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The impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on fertility patients and clinics around the world

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RESEARCH QUESTION What is the impact of the response to COVID-19 on the management of fertility treatments and clinical practice around the world. DESIGN We approached fertility clinic associates around… Click to show full abstract

RESEARCH QUESTION What is the impact of the response to COVID-19 on the management of fertility treatments and clinical practice around the world. DESIGN We approached fertility clinic associates around the world. They completed an online survey containing 33 questions focused on the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Known fertility clinic associates were contacted comprising scientific directors, medical directors, and lab managers. RESULTS We obtained 43 individual country responses from Asia (13), Africa (3), Europe (17), North America (3), Oceania (2) and South America (5). In 9 countries, clinics followed their government body recommendations, in 22 countries there was a combination of recommendations, in 3 countries changes were made by clinic initiative and 9 countries did not specify. In 34 countries IVF/ICSI and FET treatments had an average delay of 59 days (IVF/ICSI) and 60 days (FET) (minimum 0, maximum 228 days). During the shutdown, the number of freeze-all cycles increased in 22 countries. Only 23 countries reported patients having to undergo a SARS-CoV-2 test, 20 countries did not report any COVID-19 testing in their clinic. Additional support counselling was offered in 28 countries, partner restrictions to clinics were reported in 41 countries and time between patients’ appointments was increased in 39 countries. CONCLUSION The implications of COVID-19 mitigation measures proved the need for government societies to introduce a set protocol that includes requirements such as increased patient counselling and additional guidelines for prioritizing couples who need care most urgently.

Keywords: around world; fertility; covid mitigation; impact; mitigation measures

Journal Title: Reproductive Biomedicine Online
Year Published: 2021

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