Visiting Our Clinics
Updated November 2022
In order to ensure that we continue to follow health guidelines, the following applies for all patients and visitors to our clinics.
| APPOINTMENT TYPE | |
| New & Review Appointments | These appointments (approx 30-45mins) are face-to-face, with partners / support people able to attend the appointment. |
| Nurse Instruction Appointments
|
These appointments (approx 30-45mins) are face-to-face, with partners / support people able to attend the appointment. |
| Blood test including nest blood tests | Regardless of vaccination status, patients are able to attend their appointment. |
| Routine ultrasound appointments (i.e. follicular scans) | Regardless of vaccination status, patients and partners / support people are able to attend the appointment. |
| Pelvic ultrasound appointments | Regardless of vaccination status, patients and partners / support people are able to attend the appointment. |
| Pregnancy ultrasounds and nest scans | Regardless of vaccination status, patients and partners / support people are able to attend the appointment. |
| Diagnostic semen sample | Regardless of vaccination status, patients are able to attend their appointment to produce their sample on site. |
| Semen sample for treatment for IUI and IVF cycles | Regardless of vaccination status, patients are able to attend their appointment to produce their sample on site. |
| Egg Collection and Day Surgery Unit Procedures | Regardless of vaccination status, patients and partners / support people are able to attend the appointment. |
| Embryo Transfer appointments | Regardless of vaccination status, patients and partners / support people are able to attend the appointment. |
COVID-19 Vaccines and Fertility
Updated November 2021
There has been a lot of misinformation surrounding COVID-19 vaccines and their impact on fertility. We want to reassure our patients that COVID-19 vaccinations do not affect fertility and are safe for people planning a pregnancy and people that are pregnant.
In line with advice from the Australian Department of Health and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, it is recommended that you get the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you.
According to the Australian Government Department of Health, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will not approve a vaccine for use in Australia unless it is safe and effective. This includes impacts on fertility. None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently approved, or under review by the TGA cause sterilisation or infertility.
If you are pregnant, it is vital that you get vaccinated against COVID-19, as pregnant people have a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and their babies have a higher risk of being born prematurely. Vaccination is the best way to reduce these risks. You can be vaccinated at any stage during your pregnancy and pregnant people are a priority group for COVID-19 vaccination.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists states that vaccines, such as the Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) have been shown to be safe in pregnant women, based on accumulated real-world evidence from other countries. COVID-19 vaccination may additionally provide indirect protection to babies by transferring antibodies through the placenta (for pregnant people) or through breastmilk (for people who are breastfeeding).
The New England Journal of Medicine also recently confirmed that COVID-19 vaccination during the first trimester of pregnancy does NOT increase the risk of miscarriage.
If you are planning a pregnancy, it is important to note that there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines have an impact on fertility.
All patients who decide to get vaccinated should continue to follow the current guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after they are vaccinated. This includes hand hygiene, wearing masks, testing when symptoms are present and isolation, when appropriate.
If you have individual concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, we encourage you to discuss this with your Fertility Doctor, Obstetrician or GP.
Given the seriousness of the Delta variant of COVID-19, vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from illness. Please do not delay getting a vaccine and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Take care and stay safe.
Further Resources
- For advice provided by The Fertility Society of Australia on Coronavirus – please click here.
- For Repromed’s Q&A on fertility treatment and the Coronavirus in Australia – please click here.
- For Repromed Patient Updates – please click here.