COVID Issues: Impact on Families and Family Planning

Abstract

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, many changes occurred worldwide to policies that influence an individual's reproductive autonomy and families’ wellbeing. Specifically, many reproductive treatments including abortions, contraceptive procedures, infertility treatments, and pregnancy protocols were delayed or altered in an attempt to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In order to assist families, counselors need to be aware of the implications of pandemic-related reproductive regulations affecting the overall mental health of families, especially women.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic family planning infertility pregnancy abortion

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Aboulghar

M. A.

(2005). Commentary: The importance of fertility treatment in the developing world. An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 112(9), 1174–1176. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2005.00705.x.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2020). Joint statement on abortion access during the COVID-19 outbreak. https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2020/03/joint-statement-on-abortion-access-during-the-covid-19-outbreak.

American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) (2020). Most patients resumed IVF treatment during the COVID-10 pandemic shut-down immediately when able. https://www.asrm.org/news-and-publications/news-and-research/press-releases-and-bulletins/most-patients-resumed-ivf-treatment-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-shut-down-immediately-when-able/.

Benski

Di Filippo

Taraschi

Reich

M. R.

(2020). Guidelines for pregnancy management during the COVID-19 pandemic: A public health conundrum. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21), 8277. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218277.

Bradley

Hendricks

Noble

Fox

(2021). COVID-19: Counseling with bereaved parents. The Family Journal, 29(3), 292–298. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480721992510.

Brooks

S. K.

Webster

R. K.

Smith

L. E.

Woodland

Wessely

Greenberg

Rubin

G. J.

(2020). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapid review of the evidence. The Lancet, 395(10227), 912–920. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8.

Buekens

Alger

Bréart

Cafferata

M. L.

Harville

Tomasso

(2020). A call for action for COVID-19 surveillance and research during pregnancy. The Lancet. Global Health, 8(7), e877–e878. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30206-0.

Cao

Yin

Chen

Tang

Peng

Xie

Wei

Zhao

Sun

(2020). Clinical analysis of ten pregnant women with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: A retrospective study. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 95, 294–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.04.047.

Cappello

((2020, July 24). Surveying state executive orders impacting reproductive health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guttmacher Institute. https://www.guttmacher.org/article/2020/07/surveying-state-executive-orders-impacting-reproductive-health-during-covid-19.

10.

Caruana-Finkel

(2020). Abortion in the time of COVID-19: Perspectives from Malta. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 28(1), 1780679. https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2020.1780679.

11.

Chen

Guo

Wang

Luo

Zhang

Zhoa

Gong

Liao

Yang

Hou

Zhang

(2020). Clinical characteristics and intrauterine vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in nine pregnant women: A retrospective review of medical records. The Lancet, 395(10226), 809–815. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30360-3.

12.

Cioffi

Rinaldi

(2020). COVID-19 and abortion: The importance of guaranteeing a fundamental right. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 25, 100538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2020.100538.

13.

Corbett

G. A.

Milne

S. J.

Hehir

M. P.

Lindow

S. W.

O’Connell

M. P.

(2020). Health anxiety and behavioural changes of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 249, 96–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.04.022.

14.

Cruz

Johnson

. (2020). State quarantine and isolation statutes. National Conference of State Legislatures. https://perma.cc/6GEY-LYJK

15.

Czeisler

M. E.

Lane

R. I.

Petrosky

Wiley

J. F.

Christensen

M. P. H.

Njai

Weaver

M. D.

Robbins

Facer-Childs

E. R.

Barger

L. K.

Czeisler

C. A.

Howard

M. E.

Rajaratnam

S. M. W.

(2020). Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic—United States. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69(32), 1049–1057. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6932a1.

16.

Dana

P. M.

Kolahdooz

Sadoughi

Moazzami

Chaichian

Asemi

(2020). COVID-19 and pregnancy: A review of current knowledge. Le Infezioni in Medicina, 1(1), 46–51. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32532938/

17.

Dashraath

Wong

J. L. J.

Lim

M. X. K.

Lim

L. M.

Biswas

Choolani

Mattar

L. L.

(2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 222(6) 521–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.03.021.

18.

Davis-Floyd

Gutschow

Schwartz

D. A.

(2020). Pregnancy, birth, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Medical Anthropology, 39(5), 413–427. https://doi.org/10.1080/01459740.2020.1761804.

19.

Fan

Guan

Cao

Wang

Zhao

Chen

Yan

(2021). Psychological effects caused by COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(56), 102533. https://doi-org.lib-e2.lib.ttu.edu/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102533.

20.

Fikslin

R. A.

(2021). Toward an intersectional psychological science of reproductive norms: Generating research across the natalism spectrum. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 45(3), 308–324. https://doi.org/10.1177/03616843211011716.

21.

Gildner

T. E.

Thayer

Z. M.

(2020). Birth plan alterations among American women in response to COVID-19. Health Expectations, 23, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13077.

22.

Gross

M. S.

Harrington

B. J.

Sufrin

C. B.

Faden

R. R.

(2020). Rethinking ‘elective’ procedures for women’s reproduction during COVID-19. Hastings Center Report, 50(3), 40–43. https://doi.org/10.1002/hast.1130.

23.

Haider

I. I.

Tiwana

Tahir

S. M.

(2020). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adult mental health. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 36(COVID19-S4), s90–s94. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2756.

24.

Harrichand

J. J. S.

Litam

S. D. A.

Ausloos

C. D.

(2021). Infusing self-care and wellness into CACREP curricula: Pedagogical recommendations for counselor eductaors and counselors during COVID-19. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 43, 372–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-021-09423-3.

25.

Hite

L. M.

McDonald

K. S.

(2020). Careers after COVID-19: Challenges and changes. Human Resource Development International, 23(4), 427–437. https://doi.org/10.1080/13678868.2020.1779576.

26.

Holt-Lunstad

(2020, June 22). The double pandemic of social isolation and COVID-19: Cross-sector policy must address both. Health Affairs Blog. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20200609.53823.

27.

Huang

J. W.

Zhou

X. Y.

S. J.

Wang

H. F.

C. C.

S. G.

Chen

J. K.

Wang

S. H.

Wei

(2020). Dialectical behavior therapy-based psychological interventions for women in late pregnancy and early postpartum suffering from COVID-19: A case report. Journal of Zhejiang University Science Biomedicine & Biotechnology, 21(5), 394–399. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzua.B2010012.

28.

Jafari

Pormohammad

Neshin

A. A. S.

Ghorbani

Bose

Alimohammadi

Basirjafari

Mohammadi

Rasmussen-Ivey

Razizadeh

M. H.

Nouri-Vaskeh

Zarei

(2021). Clinical characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 and comparison with control patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reviews in Medical Virology, 31(e2208), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/rmv.2208

29.

Javed

Sarwer

Soto

E. B.

Mashwani

Z. R.

(2020). The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic’s impact on mental health. International Journal of Health Planning Management, 35(5), 993–996. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.3008.

30.

Júnior

A. T.

Vanhoni

L. R.

Silveira

S. K.

Marcolin

A. C.

(2020). Childbirth, puerperium and abortion care protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic. Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, 42(6), 349–355. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1713587.

31.

Kasraie

Stewart

Mathur

(2020, March 18). Guidance for the care of fertility patients during the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. British Fertility Society. https://www.britishfertilitysociety.org.uk/2020/03/18/guidance-for-the-care-of-fertility-patients-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/

32.

Kathirvel

(2020). Post COVID-19 pandemic mental health challenges. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 53(102430), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102430.

33.

Lengelle

Hughes

Hambly

(2020). The healing muses: Research, theory and practice of creative methods in guidance and counselling. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 48(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2020.1724397.

34.

Han

Peng

Ouyang

Liu

Yue

Sun

Chen

Yang

(2020). Maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 pneumonia: A case-control study. MedRxiv, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.10.20033605.

35.

Liu

Zhang

Wang

Lan

(2020). Clinical and CT imaging features of the COVID-19 pneumonia: Focus on pregnant women and children. Journal of Infection, 80(5), e7–e13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2020.03.007.

36.

Liu

Wang

L. L.

Zhao

S. J.

Kwak-Kim

Mor

Liao

A. H.

(2020). Why are pregnant women susceptible to COVID-19? An immunological viewpoint. Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 139(103122), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2020.103122.

37.

Luk

B. H. K.

Loke

A. Y.

(2019). Sexual satisfaction, intimacy and relationship of couples undergoing infertility treatment. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 37(2), 108–122. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2018.1529407.

38.

Matar

Alrahmani

Monzer

Debiane

L. G.

Berbari

Fares

Fitzpatrick

Murad

M. H.

(2020). Clinical presentation and outcomes of pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Infectious Diseases Society of America, 72(3) 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa828.

39.

Modestino

A. S.

Ladge

J. J.

Swartz

Lincoln

(2021, April 29). Childcare is a business issue. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/04/childcare-is-a-business-issue .

40.

Mullins

Evans

Viner

R. M.

O’Brien

Morris

(2020). Coronavirus in pregnancy and delivery: Rapid review. Ultrasound Obstetrics & Gynecology, 55(5), 586–592. https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.22014.

41.

Nanda

Lebetkin

Steiner

M. J.

Yacobson

Dorflinger

L. J.

(2020). Contraception in the era of COVID-19. Global Health: Science and Practice, 8(2), 166–168. https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-20-00119.

42.

National Institute of Health (NIH). (2017). Assisted reproductive technology. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infertility/conditioninfo/treatments/art.

43.

National Institute of Health (NIH). (2018). How common is infertility? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infertility/conditioninfo/common.

44.

Parsons

Omylinska-Thurston

Karkou

Harlow

Haslam

Hobson

Nair

Dubrow-Marshall

Thurston

Griffin

(2019). Arts for the blues—A creative psychological therapy for depression. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 48(1), 5–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2019.1633459.

45.

Piquero

A. R.

Jennings

W. G.

Jemison

Kaukinen

Knaul

F. M.

(2021). Domestic violence during COVID-19: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice. https://build.neoninspire.com/counciloncj/wp-content/uploads/sites/96/2021/07/Domestic-Violence-During-COVID-19-February-2021.pdf.

46.

Chen

Luo

Liu

Shi

Liu

Zhang

Zhao

Tong

Baker

P. N.

(2020). Management of delivery suite during the COVID-19 epidemic. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 250, 250–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.05.031.

47.

Luo

Zheng

Zhang

Zou

Feng

Chen

Shi

Tong

Baker

P. N.

(2020). Safe delivery for pregnancies affected by COVID-19. An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 127(8), 927–929. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.16231.

48.

Rasmussen

S. A.

Smulian

J. C.

Lednicky

J. A.

Wen

T. S.

Jamieson

D. J.

(2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and pregnancy: What obstetricians need to know. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 222(5) 415–426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.02.017.

49.

Requena

Cruz

Vergara

Prados

Galliano

Pellicer

(2020). A picture of the COVID-19 impact on IVIRMA fertility treatment clinics in Spain and Italy. Reproduction of BioMedicine Online, 41(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.04.015.

50.

Rodriguez-Wallberg

K. A.

Wikander

(2020). A global recommendation for restrictive provisions of fertility treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 99(5), 569–570. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13851.

51.

Ruggiero

Brandi

Mark

Paul

Reeves

M. F.

Schalit

Blanchard

Key

Chandrasekaran

(2020). Access to later abortion in the United States during COVID-19: Challenges and recommendations from providers, advocates, and researchers. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 28(1), 1774185. https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2020.1774185.

52.

Ryan

G. A.

Purandare

N. C.

McAuliffe

F. M.

Hod

Purandare

C. N.

(2020). Clinical update on COVID-19 in pregnancy: A review article. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 46(8) 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.14321.

53.

San-Juan

Barbero

Fernández-Ruiz

López-Medrano

Lizasoáin

Hernández-Jiménez

Silva

J. T.

Ruiz-Ruigómez

Corbella

Rodríguez-Goncer

Folgueira

M. D.

Lalueza

Batllori

Mejía

Forcén

Lumbreras

García-Burguillo

Galindo

Aguado

J. M

(2020). Incidence and clinical profiles of COVID-10 pneumonia in pregnant women: A single-centre cohort study from Spain. E Clinical Medicine, 23(100407), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100407.

54.

Senderowicz

Higgins

(2020). Reproduction autonomy is nonnegotiable, even in the time of COVID-19. International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproduction Health, 46, 147–151. https://doi.org/10.1363/intsexrephea.46.2020.0147.

55.

Serafini

Parmigiani

Amerio

Aguglia

Sher

Amore

(2020). The psychological impact of COVID-19 on the mental health in the general population. An International Journal of Medicine, 113(8), 531–537. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa201.

56.

Sher

(2020). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates. An International Journal of Medicine, 113(10), 707–712. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa202.

57.

Shrestha

Aryal

Shrestha

(2020). COVID-19, pregnant women and their hard-wired worry. Journal of Lumbini Medical College, 8(1), 381–383. https://doi.org/10.22502/jlmc.v8i1.381.

58.

Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). (2021). Preparing for IVF: Emotional considerations. https://www.sart.org/patients/a-patients-guide-to-assisted-reproductive-technology/general-information/preparing-for-ivf-emotional-considerations/.

59.

Todd-Gher

Shah

P. K.

(2020). Abortion in the context of COVID-19: A human rights imperative. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 28(1), 1758394. https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2020.1758394.

60.

Tumin

Wright

(2021, March 7). As infections dip, governors across U.S. start easing restrictions. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/25/world/covid-19-coronavirus.

61.

United States Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2020). CMS releases recommendations on adult elective surgeries, non-essential medical, surgical, and dental procedures during COVID-19 response. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-releases-recommendations-adult-elective-surgeries-non-essential-medical-surgical-and-dental.

62.

Vaiarelli

Bulletti

Cimadomo

Borini

Alviggi

Ajossa

Anserini

Gennarelli

Guido

Levi-Setti

P. E.

Palagiano

Palermo

Savasi

Pellicer

Rienzi

Ubaldi

F. M.

(2020). COVID-19 and ART: The view of the Italian Society of Fertility and Sterility and Reproductive Medicine. Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 40(6), 755–759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.04.003.

63.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2021, May 2). Global prevalence of infertility, infecundity and childlessness. https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/infertility/burden/en/.

64.

Zhao

Jiang

Zhao

Liu

Feng

(2020). Analysis of the susceptibility to COVID-19 pregnancy and recommendations on potential drug screening. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 39, 1209–1220. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-020-03897-6.