Irish fertility patients’ attitudes to pregnancy and risk mitigation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic

Schaler, Laurentina; Glover, Louise; Wingfield, Mary

doi:10.1080/14647273.2022.2045518

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 11 publications

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“…International studies found that ART treatments decreased during the pandemic and were either postponed or cancelled [48,65]. A study conducted in Ireland at a fertility clinic reported that over 85% of participants experienced disruptions in their fertility journey due to the initial COVID-19 lockdown (March-May 2020) [66]. A study at a tertiary teaching hospital reported that all new IVF cycles were cancelled in March 2020 and all existing appointments were given alternatives [67].…”

Section: Assisted Reproductive Technology [Art]mentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 on access to and delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare services in countries with universal healthcare systems: A systematic review

Tam,

Davis,

Ahluwalia

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unforeseen impacts on sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) services worldwide, and the nature and prevalence of these changes have not been extensively synthesized. We sought to synthesise reported outcomes on the impact of COVID-19 on SRH access and delivery in comparable countries with universal healthcare systems. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, and CINAHL from January 1st, 2020 to June 6th, 2023. Original research was eligible for inclusion if the study reported on COVID-19 and SRH access and/or delivery. Twenty-eight OECD countries with comparable economies and universal healthcare systems were included. We extracted study characteristics, participant characteristics, study design, and outcome variables. The methodological quality of each article was assessed using the Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies (QuADS) tool. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed for reporting the results. This study was registered on PROSPERO (#CRD42021245596). Synthesis Eighty-two studies met inclusion criteria. Findings were qualitatively synthesised into the domains of: antepartum care, intrapartum care, postpartum care, assisted reproductive technologies, abortion access, gynaecological care, sexual health services, and HIV care. Research was concentrated in relatively few countries. Access and delivery were negatively impacted by a variety of factors, including service disruptions, unclear communication regarding policy decisions, decreased timeliness of care, and fear of COVID-19 exposure. Across outpatient services, providers favoured models of care that avoided in-person appointments. Hospitals prioritized models of care that reduced time and number of people in hospital and aerosol-generating environments. Conclusions Overall, studies demonstrated reduced access and delivery across most domains of SRH services during COVID-19. Variations in service restrictions and accommodations were heterogeneous within countries and between institutions. Future work should examine long-term impacts of COVID-19, underserved populations, and underrepresented countries.

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Section: Assisted Reproductive Technology [Art]mentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 on access to and delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare services in countries with universal healthcare systems: A systematic review

Tam,

Davis,

Ahluwalia

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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A scoping review of infertility research conducted in the Republic Of Ireland

Earley,

O'Dea,

Madden

et al. 2024

HRB Open Res

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Background Approximately 25 million citizens in Europe experience infertility. Until September 2023, the Republic of Ireland (RoI) was the only state in the European Union that did not offer any state-funded access to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). As research supports the understanding, and improvement, of care delivery, and research activity is associated with healthcare performance, it seems timely to develop an understanding of infertility research to-date in RoI. The aim of this scoping review was to examine the extent and nature of research on infertility conducted in RoI. Methods A protocol for this scoping review was published through the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/H8F4Y) in March 2023. The search strategy was comprised of electronic searches, review of reference lists, grey literature searches, and screening of publications from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Studies focused on infertility or infertility care that were conducted in RoI were included. Deductive content analysis was used to cluster studies. Results In total, 105 studies were included and published between 1951 and 2023, with a marked increase from 2010. Studies most frequently considered Success Rates of ART (31.4%), Service Description and Evaluation (12.4%), and Optimising Treatment Regimes or Protocols (11.4%). Conclusions The sizable body of research is congruent with the increasing burden of infertility. However, the literature is limited by a predominant focus on ART success rates, a dearth of qualitative studies, limited engagement with healthcare providers, and limited exploration of the quality of care provision. This review may offer a useful model for researchers in other countries. The variability in availability, and outcomes, of ART across Europe conveys the necessity of understanding and advancing research within individual countries and health systems as well as internationally.

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Irish fertility patients’ attitudes to pregnancy and risk mitigation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 2 publications

References 11 publications

Impact of COVID-19 on access to and delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare services in countries with universal healthcare systems: A systematic review

Impact of COVID-19 on access to and delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare services in countries with universal healthcare systems: A systematic review

A scoping review of infertility research conducted in the Republic Of Ireland

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