Coronavirus and fertility clinics.

[mabel92]

Has anyone’s fertility clinic told them they will close due to Coronavirus? I’m due to start treatment and now confused as what to do or whether I’ll be able to start. Thanks.

@Matilda128 I'm so so sorry. That's rubbish. Where had you got to in the process?

I emailed care this morning to find out if mine is cancelled (FET, want to know if I should stop the estrogen) and have been told they'll call me when they know. I think it will be cancelled, I just want to know so I can start getting over it!

Hi ladies, I’ve had to push back my treatment and was on hfea today and saw this message. I’m so sorry to you all going through this tough time, going next few months will give Ugg’s at end of this tunnel

www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-press-releases/2020-news-and-press-releases/an-open-letter-to-fertility-patients-sally-cheshire-cbe-chair-hfea/

I really hate that open letter. I just don't understand why IVF is not regarded a medical treatment. What on earth is it? What really scares me is that HEFA does not give any information as to when things can restart. If their decision is not made on medical evidence but in relation to us being a burden on the NHS then when will we stop being a burden? Who decides this? It could take up to a year. Also the letter says they will be asked to stop treatment in the next 3 weeks- so many women have had their treatment already cancelled so where did they get those random three weeks from?

@Matilda128
It's because the IVF clinics don't want to put added pressure on the NHS as IVF patients tend to need more NHS support. Also with the advice for pregnant women to stay isolated there is a moral duty on them not to get more women pregnant at this time and add to further pressure on NHS resources. It would be different if after official test day that all after care stayed with our clinics but it doesn't. Once we get a BFP we are the NHSs problem

There is also not enough evidence to say that Coronavirus is safe or not during pregnancy. But there IS evidence that high fevers during early pregnancy can cause birth defects or miscarriage and I'm pretty sure none of us would want to risk maybe the one blastocyst we get from a cycle

I suspect in 3 weeks time there will be a reassessment IF and ONLY IF it looks like we have a grip on the virus and will there be a tentative lifting of restrictions. Best case is 1 month delay realistic is 2 months and then 3 months is probably what most clinics will work to

@Matilda128
They talk about the 3 weeks because it's the lockdown period where the clinics are expected to get everyone already underway with their cycles through it. That way if they then re open on the 4 th week then there isn't likely to be any transfers for say a further 4 weeks at the earliest for those on short protocol and 8 weeks + on long protocol and therefore that gives a good number of weeks before they are getting anyone pregnant and hopefully the pressure on the NHS will have lessened by that point

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted The letter was sent before lockdown. I am missing the opportunity to do an elective freeze all cycle which would so crucially protect my fertility for the future by 2 days. Freeze all cycles put barely any pressure on the NHS (very very low risk of OHSS and no pregnancies for the time being). My chance to have a baby is now over. I'm asking my clinic for a refund (which I know I won't get) because that's all my lifes savings. I will paying for treatment that is completely and utterly pointless. I respect that other people have frozen embryos and better AMH levels and for them this is not so bad. And I wish everyone the best for the future. For me it's over xxx

CD1 for me, and obviously my second round of IVF isn’t starting today 😞 My clinic cancelled all new rounds on Thursday when HFEA issued their guidance.

In fairness, I’d rather the anaesthetists were helping to keep incubated COVID-19 patients comfortable than collecting my eggs, but it’s a disappointment all the same, particularly as I have a long wait (need surgery) before any transfers.

Oh @Matilda128 I'm so sorry. That really is shit. Xxx

Ladies, it’s breaking my heart reading this thread. I’m so sorry

Does anyone know where I stand? I was just about to start meds for my FET in Cyprus. Cyprus are currently on lockdown, same as ourselves, and of course there are travel restrictions.

I’m not an NHS patient of course, this has all been done privately. I was hoping I could maybe get out there in say, July? Do you think it’s unrealistic of me and I need to manage my expectations more?

