Return to ART practices – The post-coronavirus disease era

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to analyze the prevalence of coronavirus disease (COVID) real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity among asymptomatic patients undergoing infertility treatment. Materials and Methods: This was an observational study done in five centers in five different cities in India, analyzing the prevalence of COVID RT-PCR-positive rates among asymptomatic patients willing to undergo infertility treatment. All patients underwent triage and COVID RT-PCR testing as per the national guidelines. Patients tested positive for COVID RT-PCR were advised to discontinue treatment. Results: The overall prevalence of COVID RT-PCR positivity in low-risk patients undergoing infertility treatment was found to be low. The incidence of COVID RT-PCR positivity in staff and doctors providing infertility care and not dealing directly with COVID-positive patients was observed to be 10.7%. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of the virus in asymptomatic people is low and elective procedure like assisted reproduction technology can be carried out with all precautions and sanitization protocols in place.