#ThursdayThoughts
As promised, each Thursday, we will now offer you a piece of educational, science, or research related information. The purpose of our #ThursdayThoughts post is to share with you fact-based content that can enlighten and assist you on your fertility journey. Enjoy our post! Helping to Create New Beginnings….
COVID-19 and Pregnancy
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) continues to affirm their recommendation that “COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for women who are contemplating pregnancy or who are pregnant in order to minimize risks to themselves and their pregnancy”. A recent study in the journal published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) explores disease severity and perinatal outcomes of pregnant patients with COVID-19. The researchers found that among 1219 pregnant women included in the study who tested positive for COVID-19, 12% had severe or critical illness leading to perinatal complications including cesarean birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, lower birth weight, and a need for NICU admission. There was also an increased frequency of venous thromboembolism in pregnant women with severe or critical illness. The risk factors for severe or critical course of disease were older maternal age, increased BMI, and underlying medical conditions such as asthma, chronic hypertension, and diabetes. Maternal death rate of 0.3% and the ICU admission rate of 4.8% were higher in pregnant women compared with nonpregnant patients.
Our team at FIH supports the positions of ASRM and ACOG in regards to vaccination and encourages our patients to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to decrease the risk of severe or critical illness if they do become pregnant. If you have questions or concerns, please discuss them with your provider during your next appointment and we would be happy to address them. To inquire about fertility evaluation and treatment options, please contact Fertility Institute of Hawaii at 808-545-2800 and/or check out our web page https://www.ivfcenterhawaii.com/.
Links to references:
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) – https://bit.ly/3xKduoO
- American College of Obstetricians and gynecologists (ACOG) – https://bit.ly/3vwVdcK
