COVID-19 has put a lot of strain on medical care, forcing leaders to issue guidelines on essential versus non-essential care. During the heightened period of restrictions, theSanford Health Fertility and Reproductive Medicineclinic felt the impact.
“I think the pandemic has been really hard,” saysKeith Hansen, M.D., who specializes in reproductive endocrinology. “It has affected people in multiple different ways.”
在2020年为了安全关闭了一段时间后，汉森博士和生育与生殖诊所团队采取了一种谨慎的、分阶段的方法来再次提供护理。
For added safety, leaders were recommended to shut down all procedures including in vitro fertilization (IVF), transfers, and insemination.
Dr. Hansen said patients were understanding.
“Because we’re trying to help them conceive, we don’t want to put them or their babies in harm’s way.”
Safety a priority for mom and baby
美国疾病控制和预防中心在最近更新的指南中敦促孕妇和哺乳期妇女接种COVID-19疫苗。
Pregnant or breastfeeding?CDC says to get COVID vaccine
The CDC’s recommendation echoes statements in strong support of vaccinations from Sanford Health providers as well as several of the nation’s leading obstetric organizations. It comes at a time when many regions of the country are experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
This rise is driven by the highly contagious delta variant and draws attention to the potential risks involved for pregnant women who contract the virus. Expectant women run a higher risk than women who are not pregnant of severe illness and pregnancy complications from COVID-19, including possible miscarriage and stillbirth.
In short, the benefits in getting the vaccine far outweigh the risks of getting COVID-19.
Dr. Hansen also knows about the impact common viral infections have on pregnancy.
“If a pregnant woman gets influenza, she could get really, really sick. If you get really sick, it could increase the risk of miscarriage, stillborn, preterm labor and delivery. We want to figure out a way to reduce the risk of a person getting the virus and help them have a successful pregnancy.”
Patients undergoing IVF are tested first
With the complexity and expense of IVF treatments, the clinic has ensured patients can continue the process.
“What we’re trying to do is make sure we can deliver that in a safe, effective manner and reduce the chances someone would have to cancel their cycle.”
Patients are tested for COVID-19 when they begin their treatments. Pending a negative result, they will begin their treatment which can take anywhere from eight to 14 days, Dr. Hansen said. Patients are then tested again within 72 hours of the egg retrieval before they undergo anesthesia.
“We’re trying to space that out so we don’t have a number of patients in the same area at the same time, and we reduce the chances of someone getting the virus from our clinic or passing it to someone else,” Dr. Hansen said. “We want a healthy baby and a healthy mom. That’s our goal.”
Remember to call the clinic for your appointment needs. While some appointments require an office visit, the fertility clinic is offering video visits through卡塔尔世界杯预选赛比分for select Fertility and Reproductive Medicine appointments.
Learn more
- Health and Wellness podcast: OBGYN talks COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy
- Baby born at Sanford Health with COVID-19 antibodies
- Baby benefits when pregnant mom gets the flu shot
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Posted InCoronavirus,Family Medicine,Pregnancy,Specialty Care,Women's
