Fertility Blog

COVID-19 Update - March 24th, 2020

Dear Patients, Colleagues and Associates,

As we monitor the rapidly evolving situation of the COVID-19 virus, we are faced with a dilemma how best to respond to this challenge. Is stopping all fertility treatments in the best interest of our patients or do we proceed in a safe and responsible manner?

Following an unexpected email sent by the American Society of Medicine (ASRM) on March 17, 2020 to all its members, we at Washington Fertility Center decided to stop most of fertility treatments since so little is known about the risk of this novel virus on the embryo, the fetus or child born from an infected mother.

Unfortunately, this decision left several couples and patients of ours disappointed, heartbroken and angry.

We strongly believe infertility is a disease. Fertility treatment is not an elective treatment. We can’t ask our patients to put their treatment on hold. The fertility journey is hard enough and to ask our patients to put their dream on hold is cruel.

For these reasons and after much reflection about the potential risks to our patients in treatment or about to start a pregnancy, and witnessing the emotional impact of stopping or refusing fertility treatment on our patients, we have reconsidered our previous decision and will continue to offer the following services:

  • Ovulation stimulation and monitoring
  • Intra Uterine Insemination
  • Egg Retrievals for In Vitro Fertilization
  • Egg Retrievals for Egg Freezing and Banking
  • Donor Egg Retrievals from Egg Donors
  • Frozen or Fresh Embryo Transfers
  • Hysteroscopies
  • Laparoscopies
  • Mini laparotomies
  • Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
  • In office or teleconferencing consultation
  • Ultrasound examination
  • Blood draw
  • Injections teaching

One exception: We will suspend only Egg Retrievals from Patients or Egg Donors who must travel to our center using commercial or public transportation. Travel in a private or personal car is acceptable.

Since Washington Fertility Center is a free standing facility not attached to a hospital, we feel our services do not interfere with the resources of hospitals committed to their acute and chronic care patients.

We remain committed to continue to provide our patients with the fertility services they expect and deserve. Following counseling with our providers about the potential risks of the COVID-19 on the eggs, sperm, embryos, fetus and unborn child, we will ask our patients to read, review and sign an informed consent form where they acknowledge understanding of any potential risks prior to proceeding with any fertility testing and or treatment.

Meanwhile, we will continue to follow the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), State and Local Agencies, the American Society of Medicine (ASRM), the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), state and local government.

Our infection prevention measures will include:

  • Strict hand hygiene using hand washing, alcohol rubs
  • Careful cleaning and wiping of all patients areas with alcohol between patients
  • Separation of patients office time scheduling
  • Reception Area with seats 6 feet apart
  • Private isolated Exam rooms and PreOp rooms
  • Options of teleconference or in office consultation

Above all, our foremost goal and focus are the safety of our patients, their babies and our entire staff.

Pierre Asmar, MD, FACOG
Founder and Medical Director
Washington Fertility Center
Egg Donor America
Egg Bank America