I think it’s really hard to know what the next few months hold. I was just hoping to get to Friday so any embryos could be frozen. I’m still waiting to hear from the clinic. My AMH levels are very low too (1.4) so I think this may be me out too. I am however blessed with one daughter who I had before my ectopic and I am massively sad for those of you who are going through this

My FET with care has just been cancelled. I'm only cd5 so had started estrogen tablets yesterday so I don't know if that means I can't try naturally this month or not.

I’m still waiting to find out but suspect it will be bad news ...

Has anyone heard from their clinics that they will continue for 3 weeks like HFEA are saying is possibly

X

CARE have just called me to say the process will continue to embryo stage and will be freeze all. I am so relieved.

@matilda128
Why is there such urgency? Surely a couple of months won't change anything? They are continuing with fertility treatment for cancer patients as they really are on a deadline but for the rest of us 2-3 months is really going to make no difference?

Freeze all cycles don't reduce risk of OHSS as OHSS starts before the egg collection and continues after - Whether you are doing a fresh or frozen transfer?

@Xx40yearsyoungxx
create have said everyone who has started already as of Sunday evening will get the chance to finish but Create cycles are usually completed within 2 weeks. You can still elect to have a fresh transfer if you wish

FET will go ahead if you've already started

Other than that no new cycles to start

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted

I guess few months doesn’t make a difference but it’s more of a physiological impact. I’ve been trying to do ivf for 2 years and have only a managed 3 cycles because of various things and few more months in the whole process just adds up the the previous few months that I’ve lost and it becomes years before you know it.

Having this break gives me time to start with DHEA supplement - can anyone recommend the best one out there?

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted How do we know it’s only a few months though?

You are right that freeze all cycles doesn’t reduce risk of OHSS but I guess for those of us who are stimming and close to egg collection, this risk is already there. I think it may also be worrying for those with very low fertility for example my egg follicles reduced significantly in just 6 months so I think a few months can mean a lot.

Hi @VillageFete I am in the same boat as you, I'm hoping July also 😘

@twinkledag Are you going abroad, too? God, it’s a bit of a blow, isn’t it. Crazy!!!

@Matilda128 really sorry for you and your partner. I am the same horrendous Painful periods And low iron, I have endometriosis and I’m dreading my cycle coming back as I know it’s going to be awful again. But also wondering when to expect it as I didn’t get any info from the clinic when they cancelled my cycle and I didn’t even think to ask what I should expect or how long I should give it as I was too upset at the time.
I was cancelled last Wednesday just told not to take any more drugs so haven’t been on anything for a week now went cold turkey.
Transfer should have been today.

Hope you’re ok x

@Matilda128 hope you and other half are ok.
It’s so sh**t
X

Hi @Liliclaire I'm so sorry to hear about your pain as well. I spoke to the nurse at the clinic and she advised me to contact the GP to either try tranexamic acid (I actually had this before and it really helped in terms of the bleeding) or the combined pill. In terms of pain relief they warned against ibuprofen as it may have bad effects with corona but said to ask the doctor to get codemol. So it would be best to speak to your clinic or GP what the best option would be for you. Keep in mind that no one has an idea of how long this will last and if things are up and running again in two months (being very optimistic) you don't want to miss out because your pain relief may be in the way of continuing fertility treatment. I did think it was reassuring to be taken seriously and offered some options. I have sat in front many GPs with issues and was simply told that it was just one of those things. Please take care xxx

Thank you @Xx40yearsyoungxx I'm ok, my partner really isn't. I also told my dad who started sobbing. My mum passed away recently so he is all alone in isolation and now I feel so terrible that I told him (I didn't really have a choice but still). I'm drinking a whole bottle of wine tonight and I will look if there are some volunteering positions. Would love it if I could do something useful in this crises and take my mind off things. I really hope everything goes well for you xxx

Yes @VillageFete we were on the other thread together I think? I'm with Team Miracle in Cyprus.