Coronavirus disease 2019 and its impact on psychosocial aspects amongst infertile couples: An overview

Abstract

Following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been an unforeseen pressure and stress to the already burdened health-care systems. This necessitated an urgent need to reallocate the health-care resources and prompted immediate suspension and postponement of non-emergent health-care services including infertility treatments. This pandemic brought additional stress to the couples seeking infertility treatment and resulted in an indefinite time lag to their treatment thereby adding to the psychological distress among this vulnerable population. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has also predisposed them to various psychiatric disorders by affecting their mental, reproductive, and relationship status. These included emotional disorders ranging from frustration, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and guilt, feelings of worthlessness in life to psychiatric disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and dysthymic disorder. The social isolation imposed grave psychological consequences and lead to an unpredicted change in attitudes and beliefs of such infertile couples. The implication of the loss of employment has further dwelled on their financial constraints and made this population even more labile. Thus, the current time has brought forth some unique and unexpected challenges and emotional turmoil that needs due recognition and prompt professional support. Furthermore, it is high time to review our health-care policies and hence restart infertility services striking a balance between the safety of both patient and health-care professionals amidst this pandemic while helping these unfortunate couples achieve parenthood. The resumption of infertility services post-COVID-19 has challenges of its own. The clinician and the paramedical staff had to undergo specific training to adapt to the new norms of workplace while minimizing in person interactions and exposure risk.