COVID-19: What should a fertility patient do during the coronavirus outbreak?
As of March 12, 2020, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 does not appear to negatively affect pregnancies. Image by Christian Bowen via Unsplash.
[This article deals with a rapidly developing situation. It was written by Norbert Gleicher, MD, on March 12, 2020 and published on March 13, 2020.]
The COVID-19 virus does not directly affect reproduction. Indeed, not even already established pregnancies appear affected and the virus is not** transmitted through the placenta to the baby.** Therefore, if you are not in an active IVF cycle or are getting close to starting one, we suggest you live your normal life, taking standard precautions as constantly emphasized by government sources and media.
COVID-19 affects every aspect of life, including our patients' fertility journey. CHR's Dr. Norbert Gleicher offers some guidance.
That also includes avoiding travel, unless it is absolutely necessary. Avoiding travel is not only recommended because of the possible contagion risk but also because of the current uncertainties about travel schedules and/or, at least for some of our many international patients, reentry into their own country.
If you are close to starting a cycle or already in a cycle, you do not want to get cancelled because of disease or just quarantine restrictions. In those circumstances, we, therefore, suggest that you go a little beyond just being careful. Stay away from people in general, but especially avoid crowded places. Don’t use mass transit and definitely do not travel. And remember, for an overwhelming majority of individuals even getting infected with COVID-19 is not the end of the world. You will, likely, quickly recover and come back to CHR, this time likely being fully immune to COVID-19.
CHR's COVID-19 Bulletins
This is a part of the March 2020 CHR VOICE.
Norbert Gleicher, MD, FACOG, FACS
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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