As of April 29th, all three of our locations are open and seeing patients. We understand you have a lot of questions right now. These are uncertain times, and we are here to help you maintain your physical and mental health throughout your fertility journey.
In this article, we will share information about how to seek fertility treatment and what you can expect at our reorganized facilities. We’ll also answer your questions about COVID-19 as it pertains to fertility and reproductive health.
Seeking Treatment or Commencing Treatment
Although our processes may be a little different, all three of our locations are open and seeing patients. We have restructured all of our health and safety measures to ensure the protection of our staff and clients. Please call our office to talk to one of our coordinators at (713)-467-4488 ext 3.We will also be conducting established patient consults via telemedicine.
In-Person Appointments
We are open and ready to see you, though we are limiting our capacity to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please call us to schedule your appointment today at (713)-467-4488. In order to keep you and our staff safe, we kindly ask that you wear a face mask to your appointment. You can read more about what to expect in our facilities below.
Now Accepting New Patient Appointments
We are now accepting new patients through telemedicine or phone consultation. We understand this is a stressful situation, and infertility is time-sensitive. We do not want to delay your fertility journey and are completely committed to providing you with the expertise you deserve.
What to Expect at the Clinic
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Limited Visitors and Companions
In observance of social distancing and to minimize the number of individuals on-site, we will be operating with limited capacity. This means that only scheduled patients will be admitted into the facility, and all patients visiting the Center for scheduled lab work, ultrasounds, or other in-office visits and procedures must attend without any visitors present. Children are not permitted on-site at this time. While this may add to the long list of inconveniences caused by COVID-19, limiting the number of individuals in our facilities is one of the clearest methods we have of keeping our patients and staff safe.
Social Distancing
In addition to limiting visitors and companions, we have reduced the number of staff operating in each of our locations, and have increased the interval between appointment times to achieve a safer environment. To limit interactions between patients and staff, we have implemented a new policy of collecting for appointments prior to the scheduled date.
Infection Prevention Precautions
We are thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing all patient waiting rooms, exam rooms, and other care areas according to the recommendations set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, we have alcohol-based hand sanitizers, tissues, hand soap, and waste receptacles available for all of our patients, and have also removed shared items like magazines from our facilities.
We Are Screening Outside the Facility
Prior to entering the building, we are screening all patients for symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, or fever in our triage area outside the facility.
We Will Be Wearing Masks
All employees are required to wear face masks while on-site, and we are requiring all individuals entering the facility to wear face coverings as well.
All patients will need to wear a face mask in order to enter the facility. We ask each patient to be responsible for obtaining their own face covering.
If a patient cannot secure a medical-grade face mask, the following are acceptable face protection options: any bandana, scarf, or handmade mask that fully covers the mouth and nose. We understand this is yet another inconvenience at a very inconvenient time. Our top priority is protecting the health and safety of our patients and staff.
COVID-19 Fertility Questions
What if I test positive for COVID-19?
If you already have COVID-19, the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) recommends avoiding getting pregnant for now and waiting until you fully recover before attempting conception (either naturally or via assisted reproductive technology).
Does COVID-19 pose a greater risk to pregnant people?
The CDC says that “pregnant people seem to have the same risk of COVID-19 as adults who are not pregnant.” But that being said, the CDC and many health organizations around the world recommend anyone who is pregnant take all precautionary health measures since much remains unknown about COVID-19.
In general, we know that pregnant people are at a higher risk of severe illness when infected with similar viral respiratory infections and influenza. No matter what’s flying around outside, it’s always important that pregnant people protect themselves from illness as much as possible.
Could the virus be passed from me to my baby?
Early studies indicated that women infected with COVID-19 were able to give birth without any
evidence of transmitting the virus to the baby. Further research suggests that transmission of the virus during pregnancy may occur. Research on the subject is very limited at this time. Since much is still unknown about COVID-19, the data surrounding the transmission of the virus to a fetus or newborn may change over time.
Could contracting COVID-19 impact my fertility?
There is no significant research in this area to indicate if COVID-19 could affect fertility. Studies are ongoing surrounding the potential long-term effects of the virus.
Should I stop trying to conceive right now?
If you do not have COVID-19 and you are not in known contact with someone who has the virus, there is no medical reason to change your fertility plans.
There may, however, be outside factors that could affect your decisions to conceive, such as child care logistics or psychological wellbeing. Pregnancy is a very personal decision that you need to make based on your situation. If you have specific questions about your current status or state of mind, please contact our facility to speak to someone about your options.
Advanced Fertility Center of Texas, OMNI Med Lab, and Lisanne Wellness Center are committed to providing the best possible care for our patients. We will continue to monitor the situation at hand and are following guidance from public health officials and government agencies, including the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this time. We thank you for choosing Advanced Fertility Center of Texas, OMNI Med Lab, and Lisanne Wellness Center.
