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.

Care has updated their corona virus advice on their website and they state that they are still going ahead with treatments (for the time being). I'm paying for my treatment today and feel quite crazy for persisting but I don't think I have choice. Luckily I can self isolate and work from home. Care does also mention on their site that if they have to cancel they will pay 50% of your medication. Good luck everyone xxx

Hi @Xx40yearsyoungxx I last spoke to my clinic early last week - the policy then was very much proceed (unless I fell ill), but obviously the situation changed a lot since then. As my period isn't due until next week I think I'm just going to wait for a further update from them, rather than chase, as I expect the situation might change yet again in the next few days. Xx

I’m supposed to start stims next week. Spoke to clinic this morning and they said it’s upto me whether to go ahead (private). They said it’d be a freeze-all cycle, which is fine.

I’m just worried about the advice changing halfway through stims, which they said wasn’t impossible.

But like others have said, I don’t want to miss the opportunity. If we don’t do it now the situation may get much worse and it could be delayed months.

Is anyone with oxford fertility ?

Are any clinics allowing ET or just freezing ?

I'm at the Lister Fertility Clinic - anyone else there? They're operating as normal now but I honestly can't see how even full private clinics will keep going. I didn't think IVF could get any more stressful but apparently it can. We are die to start down regulation early April but I can't see that happening now.

@Xx40yearsyoungxx I’m with Oxford Fertility about to start my first cycle (hopefully!) x

I spoke to my clinic this morning (in N Ireland) and they said unless i hear from them to continue to start stims next week

I'm at Guys, London and was called by embryologist this morning. 3 eggs fertilised from the 12 removed yesterday. They are planning to insert/instill (sorry, no idea what you call it ?) on thur, unless I hear otherwise. She said things are changing daily, but to keep using the meds as plan to go ahead.

@LongtermTTC @Xx40yearsyoungxx

Tomorrow I am going to their Open Evening... that one hasnt been cancelled yet - but their sister organisation Thames Valley cancelled theirs which was few weeks time.

If Oxford Fertility open evening goes ahead tommorrow night, I am gonna grill them about those stuff... I can update you two about it.

Hope you guys have all the luck with your treatments

Create are still going ahead but I can have a free frozen transfer if I get sick/have to isolate

@Elouera Congrats on 3 fertilising! Fingers crossed for you. Can I ask are you NHS or private?

@mbizzles I’m in the same boat, period due Wednesday next week. I think I’m going to sit out this cycle as it’s so expensive to use all the drugs then abandon before collection.

Yes @jcurve it's such a tricky one, as we don't know how long this is going to go on for, and whether things are going to get more or less logistically difficult if we leave it a month or two.

Working on the 'normal' rules, I was under the impression I was not able to postpone, as I have now officially started the cycle (having consented etc) - I assumed I'd have to claim a proportional refund and then start again, which obviously I want to avoid if possible.

I'm just hoping my clinic will soon release some sort of official coronavirus contingency plan - it's good of Create to have done this, and thanks for sharing that @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted. Fingers crossed other clinics soon follow suit Xx

@Papoy - yes please grill them , especially what will happen mid cycle if they suddenly cancel ( refund / first in queue to continue ?)

Thanks so much

@Papoy - can you ask them if they are going to update their website with their stance like the other clinics ( create ) have ?
Oxford Fertility haven’t updated from 11th March

I have just called my clinic (private London based) to get some advise since I’m meant to start downregulating today. Their view hasn’t changed- business as usual. They say go ahead if you want but bear in mind that the cycle might get cancelled. I’ve asked about the impact of drugs on me if I was to stop suprecur and they said that there shouldn’t be any. I didn’t ask about if I started to stimulate but I think they would just trigger us and send home probably!

I have also asked if they were putting contingency plans in place to take us through full cycle with other clinics and they said no.

My view is to take the risk and do it.We might just be lucky enough to squeeze it in before we go on lockdown for who knows how long? Waiting months would be devastating. I don’t have time as most of us on this process.

I thought that maybe if they cancel on ( provided I don’t get the virus and have to self isolate!) I will call all non London clinics around to see if they would continue with me on this cycle and do egg retrieval for example. Might be an option. I just think non London clinics won’t be so busy with supporting NHS. It’s a long shot but I’m willing to take the risk.

Take care ladies and beat if luck!!! X

My FET (which I had started down regg for) has been cancelled). I am in Scotland. They told me that they will do egg collections this week, but then all eggs will be frozen and transferred at a later date

They felt that with the current advice from the government, with pregnant woman being high risk. They couldn’t make women pregnant. I expected it, but still feel down about it.

Anyone else at kings in London? I'm going in for a scan tomorrow and plan to ask them if it's business as usual for them 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

@LondonIVF12- thanks. I'm NHS for this round, but will be self-paying if need more.

I’m at Care Nottingham. First NHS cycle. I’m mid way through my first FET, due for transfer Monday 23rd. I spoke to them end of last week and they said it will be business as usual until I’m told otherwise. Fingers crossed it remains that way. Only 6 days to go for me but I’m trying not to get excited as things are changing so quickly.

I'm at Simply Fertility in Chelmsford and they've just called to tell me that they'll take me through to EC and fertilisation (I'm halfway through stimming) but then will freeze any embryos and have offered me FET at a later date. They'll cover the cost of any extra meds etc which is helpful but I have a cupboard full of Lubion, Cyclogest and Clexane which I really hope have long expiration dates!

@Papoy and @Xx40yearsyoungxx - there’s a new statement up now.

www.oxfordfertility.co.uk/blog/coronavirus-health-information/

New cycles still starting but they will freeze embryos and do a FET cycle “once the situation has settled”. Also no FET cycles currently starting but for those who have already had egg collection and are awaiting embryo transfer then says they will discuss options with you

The guidance from Oxford Fertility above also talks about what happens if you catch coronavirus or are made to self isolate during your cycle. If before egg collection (or embryo transfer for FET) they’ll cancel the cycle and give you a “free” future cycle and refund cost of drugs. If after egg collection then will freeze the embryos and do your first FET free. Thinking I might be self isolating for a while to make sure I don’t lose the cycle...

@LongtermTTC thanks for update. Hopefully this doesn’t change again.......

Does anyone know whether embryos for freezing have to be ‘better quality’ than direct transfer ( in order to survive freeze / thaw)?

@xx40yearsyoungxx I asked about this at my nurse planning session. At Oxford Fertility they grade embryos from A-D and I was told they can freeze any grade embryo up to C. Grade D they would consider for fresh embryo transfer if you don’t have any better quality ones but they won’t freeze them (although I suspect they might relax that rule in the current circumstances if that was all you have). I have low AMH so might not get many / any which is why it might apply to me but generally speaking most people wouldn’t use a grade D anyway. x