure. I left my appointment with all my questions answered and it was overall a great experience.”

Arianna Meeres, Google Review

Very professional, quick, and efficient 

“I have only positive things to say about my experience with Dr. Laura Nicholas. She was not only patient with me and supportive, but was also very professional, quick, and efficient with the procedures (IUD removal and Pap Test). I felt like I was in the right hands to make me feel at ease.”

Alicia Reszka, Google Review