Getting your Pregnancy Plan back on Track after Coronavirus

The coronavirus epidemic put the world on pause and altered the course of 2020. While many joked that the restrictions placed on travel and movement would spike the rates of both divorce and pregnancy, few considered the interruption of IVF treatments. Clinics had to close overnight, with no certain date of reopening, and couples around the world had to realign their hopes of getting pregnant.

One woman wrote to The Guardian in early May to detail her angst, ‘Not knowing when clinics will restart again adds to all the other uncertainties and worries around IVF treatment.’^[1]

One in eight couples have trouble conceiving naturally.^[2] The decision to take the path of IVF is not one taken lightly, and this road to pregnancy is not without its anxiety even with the absence of a global pandemic. Now that the world is reopening its doors, many are keen to pursue their IVF treatment as soon as possible to help them conceive.

Is it safe to travel for IVF?

As the efforts to combat the virus take on positive effect in the majority of European countries, many countries have been able to open borders sooner than anticipated. It is safe for people who are not at risk to travel. Germany, Greece, and the Czech Republic have been particularly commended for their fast and effective response strategy. As such, they were some of the first to safely open their doors to foreigners.^[3]

Among these countries, the Czech Republic is rated highest for IVF treatments. In the Czech Republic the standard of care is high, but the cost of reproductive care is more affordable and the regulations less strict than in countries like France & Germany.^[4]

Starting with IVF as soon as possible

Since age is a defining factor in fertility success, time is always of the essence. The initial stages of in vitro fertilisation involve consultations with specialists and fertility tests. To speed up the process, Gynem can conduct all of this from afar, to avoid any unnecessary travel in these preliminary stages. The pre-treatment tests can be taken in your home country and results sent to our experts. A clinical evaluation over Skype will follow. This entire process is free.

The ease at which you can start planning at home and become familiarised with the clinic makes the decision to go abroad a much easier one. Out of the millions of people who travel for medical care, up to 7% of them are ones who do it for reproductive care.^[5]

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