Objective
To follow the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the practice of assisted
reproductive technology in centers reporting to the Latin American Registry
during 2020.
Methods
An internally validated online survey designed on the Survey Monkey platform
with a maximum of 20 closed questions was sent via e-mail or WhatsApp to the
clinical director of each center reporting to the Latin American Registry of
Assisted Reproduction between July and December 2020.
Results
The number of centers responding to the survey varied during the six months.
The relative contribution of Brazil to all responses was 41.4% to 45%,
followed by México (16.2% to 23.8%), Argentina (8.1% to 12.6%),
Colombia (7.1% to 8.2%), Chile (3.6% to 6.1%) and Peru (4.0% to 4.9%). Most
centers reported stopping activities before July 2020 (81%). COVID-19
related symptoms were a criterion on their own to postpone ovarian
stimulation (80.1% to 87.7% of centers). Although in July only 76 of 166
centers (45.8%) performed embryo transfers, by October 104 of 109 centers
(95.4%) performed them. In survey 6 (December), 78 of 79 centers (98.7%)
that had initially closed had already reopened, although 62.3% (61 of 98
centers) still performed 80% or less of their usual number of ART
cycles.
Conclusions
Most centers modified their clinical practice and applied specific protocols
to screen their staff and patients. Suspicion of COVID-19 delayed
treatments. Despite a peak of the pandemic, by December most centers were
performing all ART treatments, although the number of cycles remained low
compared to pre-pandemic numbers.