Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Gynecological Health: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Objective To analyze the existing scientific literature to find out if the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has an effect on gynecological health.

Search Strategy We performed an integrative review of articles published between April 2020 and April 2021 on the PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases, using COVID-19 and the following relevant terms: Menstrual change; Ovarian function; Violence against women; Contraception; HPV; Mental health; and Urogynecology.

Selection Criteria Among the eligible studies found, editorials and primary research articles, which describe the dynamics between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection (the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic) and gynecological health, were included.

Data Collection and Analysis Through qualitative synthesis, data were extracted from the included publications and from guidelines of national and international societies of gynecology.

Main Results The 34 publications included in the present study showed that some factors of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and, consequently, the COVID-19 pandemic, might be associated with menstrual abnormalities, effects on contraception, alterations in steroid hormones, changes in urogynecological care, effects on women's mental health, and negative impact on violence against women.

Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the health of women. The scientific community encourages the development of recommendations for specialized care for women and strategies to prevent and respond to violence during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resumo

Objetivo Analisar a literatura científica existente para saber se a pandemia de doença do coronavírus 2019 (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, em inglês) afeta a saúde ginecológica.

Estratégia de Pesquisa Realizou-se revisão integrativa de artigos publicados entre abril de 2020 e abril de 2021 nas bases de dados PubMed, SciELO e LILACS, utilizando COVID-19 e os seguintes termos: Menstrual change; Ovarian function; Violence against women; Contraception; HPV; Mental health; e Urogynecology.

Critério de Seleção Entre os estudos elegíveis encontrados, foram incluídos editoriais e artigos de pesquisa que descrevem a dinâmica entre a infecção por coronavírus da síndrome respiratória aguda grave (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, em inglês), a causa da pandemia de COVID-19, e a saúde ginecológica.

Coleta e Análise de Dados Por meio de síntese qualitativa, os dados foram extraídos das publicações incluídas e de diretrizes de sociedades nacionais e internacionais de ginecologia.

Resultados Principais As 34 publicações incluídas no estudo mostraram que alguns fatores da infecção por SARS-CoV-2, e, consequentemente, da pandemia de COVID-19, podem estar associados a alterações menstruais, influências na contracepção, alterações em hormônios esteroides, adaptações na assistência uroginecológica, influência na saúde mental da mulher, e impacto negativo na violência contra a mulher.

Conclusão A pandemia de COVID-19 teve um impacto significativo na saúde das mulheres. A comunidade científica incentiva o desenvolvimento de recomendações para o atendimento especializado a mulheres, e estratégias para prevenir e combater a violência durante e após a pandemia de COVID-19.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic - menstrual change - ovarian function - SARS-CoV-2 - violence against women - contraception - urogynecology

Palavras-chave

pandemia de COVID-19 - alteração menstrual - função ovariana - SARS-CoV-2 - violência contra as mulheres - contracepção - uroginecologia

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 28. Juni 2021

Angenommen: 01. Oktober 2021

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
25. Februar 2022

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