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.

Thanks @crittertamer

I’ve got another SFQ if anyone can help .....
After a failed cycle my understanding is that the first bleed ( that I got during the TWW) is the withdrawal bleed and not actually a period ? If that’s the case do you have to wait until your second bleed before trying again ( starting a cycle ) or could you start 21 days ( if down reg ) straight after the withdrawal bleed ?

Ie do you have to wait a couple of months all in all to start again ?

That's interesting you had good results with the testosterone gel @CritterTamer, I have been using it on and off for my last few egg collections and was being stimmed with my best response ever when lockdown happened.

We had a consultation with a UK clinic who were doing a DHEA trial but obviously some patients would be given placebo and I'd prefer to know if I'm taking it or not! So they said okay take your own but don't get involved in the trial in case you take double.
In any case we decided not to go with them.

Can I ask if the reason you're not using the gel again is because you can't get any?
My clinic are going to write a new prescription but I have never tried to get the gel in the UK.

I think it can be hard to know what exactly helped at any one time as there are so many variables, for me the gel does appear to have helped, but it could be luck or the different stims.

@Limeflower2
Hi, as I don't know your real name, not sure who you were on the Zoom chat! All sounded very encouraging from C&W though - doesn't look like they've been affected much my Covid in terms of redeployment and they seem very keen to go again as soon as the HFEA gives them the green light.
Anna

@JeNeBaguetteRien the testosterone gel is only licensed in the uk for ivf treatment cycles so they're not allowed to prescribed it for us to use at home while trying naturally. They said the DHEA is the same thing, just a much less concentrated form. When we restart treatment we'll be doing FET so I won't need it then.

New statement on HFEA website for Clinics - we basically have to wait until social and travel restrictions and travel restrictions are eased. Again, another vague statement. That could be 2 months? 1 year? Longer!

Thank you @CritterTamer for the explanation, I hadn't realised you were using it for trying naturally. Good plan re the DHEA then and fingers crossed! We've never stopped trying naturally but don't hold out much hope for that for me. I'm waiting on the clinic giving me instructions about starting the testosterone again, and have been in touch with Fertility2u today who confirmed they are still delivering IVF meds.

@mabel92 that does sound vague, hopefully something clearer will come soon.

@jenebaguetterien I don't hold out any hope either for conceiving naturally really, but has to at least feel like I was doing something since our FET was cancelled a couple of days before I started meds.

That is a really really vague statement as it’s clear that the Government are not going to fully relax restrictions for a long time.

It seems so unfair that you can go to B+Q but you can’t have medical treatment that is time critical for some

Well @CritterTamer I understand that mindset, we have always continued trying, a miracle would be lovely!
My treatment was stopped when I was already stimming which I have really struggled to get past (I know I will, it's just so frustrating!).
Hoping your FET can be rearranged with as little delay as possible.

@JeNeBaguetteRien I'm shocked your cycle was cancelled mid stim phase! My clinic finished all cycles where meds had been started but wouldn't let anyone else start.

The problem I had was my clinic is in Spain and I would have been stranded. So annoying, as it was 5th time stimming and best response I'd ever had by far (well in terms of numbers, obviously don't know about quality).
The clinic had originally tried to get me in to a clinic they had in Mallorca as it was thought the islands were going to be less affected, but they then told me not to travel.
The government declared the state of emergency 2 hours before my flight took off. The clinic's resources (both equipment and staff) were then 'commandeered', can't think of the right word.
Now it's a balance of figuring out when we can go and feel safe to do so. I also need initial scans in the UK so here needs to be up and running too. We have a Skype appointment in a few weeks. So yes a little miracle would certainly save us a lot of hassle!

