INTRODUCTION
As the whole world is grappled by the corona pandemic, the focus has been on dealing with this health-care emergency. Health-care sector all over the globe is focused on measures to prevention, timely diagnosis, and appropriate management of COVID-19. As a result, many of the essential but nonemergency medical services have suffered across countries during this pandemic.[1,2] Fertility treatment is one such problem. Approximately, one out of seven couples across the globe is suffering from fertility issues. Many of them seek various forms of fertility treatment which may be in the form of ovarian stimulation, intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), fertility preservation for cancer, or social reasons. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all countries took some preventive measures to halt spread of infection. Many countries imposed lockdown as a measure to encourage social distancing. This has brought all fertility treatment to standstill. Fertility societies including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), ESHRE, and national fertility societies across different countries issued guidelines which led to halt in fertility treatments across the globe during the month from March to April 2020.[3,4] This has affected tremendously the couples undergoing fertility treatment emotionally and psychologically.[1] Few of them with advancing age felt their biological clock is ticking and they are losing their hope to become parents. Few had cycle cancellation and felt frustrating and emotionally upset.[5]
We have taken this survey questionnaire from patients who were enrolled for fertility treatment with us. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the patient’s behavior and fertility treatment was analyzed.
CONCLUSION
Couples have mixed feelings about the fertility treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic and majority were upset by the cancelation of treatment cycles. Most of the couples were desirous to restart the fertility treatment under current condition under all safety precautions. Patients knowledge regarding the effects of COVID-19 of fetus and pregnancy was limited indicating the need of more patient awareness campaigns. This survey highlights the need for further strengthening of the psychological counseling services in fertility units owing to the emotional impact of COVID-19.
Read the full article (source): www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov