Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patient Fertility Care

Abstract

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare system have been widespread, with many institutions in the United States pausing elective procedures to redirect resources to critical care. Fertility care and assisted reproductive procedures were classified as elective procedures and similarly paused. We conducted qualitative interviews with patients and/or their partners ( n = 25 female patients; n = 3 male partners) receiving care at a fertility clinic in the Midwest to understand patient appraisal of COVID-19 risk on the resumption of care following a month-long closure of an infertility clinic, and patient agreement with the clinic closure. Interview transcripts were thematically analyzed from a grounded theory approach. Study participants reported an increased sense of urgency due to the delay in fertility procedures. This urgency often superseded concerns of potential COVID-19 infection, motivating patients to continue fertility treatment during a pandemic. In hindsight, some participants did not agree with the clinic's closure and treatment cessation, feeling that these steps negatively interrupted time-sensitive reproductive goals. Patient responses highlight the need for additional resources to support decision-making during times of crisis. Triaging patients based on time-sensitivity of treatment instead of a total shutdown respects patient autonomy for continuing treatment amidst uncertain COVID-19-impact.

Fertility Declines Near the End of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence of the 2022 Birth Declines in Germany and Sweden

“…Also, the Spanish Flu mainly had an impact on persons at childbearing and economically active ages (Reid, 2005 ) while COVID-19 mortality and morbidity have had the strongest impact on people at more advanced ages (Bonanad et al, 2020 ; Kolk et al, 2022 ). However, the healthcare system was partly overstrained also during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in reduced support in patient fertility care for assisted reproductive procedures and for birth clinics in general (DSouza et al, 2022 ).…”

Do COVID-19 RNA-Injections Affect Male Fertility? Latest Facts and Perspective

“…By contrast, a more family-oriented life situation during periods of lockdown and homeoffi ce, known as cocooning eff ect, may have created even a positive infl uence on the parents´ decision to become children. However, there was indeed a reduced support in patient fertility care for birth clinics in general and for IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) centers in particular [18]. A variety of additional factors, which may be involved in the decreased live birth rates, are summarized in fi gure 2, but will not be discussed further in this paper.…”