Coronavirus: COVID-19

All our clinics in Spain are open and our patients perform their treatments regularly, taking all the necessary precautionary measures to make this a safe and easy process for all.

It is worth noting that for an important group of our patients, reproductive treatment is an urgent need in order to achieve their goal of becoming mothers, since time has a negative impact on their fertility.

Right from the start, IVI has focused on guaranteeing the safety of its patients and staff, which is why we have taken protective measures that we ask you to follow, and which will be adapted to the current situation of the pandemic at any given time.

Spontaneous pregnancy has not been contraindicated by any scientific society nor is sexual intercourse considered a possible mode of transmission of the virus.

In Spain, according to the Spanish Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, pregnant women may contract the disease in a mild or asymptomatic way as is the case with around 80% of the general population.

With the progressive control of epidemic outbreaks, protection measures and greater coverage of the vaccination groups, the third wave is gradually being controlled and that is why some areas are no longer considered as high risk.

Are online consultations still possible?

Booking the initial visit on line has already become a reality at IVI. We spent a lot of time preparing for online medicine, but now more than ever the initial visit on line is here to stay. Any patient who wishes to may make their first visit on line, with in-person follow-up and additional tests (diagnostic pack). As always, you may book your initial visit, whether online or in-person, on our website or by phone (900 847 300).

What should I do before going to the clinic? Preventive measures

A high percentage of people in both in Spain and the rest of Europe are now vaccinated. Therefore, in accordance with the current health situation:

• We ask those patients who are going to require surgical intervention, such as the extraction of oocytes, to provide a European COVID certificate, or certification of having been fully vaccinated.
• Regardless of where you are from, we do not ask you for any type of COVID test for any of the procedures you may undergo at our facilities.
• If you are not (fully) vaccinated, or are vaccinated and have any upper respiratory symptoms, an antigen test will be required if you are going into surgery.

Due to the current evolution of the pandemic, the following are the preventive measures we ask of patients before entering the clinic:

• If you have any upper respiratory symptoms or fever, please contact your clinic before going there.
• Don’t go to the clinic if you have been in contact with anyone diagnosed with or suspected of having had COVID-19 in the last 10 days, and notify your doctor.
• Wear a mask to your appointment.

Will I have any diagnostic tests done before I start treatment?

IVI’s aim is to provide maximum safety for both patients and our employees during the treatments. For this reason, in addition to the measures already mentioned, we are going to carry out antigen detection tests for COVID on all patients who will be starting treatment and shortly before performing the surgical procedure to obtain the eggs during an IVF cycle or before embryo transfer or insemination. Antigen detection is a rapid test with a highly reliable result in about 15 minutes.  In the case of foreign patients who are required by the authorities to have a negative PCR before entering Spanish territory (maximum 72 hours), this test will be considered valid.

In case you are already vaccinated, the protocol is different, and it is likely that you will not need special tests depending on the type of treatment.

Is there any risk of my genetic material being infected in the laboratories?

No. So far, what we know from current publications is that it is very unlikely that the virus could be found in eggs or sperm.

In addition, all our laboratories are prepared to work with type 2 infectious agents, such as SARS-CoV-2 so there would be no risk at this point.

Dear patient, we must avoid at all costs our daily activities leading to a new increase in the number of infections and patients. For this reason, at IVI we are taking all the necessary measures recommended by scientific and evidence-based organisations.

Help us to comply with these measures!

Is IVI taking measures to ensure my safety against coronavirus during my treatment?

Yes. At IVI we are following the information published by the health authorities very closely to adapt our protocols and guarantee the safety of our patients at all times.  In addition, there is currently no evidence of COVID-19 transmission through assisted reproduction.

Should I interrupt or postpone my assisted reproduction treatment due to the latest coronavirus developments?

Depending on the city, prevention measures will be taken according to the situation of the epidemic outbreak in the region.

We make available to our patients, first ON-LINE visits and follow-up so that in the most responsible way possible we avoid transfers to the clinics as indicated in the different regions.

I am pregnant, do I have an increased risk of being infected by coronavirus?

The data available so far do not show an increased risk of infection in the population of pregnant women. It is therefore recommended to follow the same steps to prevent infection as the rest of the population (see below).

I have tested positive for coronavirus and I am pregnant, can I infect my baby?

To date, published articles and case studies show that there is no vertical mother-to-child transmission of COVID-19. In addition, neither the prognosis of the pregnancy nor of the patients was worse compared to infected non-pregnant women. However, it is very important to contact your obstetrician if you are diagnosed.

How can I prevent being infected by coronavirus?

To reduce the likelihood of infection by COVID-19, the health authorities recommend the following:

• Wash your hands frequently.                     
• Cover your mouth with your bent elbow or with a tissue when you cough and sneeze.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands.
• With the appearance of any symptoms, avoid close contact with other people and contact the health authorities.