Open AccessReproductive medical providers’ behaviors, considerations, and plans for fertility treatments during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Japan: A nationwide web‐based survey
Author(s) -
Ota Kuniaki,
Tsutsumi Osamu,
Mitani Tasuku,
Morimoto Yoshiharu,
Tanaka Atsushi,
Osuga Yutaka,
Takahashi Toshifumi,
Hosoi Yoshihiko
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
reproductive medicine and biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.005
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1447-0578
pISSN - 1445-5781
DOI - 10.1002/rmb2.12372
Subject(s) - pandemic , fertility , covid-19 , reproductive medicine , medicine , workload , assisted reproductive technology , family medicine , environmental health , pregnancy , infertility , population , biology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , genetics , operating system , pathology , computer science
Purpose This study was conducted to investigate how the COVID‐19 pandemic has impacted reproductive medical providers’ behaviors and considerations, including their concerns regarding the necessity of fertility treatments. Methods A web‐based questionnaire was distributed to Japan Society of Fertilization and Implantation (JSFI) members from May 18 through May 31, 2020 to survey their professional behaviors and concerns during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Results Most survey participants reported a decrease in the number of patients and a decrease in their workload. Most also believe that the use of fertility treatments will return to the pre‐pandemic levels after the COVID‐19 pandemic ends. Additionally, more than half of the participants reported that they consider fertility treatment neither necessary nor unnecessary during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Conclusions At the institute where reproductive medical providers worked in Japan, the number of outpatients and the working time tended to decrease during the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, amid fears of infection during the COVID‐19 pandemic, the reproductive medical providers working at fertility institutes in Japan have remained engaged in their work with a sense of mission and hope.