Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

  • Yes, as long as IVF is not the only treatment option for your infertility. Otherwise, you are eligible if you've been trying to conceive for at least 12 months, or for 6 months and are over 35 or have irregular cycles. 

  • Yes, you're eligible even if you already have a child but are now having difficulty conceiving. 

  • Yes, the study was designed with PCOS in mind. The BMI eligibility is 27 or higher for those with PCOS, rather than the standard 30. 

  • It depends. If IVF is your only possible treatment option, you are generally excluded from the study. If IVF is recommended but not your only option, you may still be eligible. It's worth reaching out to the study team to discuss your situation. 

  • Yes, the study team can often help facilitate a referral, and some clinics can connect you with a physician on their own team. 

  • Yes, you'll need to be within commutable distance of a participating clinic for research visits and group sessions. The study is taking place in Olive Fertility Centre in Vancouver, Heartland Fertility Clinic in Winnipeg, Tripod in Toronto, OMEGA Fertility Center in London, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Montréal (CHUM) and McGill University Health Center (MUHC) in Montreal, CHU of Sherbrooke, and CHU of Québec. 

How It Works 

  • The study typically spans 18 months, but could be shorter or extend up to 24 months depending on when pregnancy occurs. 

    For all participants, expect research visits approximately every 6 months (about 1 hour on-site per visit) and questionnaires to complete at home (about 1 hour). In total, you'll spend 8–10 hours on study activities over the study period. 

    If you're in the lifestyle program group, you'll also participate in approximately 10 individual meetings with a dietitian and kinesiologist (about 10 hours total over 18–24 months) and 8 group sessions (about 16 hours, concentrated in the first 6 months). 

  • No, participation in the study is completely free. In the intervention group, you will benefit from guidance from both a dietitian and a kinesiologist at no cost. For each research visit, all participants receive a $20 compensation to help cover expenses such as parking or travel. 

  • Group sessions are intended to be in person for maximum benefit. In-person allows for targeted help from the kinesiologist and deeper connections with the women in group sessions. However, individual meetings with the dietitian and kinesiologist can be done virtually, and some clinics may offer virtual group sessions for those with travel barriers. For research visits, participants can complete questionnaires at home, but certain measurements must be taken on-site. 

  • If you become pregnant, the program adapts to support a healthy pregnancy. You'll have two pregnancy research visits, one early in your pregnancy and one at around 26 weeks. 

  • If you're assigned to the intervention group, you'll take part in the lifestyle program for six months before beginning or resuming standard fertility treatments. Your fertility specialist will discuss treatment options with you throughout your follow-up, which may eventually include IVF. This intervention is designed to prepare your body to respond to fertility treatments. If you're assigned to the control group, you'll proceed with treatments based on the recommendations of your fertility clinic, including IVF eventually, if appropriate. 

  • Yes, you can continue seeing your own healthcare providers throughout the study. The study is designed to work alongside your existing care, not replace it. 

The Two Groups

  • You'll receive regular one-on-one support from a dietitian and a kinesiologist, plus weekly group workshops on nutrition and physical activity. For the first six months, you'll focus entirely on the lifestyle program before beginning any assisted fertility treatments. After six months, if you haven't conceived, standard fertility treatments can begin alongside the program. 

  • The program takes a whole-body approach to health led by a dietitian and kinesiologist. You'll have individual meetings roughly every six weeks to stay consistent and attend group workshops on nutrition and physical activity. The program is specifically designed with professional support to help you stay on track. All activities are fully individualized and low intensity, using a SMART goal framework (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) to help you build sustainable habits rather than following a rigid plan. 

  • You'll continue with standard fertility treatments as recommended by your clinic and attend research visits every six months. You can still make your own lifestyle changes, as long as they don't replicate the specific structured intervention used in the study. Your health will be monitored closely throughout, and you'll be referred to appropriate care as needed. 

  • No, the study focuses on female fertility. That said, partners are warmly encouraged to join lifestyle sessions if you're in the intervention group because lifestyle changes tend to be easier to build and maintain with support at home. 

Privacy and Logistics 

  • Yes. All personal health information is kept strictly confidential and is only accessible to the research team and ethics boards, in compliance with provincial privacy laws and institutional policies. Your data will never be shared in a way that identifies you. 

  • Participation is completely voluntary. You can leave the study at any time, for any reason, and your medical care will not be affected by that decision. 

  • You can fill out the eligibility form on this website and a member of the team will be in touch. You can also contact the Principal Investigator directly: 

    Dr. Jean-Patrice Baillargeon 

    Université de Sherbrooke 

    819-564-5250 

    jp.baillargeon@usherbrooke.ca