Thirty-three patients at Belfast’s Regional Fertility Clinic have had their stimulation injections stopped and their treatment postponed due to concerns surrounding COVID-19. In the UK, clinics are encouraging patients to have telephone or Skype initial and follow-up consultations, as an alternative to face to face where possible. Although scans, blood tests, procedures etc are continuing as normal, with most checking their patient’s temperatures regularly.
Impact of COVID-19 on infertility treatment
Currently, very little is known about the impact of COVID-19 on reproduction and pregnancy, with mixed reports in the published and grey literature. Advice is changing rapidly as research is ongoing. Pregnant women do not appear to be at a higher risk for contracting the virus. However, it is known that having a fever may have a negative effect on both follicular and sperm development.
What is the current advice?
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
The ASRM are recommending ‘patients who have high likelihood of having COVID-19 (fever and/or cough, shortness of breath, and either exposure within 6 feet of a confirmed COVID-19 patient and within 14 days of onset of symptoms, or a positive COVID-19 test result), including those planning to use oocyte donors, sperm donors, or gestational carriers, should strive to avoid a pregnancy. If these patients are undergoing active infertility treatment, we suggest that they consider freezing all oocytes or embryos and avoid an embryo transfer until they are disease-free’.
The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA)
The HFEA have issued guidelines to clinics regarding gamete donation (on their website under the clinic portal) but have not released any specific guidelines other than to follow the UK government’s website.
The General Medical Council (GMC)
The GMC, together with the RCM & RCPCH have produced an information booklet for healthcare professionals regarding COVID-19 infection in pregnancy.
Current advice regarding practical precautions
Everyone should be taking practical precautions:
- Avoid contact with people showing symptoms
- Frequently washing hands
- Practice good coughing etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands)
- Not sharing plates, utensils with others
- Consider working from home if possible
