Many women are concerned about the impact of Covid-19 on their fertility. Paula Celada, French patient gynecologist at IVI Valence, disentangles fact from fiction.
Having caught Covid-19 does not compromise a PMA course
TRUE – “There is no reason to worry at this time”, reassures Paula Celada, gynecologist of the French patient population at IVI Valence. “At IVI, we conducted a study between the months of May and June of 2020 in order to verify the impact of the virus on fertility in women, in particular because there are receptors for the SARS-Cov-2 virus in the ovary. It appears that no reduction in ovarian reserve was observed, even in women whose reserve was already low. We can thus deduce that the chances of success of an ART treatment remain intact”.
The women who participated in the study in question were divided into two groups, depending on their level of AMH, the hormone responsible for ovarian reserve. The first is a group of patients with low response with an average age of 38.6 years, while the second is a group of patients with normal to high response with an average age of 34.7 years.
Nevertheless, “Our study involved a small sample of 46 patients. It is therefore important to extend our study to a larger number of patients before definitively confirming the absence of a causal link between ovarian reserve and covid-19 infection”, specifies the PMA specialist. “We remain optimistic about this and are advancing through this study a first line of thought on the subject”.
Getting vaccinated against Covid-19 when pregnant is not recommended
TRUE AND FALSE – On March 2, 2021, the High Authority for Health (HAS) clarified that the vaccination of pregnant women is not contraindicated, but that it must primarily concern women with risk factors: heart problems, respiratory problems, having obesity or experiencing a late pregnancy.
Since March 5, 2021, pregnant women can be vaccinated against Covid-19, as well as those around them. This vaccination can be performed by a midwife. “At IVI, we recommend not to be administered vaccines containing attenuated viruses and to ensure that you discuss your case with your obstetrician in order to assess the advantages and disadvantages of vaccination in your situation”, says Paula Celada.
Having caught Covid-19 prevents conceiving a child naturally
FALSE – Covid-19 does not prevent conceiving a child naturally. If the number of births fell in 2020 in France, it is the result of personal choices, and not of biological problems.
Nevertheless, the great fatigue generally caused by Covid-19 can cause erection problems in men, and a drop in the couple’s libido.
MAP centers are closed due to health restrictions
FALSE. The assisted reproduction centers in France and Spain are open, like all health institutions. The pandemic has not affected the parental plans of families who have used medically assisted procreation techniques.
“In 2020, the first visits of French patients to IVI clinics increased by 11% compared to 2019. It is in particular the visits of couples of women or single women who have increased considerably. The visit to an IVI center is one of the medical reasons which authorize exceptions to the containment measures put in place in France”, says Paula Celada.
Sanitary restrictions have undermined the safety of ART procedures
FALSE. “Since the start of the health crisis, we have guaranteed the highest level of safety and efficiency for our procedures, both at the embryo and patient level”, guarantees Paula Celada.
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