COVID-19 and Your Fertility

Journey information for those who are planning for a family

For many of us on our fertility journey, COVID-19 has thrown a massive spanner in the works. As part of the government’s programme of trying to stem the virus and to keep people safe, the fertility regulator in the UK (The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, or HFEA) instructed that all fertility treatment must be stopped by Wednesday, April 15^th.

What does this mean for those seeking help to start a family?

The situation is changing very quickly and the tidal wave of news and information can be overwhelming. We all have many questions – and concerns - in our head. To help understanding, we have gathered what is currently known* about the virus and what lockdown is likely to mean for those planning fertility treatment.

*We’ll keep the information on this page updated as the situation unfolds and more information becomes available.

What is COVID-19?

Image by Fusion Medical Animation

Some of the current terminology can be confusing, but COVID-19 is the code-name given to this new infectious, respiratory disease. “COVID” is short for coronavirus disease and “19” indicates it was first detected in 2019.

COVID-19 is caused by a virus with the scientific name severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (or known by the shorter name, SARS-CoV-2).

Viruses are present in the environment and need a host body – animal or human – to survive. Outside the body, viruses are killed by soap; which is why it is important to wash your hands and disinfect surfaces, and to “catch” coughs and sneezes, to help to stop the spread of the virus.

Once a virus enters the body, it is up to the immune system to kill it. Viruses like SARS-Cov-2 enter the host through the mouth, nose, eyes, or breaks in the skin, which is why it is important to keep your distance. Once inside the body, they attack the cells lining the respiratory system causing symptoms including: fever, a persistent dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing.

Whilst most healthy people are able to fight off the infection with rest at home, there are high-risk groups such as the elderly and people with weakened immune systems who are more susceptible to severe infections and are unable to fight off the virus as easily.

How will the lockdown affect my fertility treatment?

On March 23^rd, the HFEA ordered all fertility treatment must stop by Wednesday, 15^th April. This means that any treatment you had planned, or were undergoing, had to be cancelled or postponed by this date. Clinics were then given the green signal to apply for reopening starting May 11^th, however the clinic closure in April contributed to a backlog of patients all waiting to begin or resume their treatment. This means that you may be on the waiting list for an even longer period than you anticipated before starting your treatment.

Why is fertility treatment being postponed?

The HFEA asked clinics to stop fertility treatment for a number of reasons, including:

• The need to limit the spread of COVID-19 by cancelling face-to-face appointments
• Reducing the risk of placing additional pressures on the NHS as a result of potential problems or adverse reactions to patients having fertility treatment
• Managing staffing limitations, as a result of fertility staff illness and self-isolation, or the need to redeploy staff to help in other areas of the NHS
• Limited supplies of stocks of PPE (protective equipment, such as masks, gowns, visors, etc)
• The unknown effects of COVID-19 on fertility and egg or embryo implantation

Fertility experts in China shared with Gynii Me how they handled fertility treatment during their lockdown period. Similarly to the approach taken by the UK fertility sector, all patients in affected areas of China were advised to suspend treatment or freeze their embryos due to the lack of information on how the virus may affect implantation and pregnancy outcomes.

When will IVF clinics resume treatment?

The HFEA announced that fertility clinics could apply to reopen from the week of May 11^th 2020, however clinics will be required to meet strict COVID-19 safety standards to keep themselves and their patients safe. As part of this, it is likely that your clinic is not running at full-capacity once reopened, meaning you may be waiting longer for your appointment to be scheduled.

How will my treatment and funding be affected if I exceed treatment age limits as a result of my treatment being cancelled?

The UK government announced on the 27^th of April that all frozen embryos, eggs and sperm that were put in storage prior to the lockdown will have their storage time extended for 2 years. Normally, frozen embryos and gametes in the UK have a legal storage limit of 10 years. This measure is being put in place to help alleviate the unfair effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients who have had their treatment cancelled despite approaching the standard 10-year limit.

In the meantime, individual clinics are also providing support, such as free embryo storage and treatment plan extensions, to help their patients during this difficult time. Please contact your clinic to find out what measures you may benefit from if your treatment has been postponed.

What can I do while I wait to resume my fertility treatment?

To have your fertility treatment put on pause is understandably very stressful. However, this time, whilst worrying and unwelcome, can give us the opportunity to take a break from procedures which can be physically, mentally and emotionally draining.

Now is a good time to reach out to your support network and to return to the activities you may have placed on hold while planning or undergoing treatment.

As always, your fertility health will benefit from good overall health. Take measures to keep yourself safe from the virus and help yourself by eating healthily, getting a good night’s sleep and keeping your stress levels low.

It is important to always make sure you talk to someone and reach out to your support network if you are feeling anxious and/or unhappy.

Where can I access support and counselling?

This is undoubtedly a very frustrating time for those who have already been trying to conceive for a while. We encourage you to access our free services during this time for information, mentoring and emotional support.

Ensure that you seek emotional support from sources such as:

• Your fertility clinic, which may offer telephone counselling services
• The Fertility Network UK support line, via telephone +44 (0)121 323 5025 or email support@fertilitynetworkuk.org (click here for more information on the Fertility Network’s support line)

The British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA) has a “Find a Counsellor” service, to help put you in touch with someone to talk to.

Click here for the British Infertility Counselling Association’s (BICA) “Find a Counsellor” service.

Please let us know if you think any content on this site is factually incorrect.

This article was last updated on: 31 August, 2020.