New Delhi: With the outbreak of the deadly COVID 19 pandemic, healthcare professionals and experts have expressed concern about its adverse impact on the sexual and reproductive health of women not to speak of the tension and fear gripping expecting mothers struggling to get regular checkups done.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Dr Sonia Sharma, gynaecologist, Phoenix hospital, terms the prevailing situation as one of the ‘worst’ times for women. “I am offering video consultations and handhold them as much as possible. This is going to be terrible. This is the worst time for them.”
“The saddest part is that those women who are in the reproductive age group are very much vulnerable and have lost control over their reproductive health now. In case somebody is accidentally pregnant and unfortunately is in the situation where they have a pregnancy and they don’t want to continue, their access to the treatment in such a situation is absent. Managing such a situation has become a matter of concern amid lockdown. Hospitalization is very difficult these days as no hospital is accepting the patient without a COVID -19 test”, Dr Sharma adds.
Absence of transport services, limited healthcare and restrictions on movement has contributed a lot to the strong possibility of deterioration in women’s reproductive health.
The doctor pointed out that in such tough times there should be hospitals specifically for women on the lines of hospitals that are specifically dealing with COVID-19 cases.
“For instance, for a woman who doesn’t want to continue a pregnancy now and after three months if the process changes, what do we expect her to do? What would be her life like?” Dr Sharma asks.
The situation can be far worse for a woman who is unmarried and is pregnant.
“I have been dealing with women or girls with an unwanted pregnancy and if it is required, I assure them that there is no surgical option but would guide them for medical abortion keeping in mind there is no risk involved,” the gynaecologist adds.
Dr Anita Gupta, gynaecologist, Fortis La Femme hospital, points out that many women are delaying pregnancy plans. Doctors are also delaying appointments especially in the first five months of pregnancy. Moreover, IVF pregnancies are also being delayed due to the pandemic.
Says Dr Bandana Sodhi, gynaecologist, Moolchand Medicity Hospital: “Women’s health is being affected because stress changes their menstrual cycle. People cannot come for regular checkups for their pregnancies. Even if a woman has an issue where she wants to get herself physically checked, she would think ten times before walking out of her home. This is a major issue we are facing in case of a pregnant woman. Mental reassurance whether the mother and the baby are fine is very important.”
“Recently, I came across a lady who is six weeks pregnant, who opted for abortion because they cannot afford a child due to the present situation. But such cases are very rare.”
“Access to the doctors has to be provided. We are trying to help them out through online consultation. No elective surgery is permitted. In case of abortion, if the situation requires a woman to undergo a medical intervention, one is permitted to have it. It is definitely affecting the sexual and reproductive health care and precautions is a must ” Dr Sodhi adds.
Also read: 56 COVID-19 patients discharged at a time from a Maharashtra hospital
