Covid and fertility treatment

[AJ0604]

I just wondered if anyone had any research or experience around covid and fertility. We had our son on our 4 attempt at IVF (3 fresh, 1 frozen) Now we are trying for a sibling. We had had two failed cycles since trying the end of last year (one negative, 1 miscarriage).

Our clinic told us last year that they have anecdotal evidence from the clinic that recently having covid results in lower pregnancy rates, so they have been advising delaying treatment for 1 to 2 months after infection.

I have tried to do research into it but I can't find anything one the fertility network or HEFA to back this up, so I just wondered if anyone knew anything or had experience. I'm trying to work out how seriously to take it.

I also wondered if the clinic are over reacting as they don't want tonaffect their success rate?.

We have just got covid again this week having not had it since June last year, which is really upsetting as we are already delaying as we have such a bad history with IVF anyway.

Just trying to work out if we need tondelay further?

Thank you in advance

[Kittykat198]

I was told by our clinic it impacts sperm quality more than eggs and depends very much on how ill you are as to their decision to go ahead. Having a fever can impact sperm badly I think too. The consultant said they won’t go ahead with egg collection if you have had lots of respiratory issues because of the sedative risks. So I guess it depends on your reasons for having Ivf and how quickly you bounce back or were affected.

Anecdotally, in early June, my partner and I both had it mildly like a miserable cold and were able to go ahead with a fresh collection in early august (next period) which went better than my previous 2 collections.

I think they used to make you wait after any respiratory infection anyways rather than it being a covid specific issue.

Best of luck!

[AJ0604 in reply to Kittykat198]

My wife has done a brief research review as inwas getting worried and this is mainly what she has found so that it affects sperm more. I should have mentioned we are a same sex couple -hopefully it will then go in our favour.

We are not very ill at all so hopefully there are no problems starting in 6 weeks as planned

Thank you x

[Kittykat198 in reply to AJ0604]

Hopefully you will both just be a bit miserable with it rather than very unwell. Fingers crossed for you!

[Rol81]

My clinic were happy for me to go ahead 6 weeks after having covid but said it would have been 9 weeks minimum for my husband as it seems to have more of an effect on sperm.

Good luck ☘️

[Sw1234]

Our clinic wanted us to be clear from covid for 3 months before EC

[Eloquentia]

I had COVID last year in the run up to FET. I told my clinic and they said it was fine to go ahead as it had cleared before I was due my scan. However, that round resulted in a BFN with a top quality embie. We'll never know if COVID contributed or not.

[pinky30]

i did an egg collection round a few weeks after my husband had covid and it resulted in zero fertilisation despite it being my best month yet for egg numbers. I also understood that any infection (from my research) raises your white blood cells so your body can fight it off snd it can take up to 4/5 weeks for these to go bavck down. I was planning a FET and caught a cold and reluctantly had to cancel it for this reason - raised white blood cells increases the chances of your body rejecting the embryo as it things it's a foreign cell and wants to fight it off) so even if doesn't isn't the issue, if you are doing a fresh transfer i would be very cautious and give it at least one mo th in between... x