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

That's really annoying! Sounds like they are going to do frozen transfers first then?

I've just done a webinar Q&A with the director at Create - they don't seem to be restricting collections and said whether we wanted to do fresh or frozen transfers was up to the patient (obviously have to sign a disclaimer). But Create only does low dose stims so risk of OHSS is minimal compared to other clinics but I do know that they will limit the number of collections - whereas they have one per hour it might be one per 90 minutes/2 hrs to enable social distancing etc so less people will be able to start than normal

@HJF84

I got straight through to the call centre and have booked the Covid Consenting appointment for Friday too - they've also sent the Covid disclaimer and questionnaire to fill in. 🤞🤞

Yes @ivfgottostaypositive they are prioritising FET's which makes business sense because it is relatively good money and high success rates. I believe everyone should receive treatment whether FET, IUI or IVF but if you think about urgency then it seems quite cruel to make IVF patients wait as they have nothing frozen and every month makes a huge difference for their chances of become pregnant.
I really wish I was with CREATE- or any other clinic really. Xx

There is more on the list today ladies xxx

I think there must be a reason if they are choosing a process over another one and prioritising it, and I doubt they will consider the profitability alone.

They need to risk asses each process and start with the easier ones to manage I guess. Less contact with patients and trying out social distancing rules. This is all about risk assesment I think?

I am suprised they opened this quickly ... and I hope they dont do too much too quickly and put any of their staff or patients in risk along the way, because that would mean they will have to close again. The last thing I want is to have a 2 week wait with fighting covid 19.

I am in a positive mode today... So stay safe ladies ... we are almost there now 🥰

No Scottish clinics on the list yet is there?

I wonder how long the wait will be for those not on a priority list?

@Cleozeta I have wondered the same

@Cleozeta

I can't see it being more than a month or two - depends on the clinic really? At Create you were allowed to complete your treatment including transfers - I don't think they cancelled any treatment mid way through unlike other clinics so they've probably only got a month to 6 weeks back log of people who would have started but couldn't. Also April tends to be a quieter month as a lot of people want to avoid Xmas babies. And not everyone who could start will want to if they are nervous about the virus or were shielding - I know patients with asthma etc are being told they can't be treated just yet

I believe Create are treating all existing patients first though and anyone who took advantage of the big discounts they were offering probably will be treated in the second wave but it will be very patient and clinic specific for most people x

Thanks, that's helpful info.
I am at Manchester fertility (nowhere near me but I chose it, ironically, because they have no waiting list for DE and can treat straight away)
They said they are prioritising people on an age time limit and people who had started treatment, but they have no idea how long that will take. I am at the stage of requiring initial testing then treatment can go ahead

The uncertainty is driving me nuts!

Every clinic seems to have their own agenda if how they will work through the list etc.

Each seem to vary in their ability to communicate with their patients.

Not great news for Manchester NHS funded IVF. CARE Manchester posted this.
Although July will come round soon enough.

Sorry @C88M... like you said July is soon (weeks are passing so fast) and I will keep my fingers for a quicker response even

Thanks @papoy I’m early 30s and it’s a FET so it’s not time critical for me at the moment. I had July/August in my head so I’m not disappointed. I just hope it doesn’t affect more time critical people too much.

I had a treatment consultation with Create and I'm able to start treatment on my next day 1, which will be in two weeks.

@ivfgottobepositive They want me in for a blood test, that I had before but they didn't have enough blood, to decide whether to keep me on the steroids. So I've booked an appt on Monday for bloods. They're only giving them to people who need them, rather than just anyone in case they need them.

@HJF84

I had my covid one too this morning! I was on steroids as precautionary measures due to recurrent miscarriages but have agreed to cycle without it so just got to scan them our disclaimer forms and questionnaire tonight once DH has signed and then we are also good to go in 2 weeks - are you going through St Paul's or Wimbledon? X

@ivfgottostaypositive What did they discuss on the Covid call? I have mines on Monday! Also, how long was it? I have a work meeting which might clash with it so I need to know if I should cancel my work meeting or not! (No one at work knows about my treatment)

@ChaiTea1

It was only about 10-15 mins and with a doctor from another clinic - I'm at Birmingham but all of the covid consent calls are being spread across all the doctors so you might not get a call from one you've necessarily seen before

We just talked about Covid changes for treatment etc, risks and so on. DH will have to give sample and go and wait in car on egg collection day etc The only thing I wasn't aware of before was that this time If you have symptoms/test positive for covid mid treatment you will have to pay cancellation charges (which wasn't the case If you decided to stop before the lockdown). Also clinic will do covid tests if there are any concerns - about £75 each which thought wasnt too bad.

@ivfgottostaypositive Thanks for that! I was wondering if they were going to test people for Covid if they had any doubts but to be honest I’m glad they’re taking all these precautions.

@ivfgottostaypositive Wimbledon. Apparently when I call to book in my day five scan I can have it where I like - even Birmingham! So that was good. I've been a little concerned about being on steroids and getting the train, so I'm glad I can relax now.

I have a gene mutation that has a minimal risk for recurrent miscarriages, not that I've had one, but it could be implantation failure. They are putting me on Inhixa, same as my last cycle. Are you on that too?

@HJF84

That's good - I haven't been to the Wimbledon one just mine and St Paul's - the good thing with Birmingham is that it's on a business park with plenty of free parking just by the airport if you did want to avoid public transport and drive

Yeah I take inhixia (or clexane - same name just different brand) and have done for all my pregnancies but only had one full term successful one out of 8 and I had to be on inhixia the whole 9 months and 3 months after!

How is everyone getting on? When's everyone's projected cycle day 1 if they are starting soon? X

I rang clinic today with period not hopeful that they will start treatment any time soon. They say they only just received paper work of hefa and are filling it in as other departments have to aswell. As they are attached to hospital they need to sort alot out. She mentioned again that they will only be doing fet to start off with. I feel deflated about it all but doesn't help AF arrived today either xxx

Hi everyone, @ivfgottostaypositive I've been very lucky, I'm sorry for those who haven't been as lucky in terms of a starting up again. I have my fingers crossed that you will all be able to start again soon. My cycle coincided with my clinic re opening and it's a frozen transfer so I've started my meds and fingers crossed, provided we stay healthy, we can have a transfer in the two weeks or so. Wishing everyone all the luck for when they can or decide to start again 🌈🌈

Hello everyone
I've posted about this on this forum before, so hope I'm not boring you all again! I am at a clinic in London (NHS/Private) as a private patient and they are insisting that IVF will be prioritised over IUI, whilst giving no scientific explanation for this. The only explanation that has been forthcoming so far is that it's a decision made by someone higher up (I presume they're talking about the NHS rather than the Almighty). The HFEA certainly doesn't seem to be advocating this and as far as I can see no one else's clinic is stipulating IUI patients must wait. Is anyone else out there at an NHS clinic (either as an NHS or private patient) and experiencing the same regulations?
Thanks

@AnnaLCox

There was another poster on here a few days ago who was also told her clinic was prioritising IVF over IUI so sounds like it's a common theme now

@Waitingformyrainbow2020

Great news! I should get my period in about a week and will be doing final egg collection and transfer so should be about a week behind you x