Are you thinking about undergoing IVF abroad during/after Covid-19? Here are the most frequently asked questions we receive from patients so you can get ready for your next IVF treatment in Cyprus.
WHAT SAFETY MEASURES HAVE YOU PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT ME DURING MY TREATMENT?
Your health and safety are our greatest priority, and we do everything to provide you with the best treatment in the safest way possible.
To protect you from potential infection, we’ve introduced the following measures:
- Limited number of visits per day
- Questionnaire about coronavirus symptoms (e.g. fever, coughing, shortness of breath) before each appointment
- Wearing a face mask and keeping a distance of at least two meters inside the facilities
- Disinfecting the clinic after each patient’s visit
Additional measures to protect your health include:
- Virtual consultations
- Online treatment planning sessions
- Signing documents electronically
Last but not least, all patients are required to sign a code of conduct before the start of their treatment, where they agree to avoid behaviours that might put them at risk of Covid-19 infection.
CAN MY PARTNER ATTEND WITH ME DURING MY APPOINTMENTS?
Yes, you can take your partner (and children, if any) to the clinic during all your appointments.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I TEST POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS DURING TREATMENT?
If you catch coronavirus while undergoing fertility treatment, a fever may reduce the number of eggs retrieved. As a result, you may need to increase the doses of stimulation medication, which will make the cycle longer. The effects of Covid-19, however, are reversible and they won’t impact your future cycles.
Unlike women, men may experience short-term issues caused by Covid-19, such as decreased sperm count or poor motility. Again, these effects are temporary, and once the fever resolves, sperm returns to its normal state.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR NORTH CYPRUS?
All travellers should get tested for Covid-19 in their home country before coming to North Cyprus. A second PCR test will be performed upon entrance at the Ercan Airport.
If both PCR tests are negative, we can get permission from the Ministry of Health to treat you at our clinic — regardless of the duration of your quarantine!
After obtaining permission from the Ministry of Health, we’ll pick you up from your quarantine hotel and take you to the EuroCARE IVF clinic. There you’ll have all procedures performed as part of the IVF process, including scans, egg retrieval and embryo transfer.
Note: During self-quarantine, you’ll only be allowed to come to the EuroCARE IVF clinic for your appointments.
I HAVE PAID FOR MY TREATMENT BUT UNABLE TO PROCEED, WHAT HAPPENS?
We keep your money until you are available to start treatment/travel again.
IF I AM PREGNANT, WHAT ARE THE RISKS IF I CATCH COVID-19?
Pregnant women may experience only mild-to-moderate symptoms if they contract the coronavirus. These may include fever, coughing and shortness of breath/difficulty breathing. Additional symptoms could be sore throat, headache and loss/change to your sense of smell/taste.
You’re more likely to develop severe coronavirus symptoms and need hospital treatment if you’re:
- Over the age of 35
- Overweight or obese
- Have pre-existing medical problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes
- From a black, Asian or minority ethnic background
IF I STORED SPERM/EMBRYOS PRIOR TO THE CLINIC CLOSING WILL THEY BE AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19?
If you stored sperm at EuroCARE IVF and have not knowingly had COVID 19, there is only a very small risk that the sample may have been contaminated with coronavirus.
First, there is still no evidence that coronavirus can penetrate eggs, sperm or embryos directly. Second, when sperm samples are stored, they are washed carefully before freezing, removing the seminal plasma containing the virus. Therefore, the likelihood of coronavirus in these stored samples is extremely low.
HAVE MY EGGS, EMBRYOS AND SPERM BEEN SAFE WHILST THE CLINIC HAS NOT BEEN OPEN FOR TREATMENT?
Please be assured that our embryology team has been here during this time to monitor and maintain the tanks to ensure your eggs, embryos and sperm are safely stored during the pandemic.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION IN NORTH CYPRUS REGARDING COVID-19?
Cyprus was one of the few countries that have responded remarkably well to the Covid-19 pandemic. With as few as 108 coronavirus cases, this Mediterranean island remains to be the safest country to travel for medical tourism in the post-Covid period.
Although the situation is good, there are regulations in place to prevent further spread (e.g. facial masks, 2-metre distance). Besides this, you can still enjoy a relaxing holiday while having your treatment, eat out in restaurants, go to supermarkets/shops, etc.
Have any further questions? Please give us a call now and speak with an experienced member of our IVF team by video for free!