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.

I'm symptomatic so in self isolation but when I called mine they said they were not starting anymore cycles and closing the service down once the current ones were finished. So closing very soon and staying closed until further notice. I'm at EFREC.

Hi all, a nurse phoned me last night to cancel the cycle. (Was due to start short protocol IVF when period came next week.) Obviously I'm gutted and wish I had at least gotten to the frozen embryo stage before it reached this point, but guess I'm glad I know now, rather than after I had started on the drugs etc. (That said the nurse said all those currently taking medication would be having their egg collections before closure... if only my period had been two weeks ago, aaaaaaahhh.)

Anyway, just got to stay positive and hope we can get back up-and-running within a few months. Wishing everybody else in this boat warm wishes, and hope some of you get to conclude your treatments before closures Xxx

We have decided to postpone.

After reading the BFA statement I thought that's it now we are definitely cancelled. I got a phone call from the clinic and I expected them to say it was cancelled but instead the location of my appointment has been moved from the hospital to another private clinic they run (just for consultations). She said for now it's still going ahead but it may still change (she didn't sound optimistic at all). I'm getting so frustrated with how these organisations are saying we should stop because we are otherwise a burden on the health care system. Why are they not making official announcement that every couple is not allowed to have baby while this epidemic is going on? I can understand that they may limit services to freeze all but with a total ban many fertility clinics will go out of business and many women will loose their last chance to have a child. It's a real nightmare. Xxx

I've just had a call from Seacroft. All new cycles are cancelled. At the moment nurse consultations are still going ahead so that once the ban on cycles is lifted people can just go ahead without needing a new cycle consultation. However there is a meeting this afternoon to decide if they stop too. Our counselling appt has been moved to a telephone appt rather than face to face. My amh is low, so this could potentially mean the end of my fertility journey depending how long it goes on for. Its a scary world at the moment

Should we list out which clinics are definitely cancelling all treatments or those going ahead?

I'll go first

Create - still treating according to website

Guys- said, at this stage, they will continue with those already in the process, but no new ones.

@Rumtopf
@mabel92

It’s so sad. Big hugs to everyone xxx

Thank you @SarahDx such a positive message. I only found out yesterday our transfer won’t go ahead (due Tuesday) so still upset and I imagine will be for a while but I’m starting to understand why it needs to happen and try and think of the positives from this. For anyone still waiting or wondering what to do or anyone that has got that positive result and now feeling terribly anxious I’m sending lots of love!

Care- is still offering women the choice to continue
with treatment if they think it is right in their situation (which I am very grateful for).

Belfast fertility cancelled i just called them, im not allowed to start stimming even though i am almost at the end of downreg 😔😢

My clinic is part of the group of clinics ‘The Fertility Partnership’.

I just received a phone called cancelling my transfer, which is suppose to be on Saturday. I am so gutted, it's only 2 days away. It feels like my life is just on hold for now. It doesn't help to receive a message from my friend telling me that she is pregnant!

I am NHS funded with Barts. When I asked if I can find a private clinic to do the transfer, they told me that it's not possible.

@YogaPants4 - so sorry to hear that . I’m also with this partnership. The fertility partnership website is still saying that they will treat, up until egg collection, those already taking medication within a cycle ? Have they said they are now changing their stance ?

@YogaPants4 - are you NHS or private ?

Heart goes out to everyone x

Im private...i called as i was a bit confused by their blog post. Are you close to
Stimming?

I'm NHS at Homerton. On day 6 of Progynova to prepare for FET and just rang to ask whether I should go in for day 10 scan on Monday as planned. Was told all treatment is now cancelled and a nurse will ring me in due course.

This is the Lister’s latest guidance - listerfertility.co.uk/coronavirus-update/

They are tentatively doing transfers for anyone with eggs already collected but said that could change over the weekend and it is likely that they will move to freezing embryos instead of transferring in current patients

YogaPants4 - 6 days away from stims

@Mseddy we’re at Seacroft too. Just got the call the dept is closing until further notice, so my treatment is now cancelled. Absolutely gutted. All the months of preparation, acupuncture etc totally wasted.

I’m 41, with a low amh and high fsh so if I have to wait the 18 months the government is warning us about that will probably be the end of my baby making journey too 😢

Sending lots of love to everyone experiencing this. Hopefully this virus will bugger off soon and our babies can come to us then. Sit tight, it will happen Xx

Leeds Fertility @ Seacroft: department closing. Last transfer was done yesterday. Still working with people undergoing stims and egg collection to freeze embryos.

This is so horrible, so sorry everyone 😢

Care have just emailed saying we are open and in operation until other wise told.

I'm just hoping that in a few months' time they might proceed again with freeze-only cycles. I know as of Mon that was my clinic's policy and then it all changed within 24 hours - I felt sorry for the nurse, TBH (what a horrible job, to have to deliver that sort of news over the phone) but I did gently ask her what had made them change so suddenly from freeze-only to no cycles. Think she said they were worried about running out of drugs, among other things...

My clinic isn't attached to the NHS but perhaps as health professionals there's a chance they'll be drafted in to help out in the crisis, too.

Sending virtual hugs to all Xxx

p.s. has anybody explored the option of transferring their care to another provider doing freeze-only cycles? I don't think if I've got the mental energy to pursue this but would be interested to hear if others have (from reading the messages I think some NHS patients have asked with no success?)

@Xx40yearsyoungxx i was 6 days too was due to begin on wednesday😢