Availability of PPE will be just one part of the reopening considerations for IVF centers that closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Image by Jon Tyson via Unsplash.
[This article deals with a continuously developing situation. It was written by Norbert Gleicher, MD, on April 28, 2020 and published on April 29, 2020. For a list of all COVID-19 Bulletins, scroll to the bottom.]
We are very pleased that the _American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) _and its daughter society, the _Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) _on April 24 published new guidance for fertility centers that closed their doors during the COVID-19 crisis and, now, are considering resuming patient care. CHR sees this as an important first step in reopening the infrastructure many couples and individuals urgently need in order to be able to access fertility services. We also hope that reopening of some IVF centers will ease the burden on the centers that are still open but have started to refuse monitoring for outside patients due to being "too busy."
Since CHR never closed its doors, most of the recommendations made in this guidance have already been implemented. Some policies that have been in place at CHR over the last few weeks even exceeded measures recommended by ASRM/SART. The guidance, however, also proposed new language for an informed consent for as long as risks of COVID-19 infections persists, and CHR will implement this consent starting this week. We are looking forward to serving our patients in the safest and most effective ways, as we have done over the last few weeks. We are hopeful that we will be able to progressively relax some of the currently still in place restrictions over the coming weeks and months. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have, at 212-994-4400 or online.
Norbert Gleicher, MD, leads CHR’s clinical and research efforts as Medical Director and Chief Scientist. A world-renowned specialist in reproductive endocrinology, Dr. Gleicher has published hundreds of peer-reviewed papers and lectured globally while keeping an active clinical career focused on ovarian aging, immunological issues and other difficult cases of infertility.
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