Actualities/Covid-19

Important information

Dear current or future patient!

During the Coronavirus pandemic, despite its fluctuating nature, we have to introduce special preventive measures to keep everyone safe. This means that for visits, when in person appearance is not essential, we will provide telemedicine services (except to those patients who come from abroad). This affects the following types of visits:

  • Initial consultation (review of the previous medical history, evaluation already existing test results, setting up diagnostic/ treatment plans),
  • Evaluation of the results of the tests ordered and based on them clarification of the therapeutic plan,
  • Follow-up discussions after successful or unsuccessful treatments, during which tests required for a new treatment can be ordered and a new therapeutic plan can be discussed.

In order to set up a telemedicine appointment please contacts us by phone (+36-1-202-2802) or email (Budapest@dunamentirek.hu).

It is based on the result of these telephone consultations that in person visits can be set up. During the in person visits we will provide you with all the recommended protective equipment and will follow the recommended infection control guidelines.

Our goal is to be able to provide our full services even during the pandemic while minimizing the risk of potential infection in our facilities. Therefore the following measures will be in effect:

  1. For each clinic visit (blood test, semen analysis, visit with a doctor, etc.) an appointment will need to be set up first. We will only see you in the clinic if an appointment has been previously set up!
  2. If prior to the visit you produce symptoms consistent with Coronavirus infection we will refer you to your general medical provider. In this case we will only be able to see you if the evaluation by your GP is negative for Coronavirus infection.
  3. On the day of the visit please arrive in time. Please wait outside of the building at the main door until you are called by an assistant.
  4. Once in the clinic you will be asked to use the hand sanitizer and will be asked to use a face mask.
  5. The mask needs to be worn while in the clinic. As you leave the clinic you will be able to dispose it in the special disposal container.
  6. We will only allow the patient herself/ himself to enter the building on the day of the visit except for those visits (pregnancy ultrasound, discussion before embryo transfer or after failed fertility treatment, or the in-person initial consultation) when the presence of both partners is needed. If you arrive with an accompanying person she/ he will need to wait outside of the building.
  7. Consultations, follow-up discussions can now be performed in person but handling these visits over the phone is still an option. Those patients who come from abroad for the consultation will need to be seen in person.
  8. We currently only use electronic prescriptions.
  9. Those patients who are infected by SARS-CoV-2 (this applies to both women and men) can attend in person visits:
    If the infection was without symptoms and was diagnosed based on a positive Ag or PCR test, 10 days after the positive test the patient can be seen without any additional testing
    If the infection was accompanied by upper respiratory tract symptoms, loss of smell or taste, etc., the patient can be seen in-person 10 days after the disappearance of the symptoms without any additional testing
    If as a result of the infection long-standing complaints remain we will only start fertility treatment after a proper medical evaluation
  10. We understand that certain aspects of these measures will be less convenient compared to our previous operations but they are of utmost importance to guarantee your safety. We do ask for your patience and cooperation these days to be able to serve you to the best of your knowledge!

Bp. 2022.04.01.

Sincerely,
Dunamenti REK Reprodukciós Központ
Dr. Kovács Péter
medical director

Patient information for semen analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic

Please, click here to download the semen analysis information

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19 disease, belongs to the Coronavirus family. It was first identified towards the end of 2019 in Wuhan county in China. It is believed that the virus spread worldwide from here causing multiple waves of mass infections. The virus has mutated several times during its spread. The newer mutant variants are characterized by an increased ability to infect individuals and the symptoms associated appear to be more severe.

The diagnostic tests can be divided into three groups (European Centre for Disease Control):

  • detection of viral RNA (RT-PCR)
  • detection of viral antigens (viral surface proteins)
  • antibody test (antibodies produced against SARS-CoV-2 virus)

The RT-PCR and antigen tests are used to detect an acute infection. Antibody tests can serve as proof of immune response following an acute infection. The currently available tests are not 100% accurate.

The typical symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to the symptoms of other upper respiratory tract infections (sore throat, cough, fever) and may be preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhea). Fever, muscle pain, feeling tired, shortness of breath and loss of taste, smell are further characteristic clinical signs. The virus primarily spreads by respiratory droplets and rarely by touching contaminated surfaces.

During pregnancy the virus may spread from the mother to the fetus through the placenta. The risk of getting infected by SARS-Cov-2 is not higher among pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women. The vast majority (74-86%) of the infections is asymptomatic or is accompanied by mild symptoms only. The most common symptoms are fever and cough. The risk of developing more severe disease that may even require hospitalization is higher however among pregnant women. Fatal outcome is rare in general but is somewhat more common if the infection is caught during pregnancy. The risk of severe disease increases as the pregnancy progresses. Most cases that require hospital admissions occur in the third trimester. The risk of preterm delivery is elevated in pregnancies complicated by COVID-19 primarily due to the more frequent labor inductions and C-sections to complete the pregnancy. The risk of severe disease is higher among those over the age of 35 and with a higher BMI (>25 kg/m2) as well as among those affected by diabetes and hypertension.

According to currently available data, the risk of miscarriage, malformations and intrauterine fetal demise are not higher as a result of the infection. The disease does not seem to affect the growth of the fetus either. The risk of preterm delivery is increased but as explained above this is primarily due to the elective labor inductions for maternal indications. Over 95% of the newborns are born healthy. In a small proportion of neonates, the test produced a positive result so we assume that the virus can pass through the placenta and can infect the fetus. In almost all cases however the test turned negative within a few days indicating the end of the infection.

Various vaccines are available to prevent the disease or at least reduce the risk of severe symptoms, hospitalization. All of them appear to be effective though their efficacy is not identical. Full immunity is achieved 7-10 days after the two-dose vaccines. It is recommended for those planning a pregnancy to get vaccinated as the risk of severe disease is higher during pregnancy. The vaccines using mRNA technology (Pfizer, Moderna) can be safely administered during pregnancy as well. The vaccines due not pass through the placenta and antibodies that could compromise placental function do not form. According to currently available data the vaccines do not cause infertility. Among men sperm parameters may be reduced during or immediately after an acute infection. The risk of miscarriage is not elevated as a result of vaccination. The antibodies that are produced after vaccination do pass through the placenta and are responsible for fetal protection.

Sources:

  1. https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/2021-02-19-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-in-pregnancy-v13.pdf
  2. Statement from the ESHRE COVID-19 Working Group: COVID-19 vaccination and assisted reproduction (https://www.eshre.eu/Home/COVID19WG)
  3. AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE (ASRM) PATIENT MANAGEMENT AND CLINICAL RECOMMENDATIONS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC UPDATE No. 16 – July 23, 2021 Reproductive Facts Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination
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