Considerations on the restriction of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) due to COVID-19

The rapid rise of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases led the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) to recommend immediate cessation of all new fertility treatment cycles on March 17, 2020. Controversial from the start, providers and patients expressed their opposition through online petitions, surveys, and other forums. While the impact of a delay in access to reproductive care is unknown, previous studies are reassuring that a delay in the timespan of months may not affect clinical outcomes. However, dropout from care during this pandemic remains a serious concern. Effective therapies against the virus and a vaccine are not on the immediate horizon. Accepting COVID-19 will likely be a part of our lives for the near future necessitates the modification of fertility protocols to keep patients, providers, and staff as safe as possible. We believe fertility treatment is an urgent, essential service that can be performed safely and responsibly during this pandemic.