“My doctor called me: following a directive within the framework of Covid-19, all acts of PMA are suspended until further notice. Have you been given a recovery date? “, Worries a young woman.
"I'm really disgusted," says another. I can already imagine the accumulated delay, the summer that will come quickly ... The pill is a little hard to swallow, even if it is surely necessary. "
Many women on the Internet share their questions and disappointment on forums dedicated to assisted medical procreation. Indeed, the LDC centers have decided to cease their activities, in order to comply with the recommendations communicated by the Biomedicine Agency on March 12, then on March 25.
"Scientific data do not currently allow us to know the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on early pregnancy," the agency said in its official letter. It is advisable to postpone the clinical and biological activities of AMP [ Editor's note: medically assisted procreation ], regardless of the technique used. "
Beds used for coronavirus patients
This is the case at the PMA center of the Pierre-Cherest clinic in Neuilly-sur-Seine, one of the most important in western Paris. It closed this Saturday March 28.
"Since Monday, March 16, we have only been taking punctures [Egg retrieval] from women, who had started their ovarian stimulation before March 12 in the evening," explains the director of this clinic in the Paré-Cherest group. All embryo transfers were stopped on March 16. The latest punctures were performed on Monday March 23. "
On Wednesday, March 25, laboratory technicians were responsible for culturing and freezing the last embryos collected.
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"The Pierre-Cherest clinic is completely closed to leave all the beds available if additional beds are needed for Covid patients", specifies the management of the Paré-Cherest group.
Disappointed but understanding patients
Its largest clinic, Ambroise-Paré, has been welcoming since last week in its resuscitation service for Covid patients and has even created a second resuscitation, as well as a Covid medical service with 50 beds.
“I went to the Pierre-Cherest clinic on Wednesday 18, for my puncture, says Nawel, 41, who lives in Seine-Saint-Denis and has just started his PMA course after an unsuccessful treatment. I had a certificate from my doctor to go there because, given my age, he did not want to wait. We didn't know if we were going to be able to do the puncture and I was really afraid of losing my eggs. "
Out of 22 maturing ova, only twelve were able to be recovered and eight were frozen. Normally, three to five days after in vitro fertilization, the embryos are transferred to the patient's uterus.
"The transfer was to be done Tuesday or Wednesday," says Nawel, "but it was canceled. We wait. I think we will have to wait until the end of confinement. "
The young quadra does not hide its fears: “I am disappointed, yes. I am afraid that by going through the freezing of embryos, we have less chance of success. As you get older, the longer you wait, the less chance you have… ”
"The general interest"
On a forum, another patient from the Neuilly clinic tries to give courage to others. "Most doctors seem to be saying that in May-June, the peak will be over and that we can hope for a return to normal by that time," she hopes. I am extremely aware of the risks of corona , since my spouse is at very high risk. And yet, extremely sad that our plan to hope for a little happiness stagnates again and again. "
Suzanne, 38, who had to give up on a puncture scheduled for last Friday, recalls that this closure of the PMA center is in favor of the general interest.
"I was told that the protocol had changed in case it was necessary to requisition beds in clinics for patients of Covid, reports the young woman, to whom the doctor proposed, instead, ovarian stimulation. The context requires adapting, I find that normal. "
But she recognizes that her situation is probably different from that of couples who have already made several unsuccessful attempts. “I am not at the stage of discouragement. For others, it is probably more difficult. "
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