Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic on Women's Reproductive Health Components: A Narrative Review

Background & aim: Restrictions such as home quarantine and social restrictions have reduced women's access to the services that is effective on their reproductive health. Reproductive health is one of the most essential steps in achieving sustainable development, which generally changes in crises. In the present study, it was attempted to review the effect of the Covid pandemic on the components of women's reproductive health in a categorized method. Methods: In this narrative review study, searches were performed in databases such as Pubmed, Google scholar, Science Direct, Cochran library, and Magiran in 2019-2020 using the relevant keywords including covid-19, reproductive health, sexual satisfaction, mental health, domestic violence, childbearing, pregnancy, fertility, partner violence, maternal health, and family planning. Results: Covid-19 pandemic has different effects on reproductive health components. Studies have shown an increase in the frequency of sexual intercourses due to increased presence of the spouse at home, but also there was decrease in the quality of sexual intercourse due to the stress caused by the Covid pandemic and increase in domestic violence, and regarding the mental health component, an increase was observed in stress, anxiety and depression in women of reproductive age. Conclusion: In the current high-risk situation, it is necessary for health care teams, by separating the target groups of women, to screen for mental health, investigate domestic violence, and evaluate sexual relations and use contraceptive methods and intending for childbearing. Then, by allocating virtual education groups and use of national media, they should educate the women of reproductive age.