Infertility & COVID-19: Your Frequently Asked Questions
Over the past few weeks, we’ve received many questions from our patients and social media community about the impact of COVID-19 on their fertility treatment. Here, we answer your most common questions and hope to provide some insight.
Please also be sure to refer to our Treatment Policy and our recent blog post with advice for patients on how to cope with infertility during the coronavirus pandemic.
Are you still seeing patients for ultrasounds and other tests?
We are continuing to perform viability ultrasounds for our patients in early pregnancy prior to referring back to their OB/GYN. We will continue to schedule pregnancy tests for our patients who have completed a treatment cycle. Moving forward, we are ordering these tests through Quest or LabCorp rather than running the tests at our Center. In the interim, this will minimize the potential exposure and risk to our staff and their families.
In accordance with the ASRM COVID-19 guidance, we have suspended all testing, surgery, and initiation of new treatment cycles.
Are my eggs and embryos going to be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Our normal practice is to monitor liquid nitrogen levels daily in all of our storage tanks. We will continue to do so during this time of crisis. That is always and will continue to be a top priority at CARE Fertility. We have reached out to our supplier of liquid nitrogen and they do not anticipate any disruption of deliveries. We have obtained extra reserves to be safe.
Will my husband, partner, or family members be allowed to attend my appointments with me?
In an abundance of caution for both our patients and our staff, only the patient undergoing treatment will be allowed to enter the office. We understand how supportive it is to have your partner with you, especially for pregnancy ultrasounds which are a big moment for an expectant couple. However, it’s important to minimize risk to everyone. We recommend a video call or FaceTime instead.
Am I at risk of contracting COVID-19 at my appointment?
CARE Fertility is taking all possible precautions to protect our patients and staff, including:
5. Staff temperature is checked twice daily
6. Frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces throughout the day
7. Good hand washing for all employees
8. Physical distancing in the clinic
1. Having patients wait in their car in the parking lot until the treatment room is ready
2. Pre-screening the patient by phone when they arrive at our clinic to determine potential risk
3. Checking patient temperature at the door prior to entering. Patients with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher are not allowed into the clinic
4. Staff are wearing masks
However, we all face the possibility of infection whenever we leave our homes, and CARE Fertility cannot guarantee that you face no risk of contracting the virus. This is because the virus is contagious long before any symptoms show, and tests are not readily available in our country.
If you do not need to physically be in the office, we offer telehealth consultations by phone instead. If you have questions, please feel free to give us a call at 817-540-1157.
Is COVID-19 risky to me and my baby in pregnancy?
Fever and significant illness present risks for everyone. The data with COVID-19 and pregnancy is relatively limited. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is not saying women should not get pregnant during this pandemic, but they are also not saying there is no risk. Each individual should decide for themselves. If you become pregnant, it is important to take all precautions possible to reduce your risk of exposure.
When will I know it is safe to seek treatment again?
We update our COVID-19 Treatment Policy on our website frequently, whenever new information is available. CARE Fertility follows the guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), Society for Assisted Reproduction (SART), state and local government and we will decide how to proceed as their guidances change.
Our best guess is that when we are no longer ordered to shelter at home or practice social distancing, it will become safe to seek fertility treatment again, but no one knows exactly when that will be. Please be sure to check the Treatment Policy page for the latest information.
What can I do while I wait?
We know how difficult waiting can be. We encourage you to reach out to your doctor. While we can’t be with you in person, we are with you in spirit. A telehealth consultation is one way to discuss your future options and possible treatment plans in the meantime. We also recommend practicing healthy self-care habits and picking up new or old hobbies to help take your mind off the (very understandable) stress and worry you may be feeling.
Be sure to also check out the resources and support available to you from RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, at resolve.org
To schedule a telehealth appointment with one of our doctors, please call 817-540-1157.