Travelling abroad a reasonable excuse??

[Steph1980]

Hi all, I had been led to believe that we aren't allowed to travel abroad for fertility treatment under current covid laws, is this right? I'm so confused with it all now, we had an appointment in January and have been on standby since, id somewhat excepted that the situation is what it is but as time ticks on I am starting to worry more and more that it will be to late! Sorry if this question has been asked already.

[sazzle2680]

Hi Steph, I think this is a difficult question to answer conclusively. In theory “medical appointments” are seen as a reasonable excuse within the law. Most clinics will provide a letter to help with that to give to border officials/airlines/etc. There have been stories on here of people travelling abroad without difficulties. I can particularly recall stories about Greece, Bulgaria and Czech Republic by air and there is an individual who travelled by road into Spain.

I’m waiting to go out to Spain. Things are a little tricker with Spain as at the moment UK nationals are band from travelling into Spain by air or sea (and have been since the 22nd Dec after the emergence of the Kent strain of COVID). There have been stories passed onto individuals from clinics about their British patients being turned back both on the UK side and on the Spanish side when flying over, even with letters from the clinics and all the appropriate paperwork. The clinics have even phoned the embassy on the patients behalf, which made no difference.

I think it will depend which country you’re travelling to, whether your clinic will support with letters and whether your prepared to take the risk that you could be turned back.xx

[Steph1980 in reply to sazzle2680]

Thank you for your reply, I am with a clinic in Spain too, and what you have said is similar to what I thought unfortunately. My anxiety about it all is so up and down and as soon as they start talking about restriction changes and of course because it is approaching what would normally be the holiday season it has sent me through the roof this time xx

[sazzle2680 in reply to Steph1980]

I must admit, I’m the same. I check the news and the .gov website compulsively.

I bit the bullet and booked flights for early June. My rationale was that I’d have had both my COVID vaccinations by then and over a month break after (which is what my clinic requires between the COVID vaccine and a FET). That was at the time the media were reporting people would be able to travel abroad from 17 May.

The latest updates are saying that some of Europe my be put on the red list until August (ie compulsory 10 day hotel quarantine on return), but interestingly if you look at the data, Spain is bucking the trend in Europe. France, Germany etc have rising cases again. Spain’s are still falling.....

The key thing I’m waiting for is for Spain to remove the ban on UK citizens. At the moment the .gov website is saying Spain will update its position on the ban by 6pm on the 30th March...but I’ve been watching that date move and be pushed back with the ban continuing since January.

I am hopeful it will be lifted soon as the Spanish minister for tourism said they wanted to welcome brits back this summer so I’d imagine they’ll want to follow the likes of Greece, Cyprus and Turkey who are lifting restrictions for brits in May.

[danae35]

Last year I suppose to have my first transfer in may..... my body was ready for transfer( all med taken, lining v good) had the letter from my clinic as well..... guess what, they didn’t let me fly ( from london) I had to stop all the medication, start a new cycle.... was a nightmare

Fingers crossed for you ladies that you have to go through all this, lots of hugs xxxx

[sazzle2680 in reply to danae35]

Oh wow, you poor thing! Did you manage to get over in the summer? would you mind sharing which London airport it was?xx

[danae35 in reply to sazzle2680]

It was Heathrow, I did manage to go in June again, but the embassy was involved, sadly it was a failed transfer but we went again in September and now I’m 29 weeks xxxx it was a stressful time but we did it in the end

Fingers crossed for everyone who is having difficulty periods, hope everything will be over soon

Lots of love xxxx

[sazzle2680 in reply to danae35]

Congratulations! That’s fantastic news! Do you know if it’s 💙💗?

Yeah I’ve always found Heathrow a bit like that. Security particularly. Gatwick security for me has always felt a lot more relaxed (although writing it down doesn’t make it sound like a good thing 😳)

I flew over in Aug last year after cancelling my May plan but sadly it was a BFN. I’ve had a load of investigations and immunology treatment thru lockdown so the time waiting does feel like it’s been of value.

Fingers crossed I can get out the start of June.xx

[danae35 in reply to sazzle2680]

It’s a boy!!! Heathrow was the only one you could fly from

But now is like so far away the past 🤗🤗

Good luck to you my dear , everything will be alright xxx

[Ranchu90]

I am also having my treatment in Spain, I did travel last week to Spain by road. Yes, you can travel to Spain by road but not by air or by sea. My clinic had a situation when one of their patients went to airport to fly for transfer and they didn't let her board. Embassy was also involved in her case but nothing could be done so my suggestion is to not try your luck by air until the restrictions are lifted. By road is much easier but probably slightly more expensive, prepare the paperwork, book a million Covid test and job done. I went there for my transfer, I didn't want to wait any longer. We been checked at the borders on the way back to UK 3 times. One of the police officer asked us what kind of treatment you have abroad that you went by car and my husband was "we are trying to have a baby and ...." And he said straightaway "no more questions, that is enough". If you have more questions please feel free to ask.

[sazzle2680 in reply to Ranchu90]

Hey Ranchu....I mentioned you in my replied 😘how you keeping? Eyes 👀 peeled on here for your OTD and beta results.xx

[Ranchu90 in reply to sazzle2680]

Trying to stay sane 😣 to be honest. My test is positive but line progression is still worrying me. Thursday is my OTD 😵😪 let's hope and see... I am a bit deflated arghhh 🙄

[sazzle2680 in reply to Ranchu90]

Yeah I saw your post! Completely thrilled for you. Don’t be deflated. You’ve ticked the BFP box and now it’s onto the next milestone. Everything crossed 🤞🏻 for you xx

[Ranchu90 in reply to sazzle2680]

Thank you! Next 2 days usually are quite critical for me 😔 only time will tell which direction we are heading 🙏🤞I still have a teeny-tiny hope left in my heart 😢

[Steph1980]

Part of me understands in the current situation (covid) why we are being prevebted from travelling abroad but the other part thinks how unfair it all seems when you've got people who can travel for business, sport and who knows what else. Time is precious for some of us and a knock on effect of this pandemic maybe that some can't have the fertility treatments they need. I just wish that fertility could be given an exemption along with other medical treatments. Think it's a case of watch this space a while longer 😔