Hi @AnnaLCox! Thanks for the message. I was at the call indeed but only have sound with no video. :)
It was a good meeting and I feel optimistic about it. It's good to know they are keen to reopen its door! I get the impression that if the private clinic starts reopening they will follow footsteps! Fingers crossed! xx

Hi ladies

Would those using C&W mind sharing what was said on the zoom call you mentioned?
Thanks so much

@jenebaguetterien that's awful, I'm so sorry that happened to you - both emotionally and physically traumatic I would imagine. At least my clinic is local to me so much easier to get things organised again when the time comes. If I were you I would definitely stick with the testosterone gel if you can when you try again. The cycle I did without it resulted in 6 eggs, 4 five day blasts, 2 ok quality and transferred - BFN, no frosties. The next cycle I used the gel and got 12 eggs, 7 day 5 blasts, 2 excellent quality transferred - BFP and twins who are now 11 months old. Also 2 very good quality frosties. There was a slight change to my stims and I also had the endo scratch, acupuncture and did fertility yoga for three months prior to that cycle so I can't say the only difference was the testosterone gel but im sure it helped.

🤞 for you @JeNeBaguetteRien

I’m so stressed by this all, I’d rather HFEA said nothing, as what they have said has brought on real anxiety that they are. Or planning on lifting restrictions for a long time.

It’s very challenging. I completely understand we need to wait but not knowing is tough especially as we have all been in the unknown for a while while ttc. I heard Czech Republic opened already for internal patients and they are allowing foreigners from next month onwards depending on countries. I believe we will hear more in 2 weeks time when the government makes a 3weekly update. They will either extend social distancing or reveal some plans about easing off.

I'm feeling more hopeful after that statement. It's vague but shows willingness on the part of the the HFEA to start 'soon'. It seems like it's up to the clinics to prove that they can meet the four requirements, I'm sure plenty of clinics will be motivated to find ways to do that as soon as possible.

I know my clinic Create has been really vocal in that they didn't agree with suspending treatment but they specialise in treating women with AMH so low that a lot of other clinics won't accept them

There has been a lot of negative press about the suspension especially for private patients who have paid out tens of thousands to be treated by a private clinic who wouldn't have staff/resources they could reassign to the NHS anyway

Hopefully mid May we can get moving again - looks like I may be called back from furlough next month rather than July but at least that will keep my mind busy!

How will the clinics do the social distancing?

@thefishthatcouldwish

From what I've heard in Europe where they are opening up they maintain 2m distance in the waiting room and then obviously if you are having treatment they are gloved/gowned/masked up but most of the time they are down the business end anyway so you aren't breathing on them unless it's blood tests or something 🤣

@ivfgottostaypositive I am considering Create or LWC for egg donation (due to my extremely low amh) and have already had my initial appointments we just need to choose one, finalise pay and wait but my husband says in this case maybe better to wait and save more until they open. I have been in touch with both and still reviewing which one to go with. If it was only my decision I would feel better having paid now, feels ticked off and gives me something tangible to look forward but I understand my husband that it will not change anything if we wait till July let’s say when they open as we won’t fast track it.

@thefishthatcouldwish I had wondered if they would be attaching very long handles to the dildo cam 😉, but no, they will be taking other precautions, PPE and health checks for staff, temperature checks for patients, access limited to patients only and cleaning rooms between consultations. I've tried to attach a photo.

@CritterTamer congratulations on your twins! Thank you, I will definitely keep using the testosterone gel and maybe try the fertility yoga, if nothing else it will help me feel like I'm doing something. It has been hard to process the delay, no matter how necessary.
Glad your clinic is local, hopefully it will reopen soon and you can get back on track.

@mabel92 💐 it is a very stressful time.

@ivfgottostaypositive I know what you mean about clinics closing, I guess in our cities it was to decrease the spread of the virus. In Spain it was a bit different due to their official 'state of emergency' clinics had to make staff and PPE or whatever respiratory equipment they had available, private hospitals too.

Let's hope treatment can resume safely ASAP for all.

I'm lying in the sunshine looking at my period tracker. I'm due a period 24th May which I'm thinking would be best case If clinic reopens mid May, failing that next one is 21st June (my cycles are like clockwork 🤣) which I think is probably most likely to start final egg collection cycle and get to transfer? With a lot of businesses reopening just in the last few days can't see they would demand clinics close past June 🤞🤞

Can you tell I'm a control freak and planner 🤣🤣 I need things to plan to stay sane!

@ivegotostaypositive - I’ve been doing exactly the same today!! Would you actually start day 21 after period or you doing short protocol?