Diagnostische Pathologie: Open Access

Abstrakt

Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Marcos Horton

The current COVID-19 pandemic poses a unique challenge for the provision of standard healthcare services. Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) includes interventions aimed to treat infertility, or provide services to single women or same sex couples wishing to conceive.  The right to a family is a human right, as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), and infertility is considered a disease, often time-sensitive; thus, delaying timely treatment can severely affect a person’s probability to get pregnant.

We assessed the impact of the pandemic on fertility treatment from a global perspective, describing the timeline of events, the initial reaction and recommendations of scientific societies, along with further guidelines on re-commencing MAR care in a safe environment. We describe the safety protocol put in place in our clinic, its results, and we discuss the current literature evidence on the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on pregnancy, vertical transmission and neonatal health.