Page 12 - Aspire Newsletter APRIL 2022 Vol 7 / Issue 2

INDONESIA
10
Binarwan Halim
Coronavirus infections in ovarian stimulation stage causing delays in treatment programs
By Drs Binarwan Halim and Ita Fauzia Hanoum Country Representatives
Indonesia experienced an increase in new cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 from the beginning of January until early March 2022.
Recently, however, the number of new cases has been decreasing daily. Up to March, 92.62 per cent of the population had the first COVID vaccination with 72.06 percent having the second vaccination.
As reported in other parts of the world, the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Delta variant, but generally it causes less severe disease.
Many infertile couples and pregnant women are exposed to COVID-19 infection even though they have been vaccinated. Some patients reported COVID-19 infection during the ovarian stimulation stage causing a delay in the treatment program.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Association for In Vitro Fertilisation has recently conducted several online scientific activities involving some national speakers.
Ita Fauzia Hanoum
The first online program featured ESHRE guidelines on medically assisted reproduction in patients with a viral infection or disease with speakers Dr Binarwan Halim and
Dr Silvia W Lestari.
The second program examined endometriosis and infertility management with speakers Professors Andon Hestiantoro, Tono Djuwantono, Hendy Hendarto, and Budi Wiweko with Dr Binarwan Halim as chairman.
The Indonesian Association for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (HIFERI) held a virtual National Congress from 29 January to 1 February 2022 with international speakers Professor
T. C. Li from Hong Kong and Dr Haroon Latif from Pakistan along with national presenters Professors Budi Wiweko and Tono Djuwantono, Dr Binarwan Halim, Dr Ita Fauzia Hanoum, and many more.
The virtual congress involved more than 800 participants.