COVID-19 Impact on Women's Health
Authors: Kingsberg S , Loving J , Alex H , Bernick B , Graham S 
Published: July 2022

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing and/or lockdowns have impacted social and personal interactions.

Objective

To assess COVID's impact on partner relationships, sexual activity, family planning, and menopause management.

Methods

C Space online communities were surveyed from April 14 to 28, 2021. C Space is an online community platform; each community is unique to the client for which it is designed. For this study, three communities were surveyed: a 100-member community of healthcare professionals (HCPs) who treat women's health issues, a 300-member community of reproductive-age women, and a 300-member community of women in their menopausal years. Of the 100 HCPs, 78 responded (25% OB/GYNs, 49% primary care providers, and 26% nurse practitioners or physician assistants); of the 300 reproductive age women, 184 responded; of the 300 women in their menopausal years, 215 responded.

Results

Fifty-four percent of reproductive-age women reported that their relationships with their partners have improved during the pandemic, while nearly a third (31%) reported their relationships have suffered. Conversely, just over a third (38%) of menopausal women claim their relationships with their partners improved, while 45% reported that their relationships have suffered. Among women with sexual partners (n=158 reproductive-age women; n=168 menopausal women), 46% of reproductive-age women and 62% of menopausal women reported having sex with the same frequency as before the pandemic. Of the reproductive-age women, 27% reported having sex with more frequency and 22% with less frequency. Among menopausal women, 10% reported having more sex, and 17% reported having less frequent sex than before the pandemic. Nearly half (46%) of those who were considering or actively trying to get pregnant pre-COVID responded they were less likely to try to conceive now, with 36% saying they have not changed, and 18% responded they are more likely to try to conceive.For birth control, the majority (72%) of HCPs reported no change in prescribing, with 14% citing an increase and 14% citing a decline. Of the 75% of reproductive-age women who were taking birth control (n=138), the majority (70%) reported no change in their use of birth control, 22% reported making a change or starting a new treatment, and 11% (n=15) responded that they stopped taking birth control during the pandemic.For menopause management, the majority of HCPs (62%) reported no change in the use of hormone therapy, and nearly a third (31%) reported a decline in use. Of the 20% of menopausal women (n=42) who were on a menopause hormone therapy, over half (52%) responded that they made no change to their treatment, nearly a third (31%) made a change or started a new therapy; 17% (n=7) stopped treatment during the pandemic.

Conclusions

The COVID pandemic has impacted women differently depending on their reproductive or menopause status including their relationships with their partners, sexual activity, family planning and use of birth control or hormone therapy.

Disclosure

Yes, this is sponsored by industry/sponsor: TherapeuticsMD

Clarification

Industry initiated, executed and funded study

Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: TherapeuticsMD