How long is the wait time?
Our current wait time is approximately 3 months.
Do I need a referral?
Yes, you need a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner. If you do not have a family physician, you can obtain a referral from a walk-in clinic, VirtualCareNS, or virtual care providers in other provinces. More information can be found on our Referral page: Referral — Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies (aart.ca).
Referrals are required for new patients as well as returning patients who have not had an appointment with a physician at AART in over 12 months.
Most Initial Assessment appointments for patients with a valid Health Card from NS, NB, PEI and Newfoundland are covered through your provincial healthcare program. Appointments that are not covered by provincial healthcare programs attract a fee as outlined on our fee schedule: Fees — Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies (aart.ca)
Did you receive my referral?
You can send us an email to info@aart.ca or call us at 902-404-8600 to confirm your referral has been received. If you are sending an email, please include your first and last name as well as your date of birth.
What do I have to do before my initial assessment appointment?
All new patients are required to complete an intake questionnaire prior to their first appointment.
Can my partner attend with me?
Yes, your partner should attend with you.
Is there any testing I can get done while waiting?
It is recommended that your primary care provider (e.g., family physician) complete the investigations listed in the following link prior to your initial assessment: Referring Patients — Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies (aart.ca)
Is there an age limit for treatment?
AART’s age limit for IVF is under 44 years of age. More information on our age limit policy can be found on this page: Policies — Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies (aart.ca)
Is there a BMI limit for treatment?
There is no BMI limit to be seen for an initial assessment. For surgical and conscious sedation safety reasons, a patient has a BMI greater than or equal to 40 they will not be offered IVF at AART. AART may perform Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and Donor Insemination (DI) for patients with a BMI greater than or equal to 40. AART can also perform a frozen embryo transfer (FET) of one embryo for patients who have a BMI greater than or equal to 40. The risks that morbid obesity present to the patient and fetus will be discussed with the patient prior to the procedure.
More information on our BMI policy can be found on this page: Policies — Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies (aart.ca)
What can I expect in my initial assessment appointment?
Your physician will ask you questions about your health history, and your partner’s health history (if applicable). If the appointment is in person, they may do an examination. They will order investigations based on the information you have provided.
The four short “patient information” videos on this page provide an introduction to AART, an overview of your clinic appointment, and an overview of IVF treatment (if applicable): Videos — Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies (aart.ca)
I have not yet been to the clinic in person. What is the clinic like?
The video on this page called “AART Clinic Tour” provides a tour of AART: Videos — Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies (aart.ca)