Potential Impacts of Delaying “Non-Essential” Reproductive Health Care
| What services have been deemed essential by leading medical societies? | |
| Health Care Need | Statements by leading medical societies |
| Pregnancy | Prenatal care: considered essential, but may consolidate number of visits (ACOG). Prenatal ultrasound and fetal surveillance should continue as medically indicated, but consider postponing/canceling some testing or examinations if risk outweighs benefits. (ACOG) Amniocentesis may be delayed a few weeks (ACS) |
| Cesarean sections: emergent, do not delay (ACS) | |
| Postpartum care: consider expediting discharge after delivery (ACOG) | |
| Ectopic pregnancy: emergent, do not delay (ACS) | |
| Contraception | Contraception considered essential health care (ACOG, SFP) |
| Prescription methods: use telehealth to conduct visits and prescribe (AOCG) | |
| IUDs and Implants: continue to offer in-person insertion when possible, postpone removals (ACOG) | |
| Sterilization: Procedures can be delayed several months (ACS). Considered elective, unless done during a cesarean section (ACOG) | |
| Emergency contraception: continue to provide prescriptions and counseling on over-the-counter methods (ACOG) | |
| Abortion | ACOG opposes COVID-19 responses that cancel or delay abortion procedures. Delaying abortions may cause significant harm (ACS). |
| Infertility | Infertility procedures can be delayed several months (ACS) Initial recommendation to suspend new fertility treatment/diagnostic procedures, unless treatment cycle already started. Some care now resuming (ASRM Update 1, Update 4) |
| Pregnancy Loss | Emergent, do not delay (ACS) |
| Gynecologic Cancer | Most gynecologic cancer procedures considered non-elective (SGO) Surgery for gynecologic cancer delay may cause significant harm (ACS). |
| Diagnostic evaluations for uterine/cervical cancer may be delayed a few weeks to months (ACS, ASCCP) | |
| Benign Gynecologic Conditions | Surgeries for fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic pain, and benign ovarian masses can be delayed several months (ACS) |
| Recommended Preventative Care | (e.g. STI and cervical cancer screenings, HPV vaccination) Potentially defer until after COVID-19 outbreak (ACOG). Reduce or postpone visits for preventative services (AAFP) |
| Notes: Info current as of 5/13/2020. Recommendations may change as COVID-19 emergency evolves. ACOG = American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; ASRM = American Society for Reproductive Medicine; ACS = American College of Surgeons; AAFP = American Academy for Family Medicine (AAFP); SGO = Society of Gynecologic Oncology; SFP = Society of Family Planning. |
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