The COVID-19 virus has touched every single one of us, probably impacting our lives in more ways than we can comprehend. If you’re thinking about IVF treatments, or actively undergoing IVF, the threat of COVID might delay your decision – or change your mind entirely.
But the reality is that there’s nothing to worry about. A 2021 study on the impact of COVID-19 on IVF treatment showed that COVID-19 infection (in either mom or dad) does not negatively affect the outcome of IVF treatment. But it does have knock-on effects that might cause you frustration.
COVID does not impact your fertility, but it can delay the timeline of your IVF.
IVF while infected with COVID-19
The truth is that COVID can pose a health risk to you and the people around you. Unfortunately, if you’ve tested positive for COVID, you won’t be able to do IVF treatment protocols while infected. This is because you will need to self-isolate to avoid spreading the virus. But don’t worry, your chance of falling pregnant is not diminished – not even one bit!
A study published in the journal Reproductive Biomedicine Online measured the egg count of 237 women, of childbearing age, who were diagnosed with COVID-19. The study found that “the average sex hormone and AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) concentrations of women who had COVID-19 were no different from women of the same age who didn’t get infected.”
IVF Post-COVID infection
In the above mentioned study on the impact of COVID-19 on IVF treatment, couples who took part resumed their IVF treatment between 8 and 92 days after recovering from COVID infection.
No in-between cycle differences were discovered in ovarian stimulation and embryological variables between the cycles before & after recovering from COVID, except for a significantly lower proportion of top-quality embryos (TQEs).
IVF treatments can commence immediately after recovering from COVID-19. But researchers suggest candidates “postpone IVF treatment for at least 3 months (duration of folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis) after recovering from COVID, aiming to recruit healthy gametes that were not exposed to COVID-19 infection during their development.”
Can I accept eggs from a donor who had COVID-19?
Yes you can. There is zero evidence to suggest that egg donors or intended parents are at risk when egg donation takes place after the donor has contracted COVID-19. Also, no evidence exists to suggest that a donor having the COVID-19 vaccine before or during the egg donation process will have a negative impact on the eggs. Read our article on donating eggs after having COVID-19 for more information.
Hear from our overjoyed clients and donors on our Nurture Stories page.
Find out about becoming a Nurture egg donor.
Find out about becoming a Nurture intended parent.
Contact Nurture with any and all of your questions – we can’t wait to hear from you!
