The Impact of Covid-19 on the Diagnosis of Gynecological Cancers in the Post-Pandemic Era: An Integrative Review

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the dynamics of health systems, including limiting activities to prevent and diagnose gynecological cancers in primary care. This study aims to understand the extent of the consequences of the pandemic period on gynecological cancers in terms of diagnosis and prognosis. The method in this research was an integrative review based on the search of publications in PubMed, SciELO, and BVS from January 2020 to June 2023, with three exclusion moments and a final sample of 9 articles. The results indicated avoidance of consultations due to fear of the virus, postponement of evaluation exams, interruptions of screening and vaccination procedures, establishment of non-priority staging, postponement of surgeries, priority to conservative treatments, and decline in diagnoses during the pandemic. It is concluded that the pandemic event impaired women’s health care in the context of gynecological cancers, which calls for measures to adapt to primary and secondary care.