Along with many other communities, the 1 in 8 couples struggling with infertility have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to a number of initial unknowns and precautionary guidelines, IVF, IUI, and all other fertility cycles and procedures were postponed or altogether cancelled.
This is bigger than just feeling disappointed. Our patients, in many cases, have worked at family building for years. Eventually, they were diagnosed with the disease of infertility and sought medical assistance in fulfilling their human-right and biological calling to expand their families. However, during this time of COVID-19, this innate desire to become pregnant has been told to “quiet down until we figure all this out.”
Well, time is not a luxury for people seeking infertility treatments, just as it’s not for those facing other medical diseases. To “quiet down” is nearly a mental and physical impossibility for these men and women. To be frank, it is not the right answer for this community, and below, I’ll explain why.
At RMA of Connecticut, we have confidently decided to resume treatment in a phasal reopening, keeping safety as our top priority. We wholeheartedly believe that fertility treatment is essential care, and we have a duty to provide that to our patients.
1. To put it bluntly, there is nothing “elective” about fertility patients wanting to have a baby. Building a family is at the core of our patients’ lives and hearts... there is nothing more essential to our humanity than this.
2. The term “biological clock,” though often misunderstood, exists for a reason. We all have it, both men and women, ticking inside of us at one point or another. That’s why longer delays for fertility patients feels even more life-stunting. A delay in care impedes their ability to have a baby, therefore disrupting a personal, biological need.
3. Even in the best of times, there is no room in society to say that fertility treatments are elective. Infertility is a disease, plain and simple, and on a fundamental level, it deserves insurance coverage and respect, as do all medically classified disease states including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, amongst many others.
4. Let’s face it, there will never be a perfect time for anything to restart in today’s world. However, after careful reflection, studying, researching, and collaborating, we believe that it is in fact safe, rational, and necessary to start treatments now. Equally as important, it will not drain resources on the healthcare system.
5. No one, including medical professional societies, the surgeon general, or any physician group, is telling women who do not have fertility problems that they cannot try to get pregnant right now. Our patients should not be told that either.
Simply, having a family is a beautiful, natural, earth-given right of any human being. It. Is. Essential.
We will continue to be here for our patients and provide them with the best care we can. Our offices are enforcing beyond-standard safety features. Every person, staff or patient, undergoes a health screening upon arrival at our office, and our telehealth initiatives have exceeded our expectations in patient communication and efficacy. We will continue to modify our approaches to best suit the health of our patients and staff, all while keeping our priorities in check. At the end of the day, our number one goal is to responsibly help our patients address their essential needs using essential health and safety precautions.
Hear from a RMA couple on why they believe fertility treatment is essential.