Long-term effect of virus is yet unknown: Health expert

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

A Reproductive Health Medicine specialist who has made the UAE his home base since almost 10 years back said Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) has not slackened the interest of couples in assisted reproductive health (ARH) and that among the major concerns is whether pregnancy would mean a “higher risk” for the dreaded infectious disease.

Dr Human Fatemi said ARH is no longer taboo.  Enquiries range to an average of 18 a day across the UAE and in Oman where he is the IVI Middle East Fertility Clinics medical director.

He pointed out the procedure for the generation of embryos must not be postponed as age and time are vital factors.

Fatemi also said: “Yes, given the current outbreak, several couples have contacted us to freeze their eggs or embryos.

“The long-term effect of the virus is yet unknown, and people do not want to risk their chance of being parents in the future.”

“COVID19 has affected many aspects of life. While several countries have gone into lockdown to prevent the further spread of the virus, it has had massive health implications for people who are already undergoing IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment.

“Post-COVID19 questions we have been receiving now include the possibility of going ahead with the treatment, the safety of the embryos in the laboratory, and from women, ‘Do I have the higher risk for COVID19 if I get pregnant?’”

Fatemi put a “high recommendation” for embryo transfer – the procedure by which the fertilised embryos (unborn baby) between the second and eighth week – is placed inside the mother’s womb for the pregnancy purposes.

It is highly recommended to women “who have undergone ovarian simulation and the embryos are ready (for transfer).”

Fatemi shared his observations and opinion on ARH in relation to COVID-19 on Saturday, claiming that two “distinct societies” namely the European Society of Human Reproduction and the American Society of Human Reproduction “have published guidelines regarding how to proceed with fertility treatments during the pandemic.”

Included in the new standard operating procedures are the “protocols for patients who undergo IVF and regulations to reactivate the normal activity in fertility centers.”

Reverting to the embryo transfer, Fatemi said: “This is an important point to be addressed.

“If you have undergone an ovarian stimulation and your embryos are ready, you would certainly want to go ahead.

“Specific advice and regulations are given by the international societies based on each (country situationer).”

“Your doctor will give you the best advice according to your case,” he also said, adding that embryo transfer may even be done after a decade taking into consideration time-tested “techniques of vitification with excellent results.”

“Once the embryos are frozen, their quality remains the same,” Fatemi said.

Adopting the embryo transfer procedure to the UAE quarantine hours which currently runs between 10pm and 6am every day, Fatemi said: “The lockdown is in the night and allows people to perform their day jobs. It should not be a problem.”

From the Philippines and in his continuing promotion of healthy living and lifestyle and in answer to the overflow of questions regarding pregnancy and COVID19, Pasay Filipino-Chinese Charity Health Center medical director Dr Willie Ong cautioned expectant mothers to exercise the well-established safety nets of staying home and social distancing, hand hygiene, avoiding a crowd of visitors, and going for telemedicine online consultations with the obstetrician-gynecologist.

The internist-cardiologist in his You Tube series said that while pregnant women are normally in their 20s to 30s, initial World Health Organisation (WHO) records had demonstrated that the fetus is most likely protected against COVID19 through the amniotic fluid and cord blood.