The President of the Republic of South Africa Mr Cyril Ramaphosa has announced on the 23rd of March a 21-day nationwide lockdown from the 26th of March midnight until the 16th of April. Therefore, SASREG has revised the SASREG guidance on fertility care and surgery in the era of COVID-19 with immediate effect:

  1. No initiation of new treatment cycles, including ovulation induction, intrauterine inseminations, in vitro fertilisation including egg retrievals and frozen embryo transfers, as well as elective gamete cryopreservation.
  2. Strongly consider cancellation of all embryo transfers, whether fresh or frozen.
  3. Continue to care for patients who are currently in a treatment cycle. However, consider freezing of all eggs or embryos for patients who are in a treatment cycle.
  4. Continue to care and initiate cycles for patients who require urgent stimulation and cryopreservation for oncology or other urgent indications.
  5. 5 Suspend all elective and semi-elective surgery. Continue to care for patients who require emergency surgery. Examples are ectopic pregnancy, retained products of conception, acute abdomen, acute very severe pain and certain oncological procedures.
  6. Offer telephonic and Skype consultations to patients whenever possible.
  7. Continue to care for patients who are pregnant after fertility treatment or are pregnant and have recurrent pregnancy loss. Limit care for uncomplicated pregnancies to essential visits.