'Absolutely amazing:' How a Halifax fertility clinic helps P.E.I. couples have babies

A fertility clinic in Halifax is helping P.E.I.couples who want to have children.

Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies is a not-for-profit clinic run by a group of obstetriciansand gynaecologists from Dalhousie University. Its services include freezing sperm, eggs and embryos, as well as in vitro fertilization.

To deliver a baby that you've made in an IVF lab is absolutely amazing.- Dr. Linda Hamilton

Dr. Linda Hamilton told CBC News she and her colleagues have done close to 20 in-vitro cycles for couples from P.E.I. Hamilton calls the work extremely gratifying when it is successful.

"Infertility is something that crushes families. It's terrible. We spend most of our life trying not to get pregnant and then when we try to and we can't it's incredibly frustrating," said Hamilton.

"To be able to turn that around and turn it into a baby, particularly to deliver a baby that you've made in an IVF lab is absolutely amazing."

Hamilton said in-vitro treatments are not covered by the governments of P.E.I. or Nova Scotia. Each cycle costs roughly $6,500. Medications on top of that can cost between $2,500 and $10,000.

Hamilton said between 10 and 15 per cent of couples have some form of infertility issue.

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