TABLE 2.
FREE-TEXT COMMENTS OF RESPONDENTS ON THEIR ATTITUDES TO THE CFAS GUIDELINES AND WILLINGNESS TO RESUME TREATMENTS
| Topic | Key themes | Categories | Illustrative quotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agreement with the CFAS guidelines | Reasons in favour of postponing the treatments | Prevent infection | ‘Between having a baby and saving lives by stopping the spread, saving lives comes first, hands down.’ |
| Save the healthcare resources for COVID-19 care | ‘I would move forward if it were an option, but would feel guilty if personal protective equipment (PPE) were used for my transfer that was needed elsewhere.’ | ||
| Possible risks of coronavirus infection on embryo development and the pregnancy | ‘I'm scared of getting COVID-19 while being pregnant.’ | ||
| Disagreement with the CFAS guidelines | Reasons against postponing the treatments | Future strain on the fertility clinics | ‘No reason to postpone. There has to be a way to solve this. This will create further strain on the system and only add to the wait times.’ |
| Time sensitivity of fertility treatments | ‘These are TIME SENSITIVE treatments! If my IVF treatments do not end up being successful, I will ALWAYS wonder what role having IVF treatments postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic played.’ | ||
| IVF is an essential medical service | ‘There are many facing time constraints, fertility treatment is not elective.’ | ||
| Find a way to keep performing fertility treatment safely | ‘Fertility clinics should be able to continue to conduct fertility treatments that are safe for both patients and medical professionals. Delayed treatment is only adding to an already difficult situation. Please don't compromise the future of parents and families.’ | ||
| Willingness to resume treatments | Finance for fertility treatments – in case of foreseeable income loss | Fertility is prioritized | ‘Becoming pregnant is a priority we cannot postpone.’ |
| Financial planning for IVF | ‘We planned this before COVID, so we have money saved aside for the treatment.’ | ||
| Financial support from the family | ‘We are fortunate enough to have family who can help if we cannot afford it ourselves.’ | ||
| Unwillingness to resume treatments | Inability to afford treatments | ‘Won't be able to afford fertility treatments’. | |
| Economic uncertainty | ‘I will try my best to provide monetarily, but the future is unknown.’ |
CFAS, Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society.