While we have all had to grapple with unprecedented challenges and adapt to what is now undoubtedly the new normal, the disruptions imposed by COVID-19 have not all been uniformly negative. For some of us, the new experience of working remotely has been a gift and an opportunity to rethink what we value most. In the absence of lengthy commutes, or dead time spent at the office, many have been able to make extra time in the day to spend with their spouses or to rekindle interests and hobbies. College-age kids returned home from campus and had the chance to reconnect with parents and younger siblings. Many people satisfied the need for company and affection by adopting homeless pets - so many, in fact, that a lot of shelters ran out of adoptable animals!
For others, helping slow down the spread of the virus entailed delaying or giving up on plans to start a family. Many who had been dreaming of conceiving had their plans thrown into disarray by our collective commitment to minimize exposure to the virus. We all had to commit to temporarily suspending certain freedoms, but adhering to the general consensus of limiting congregations or exposure to other people should not mean abandoning all reasonable and necessary care.
For those who had to interrupt their efforts to conceive, the pandemic has been especially emotional and draining. While a sense of diffuse anxiety may have played a role, the question of bringing a child into a world turned upside down was complicated even more because of restricted access to fertility treatments and the risks associated with seeking treatment in traditional settings. Undergoing fertility treatments typically requires multiple visits to a clinic and interfacing with several nodal points in the medical system. COVID-19 does have considerable health implications that should be taken seriously, and regardless of how stringent the cleaning, the use of personal protective equipment, or the enforcement of social distancing, there is always the potential for exposure.
We understand that even in the most ideal circumstances many factors need to be taken into consideration. This is why we are committed to helping you realize your family plans by offering you safe and efficient alternatives to office visits, such as at-home infertility treatments, visits by expertly-trained and dedicated medical staff who can administer treatments in the safety of your home, and virtual professional assistance and support around the clock. We have minimized the need to see you in person to only one in-person visit, which will be necessary on the day of your egg retrieval procedure.
Even if you choose to delay fertility treatments, there are other preparatory aspects of conception you can take charge of while waiting. This includes addressing potential underlying gynecological conditions, dietary and lifestyle modifications, counseling and behavioral therapy. You may not feel ready to begin the process of conception, but do not discount the value of that first virtual visit with a fertility specialist from the comfort of your own home. Take this time to discuss your health and family history, ask all your pressing questions, and gather all the necessary information to assist you in making concrete plans.
Whether you wish to start or grow your family should not be negotiable, and neither should ensuring that you have safe and timely access to the treatment necessary to realize your plans.
We’ve adapted our medical services and the way we provide them to you because we take the time sensitive nature of your future planning seriously - especially in uncertain times like these. By entrusting us with the logistics of your fertility treatment, the decision to delay or move forward with your plans of conception is not out of your control.
Doc Builder works with a handful of top fertility clinics. Whether you are an OBGYN, Internal Medicine, Nurse Practictor, or clinician looking to build relationships with a Reproductive Endocrinologist Specialist, or a patient seeking guidance on fertility treatments, we are here to help you map out your journey and take care of the rest.