Q: I hear that elective medical procedures in my geographic area are supposed to stop; are IVF and other fertility treatments considered "elective"?
A: No one providing your care believes that any fertility treatment is elective. Infertility is a disease, and treatment of infertility is medically necessary. There is a distinction between a treatment that cannot be postponed even for a few days (such as surgery for a ruptured appendix), and treatment that is time sensitive and extremely important (such as IVF) but not a medical emergency. Unfortunately, there is not a universal definition, and we have seen many misleading terms used, even by state public health agencies.We know that other important non-emergency treatments also are being postponed during this pandemic. Fertility treatment is not being singled out. Orthopedic surgery, eye surgery, kidney stone procedures, dental procedures, and many other treatments also are being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.