COVID-19 has been drastically impacting the lives of people all over the world since the beginning of 2020. By early June, the pandemic has already led to more than 6,56 million infections which resulted in over 387’000deaths globally according to Worldometers.
As pregnant women generally tend to be more vulnerable to related respiratory diseases like influenza, it is understandable that many aspiring moms are currently very concerned about the novel coronavirus. They ask themselves: Should I go ahead with TTC or delay my family plans? Are the risks manageable or is it too dangerous to have kids now?
What do we know about the risks of COVID-19 for women who are pregnant?
So far, there’s only little research on how pregnant women are at risk. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), “the limited data currently available do not indicate that pregnant individuals are at an increased risk of infection or severe morbidity”.
The CDC also believes that expectant women have the same COVID-19 risks as adults who are not carrying a child. However, to be on the safe side, the CDC recommends practicing social distancing, frequent handwashing, thorough cleaning of touched objects and surfaces as well as covering coughs or sneezes.
How does COVID-19 impact women’s fertility?
While the direct effect of COVID-19 on female fertility appears to be very limited and temporary at most, there have been significant indirect effects. Many fertility clinics across the USA have closed down and stopped new fertility treatments such as IVF or egg freezing due to the coronavirus, forcing the affected patients to stop their often time-sensitive family planning.
So, Should I delay trying to conceive because of COVID-19?
In the end, the decision to start a family or not remains a very personal one and should always be well thought through:
1) Take into consideration the potential risks that could affect you and your future family due to COVID-19, physically but also mentally.
2) Also, be aware of the potentially reduced access to healthcare services, even though telehealth initiatives may mitigate some of the strain on these resources.
3) Having friends or family support you through their presence will be more challenging, too, due to social distancing needs.
4) Furthermore, as many businesses have suffered from the impact of the virus as well, the resulting decreased job and income security is a factor that can affect your decision to become a parent.
5) Lastly, also consider the fact that the fertility of most women drops strongly after reaching age 35, as the number and quality of eggs decrease. Thus, delaying having kids can further reduce your chances if you are already above that age.
6) At the same time, it’s important not to be controlled by fear or despair and keep a positive spirit. The danger that the coronavirus poses will most likely fade away over time as chances are effective treatments will be available. Also, living through these scary times makes many of us even more aware of how important having a family really is. Bringing a new life into this world is an incredible experience that makes one feel complete and offers hope even during the darkest times.
In any case, Eveline will always be here for you when you decide that you are ready to conceive. Our Digital Ovulation Kit will support you on your journey to parenthood and make getting pregnant a more pleasant experience by removing the stressful planning and guesswork that comes with regular ovulation tests.
Learn more about how our AI-powered app adjusts to the uniqueness of your cycle here
(Photo by Hira Sundus on Unsplash)
