IVF after covid

[Rowan80]

Hello, I had Covid last month and was due to start another round at the end of this month. However the clinic have recommended that I wait at least 3 months after having Covid to complete my next round. I am 43 and running out of time and would just like to get on with it but worried about a potential further disruption to egg quality as a result of Covid. Does anyone have any advice around this or experience of ivf after Covid?

Has anyone gone ahead with a round after having Covid and noticed poor results as a result of the virus?

Thank you x

[Leii9]

Hi, I had covid in June 2023 , did my last ivf cycle in August 2023 and i am now looking at my beautiful 5 weeks old daughter. Good luck xx

[Rowan80 in reply to Leii9]

Thank you and congratulations. X

[Leii9 in reply to Rowan80]

Thank you xxx

[Twiglet2]

I think there was some emerging evidence on sperm quality being affected after covid but that’s pretty standard after an infection or illness for sperm anyways (covid is just another one of those these days!) but I’ve not seen much on definitive egg quality research I would ask the clinic what evidence they have for the recommendation that you should wait 3 months? Then make your decision as they might just be playing it extra safe and you need to balance out the risk of waiting 3 months and egg quality with age vs whatever they say about Covid and egg quality. From what I’ve read/heard I dont think I would be waiting though but your clinic may have more info on it if they are making recommendations around it they blooming should have! xx

[Rowan80 in reply to Twiglet2]

Thank you. Sage advice. The clinic didn’t really have an evidence based argument for delaying the round. It’s so hard to know what to do for the best at 43. Thanks for your reply x

[Rubylou01]

Morning Rowan - you'll get conflicting advice on here but mine would be to wait if it was particularly bad. I had a rather nasty bout of COVID - I tested positive for over a week. Asked the clinic, they were ambivalent and said I could wait 28 days or could start; up to me. Roll forward to next cycle am down in London from Aberdeen - only 7 follicles, 2 slightly larger ones. £1200 of painful stims later (steroids + 3 injections/day), 5 scans at £1000, 5 blood tests at £850 with the last one being an AMH blood test because Ive only got 2 follicles and one ovary doing anything I find out my AMH has dropped from 12.07 to 2 in the space of 2.5 months - I am 44 so could be influencing things ...BUT my Dr then says...I've never seen this before except in flu patients where they have a nasty strain of flu that has a physiological impact on the immune system that has meant theyve had to abandon their cycles as their follicles wont respond. Helpful to know!!! So we try again at the next cycle. One dominant follicle again - probably left over from last time - but they can see 12 follicles so something's improving. So that was abandoned. Now I am on a long protocol, estrogen suppression and awaiting my next cycle.....have tested my AMH again (day 3 was yesterday) and awaiting those results. The truth is you might be absolutely fine - especially if it was a mild case but obvs with hindsight I wished I'd waited and saved myself hope, energy and money for the 3rd time lucky....and also hoping if COVID has had an effect on egg quality (which is an unknown) that the next crew are going to be kitted out better Good luck with your decision xx

[Rowan80 in reply to Rubylou01]

Thanks for the advice. It sounds like you had a difficult time, sorry to hear that. I hope your current round is successful. It is really difficult weighing everything up at 43, soon to be 44. One hurdle after another. My instinct is to go ahead while I’m 43 as I didn’t suffer that badly form Covid like you did but would it be a waste of money? Who knows. I will do some more research. Thanks again. X

[Beclp]

Hey x I would wait and use this time to build up your system as best you can to get the best result possible.

I don’t think 3 months is a long time in hindsight but I do understand that pressure of feeling like the clocks ticking

I did a cycle at 41 and froze my eggs and then did another one at 43.5 and fertilised them with the frozen eggs. Got 2 blasts from each batch and it was the ones from the latter cycle that has so far stuck. It was my last one so my advice would be to wait.

[Rowan80 in reply to Beclp]

That’s super exciting for you! 😊 wishing you lots of luck.

Thanks for the advice, it’s really hard to know what to do at my age. I did think it might be a sign to give up but maybe one last try. I don’t ever seem to have any eggs to freeze so I’m starting from scratch each time which means my eggs are old. I wonder what’s worse, worsening egg quality due to waiting 3 months at age 43 or the affect of Covid on egg quality. Difficult. Thanks again and best of luck x