This year pandemic has presented us with many new situations. However, for those couples who strike for their babies, the COVID 19 cannot be an obstruction on their plan. Obviously, it can be stressful to face the threat of COVID 19 and the flu season while trying to become pregnant. However, by taking certain precautions, you can ensure your health and do not miss the chance to get pregnant and having babies.
Safety tips for COVID, the flu and fertility
In general, women trying to become pregnant will likely to have better outcomes if they can avoid illness, ideally before and during their pregnancy . Therefore, as we are facing flu season and COVID -19 pandemic, it’s especially important to follow safety protocol.
Washing hands more often and properly
One of the most important steps you can take is washing your hands. As our hands touch many things during the day, they are easily to be contaminated. Wash hands more often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This can reduce your chance of contracting the flu or COVID and spreading germs. When soap and water are nott available, use a hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes with unwashed hands.
Imagine, on average around 20 times a day we touch our face with our hands. How easily bacterium, viruses and dirts can enter our body through these organs, if your hands are infected! So please try avoid touching your face, in all cases.
Keep distance
Maintain social distancing as much as you can. You never know who is the risky source of flu or COVID, so my recommendation is to maintain at least 1.5 meter distance from others. This helps you avoid contact with respiratory droplets that could potentially make you sick. At the end, stay safe from flu and COVID is not only important for yourself , but also for your family and your future baby.
Wearing a mask properly.
It is not about wearing a mask or not, but wearing it PROPERLY! Let it cover Both your mouth and your nose! Some people pulled it down to chin, and then pulled it back to nose. Others having mask covered only their mouth, touched it with dirty hands, use mask for many time without washing or changing, etc.These are all wrong ways of using mask, which make it absolutely useless in preventing diseases.
Get a flu vaccine
In addition to the tips above, you can protect yourself by getting the flu shot. In the USA, flu vaccine prevents around 7.6 millions of influenza illnesses, flu-related doctor’s visits and influenza-associated deaths each year. During flu seasons, flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having flu by 40- 60%. (*)
This vaccine minimizes your chance of getting flu and hospitalization care. When you are not sick of flu, your immune system is also in total capacilty to fight COVID 19, if necessary. Not contracting flu also helps to save healthcare resources for seriously ill COVID patients.
Medical checkup
Last but not least, telling your care provider if you feel unwell. Get to a health check without delay if you have any symptoms of flu. This proactive action can help you receive the necessary care as soon as possible.
Source: https://www.midwestfertility.com/covid-the-flu-and-fertility-staying-safe/ (*)Link https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-benefits.htm