COVID-19, Gynecologist Visits, and Telehealth: Answers From Ob-Gyns

COVID-19 is a new illness that affects the lungs and breathing. It is caused by a new coronavirus. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, and trouble breathing. COVID-19 may also cause stomach problems, such as nausea and diarrhea, and a loss of your sense of smell or taste. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after you are exposed to the virus. Some people with COVID-19 may have no symptoms or only mild symptoms.

It’s important to still get the care you need to stay healthy. If you missed a routine checkup because of COVID-19, schedule a new visit as soon as possible.

Your gynecologist may make changes to their office policies to keep you safe. They may ask you to wear a mask and to follow other safety policies at your visit. Or you may be able to talk with your gynecologist over the phone or on a video call. This is called telemedicine or telehealth.

Any health care visit changes will depend on many factors, including

• your health (are you having urgent symptoms?)

• how much the virus is spreading in your community

• your access to the internet and a computer or a phone

• your health care team’s resources

You may need to be seen in person if you have an urgent concern about your health or safety. Here are a few examples of urgent issues that may need in-person care right away:

• A fever or vaginal infection that is unrelated to COVID-19

• Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, including pain in the pelvis, abdomen, or lower back

• Problems with recovery after a recent surgery or other procedure

• Severe vaginal bleeding

This is not a complete list. Call your gynecologist if you have any symptoms that bother you. Call 911 or go to the hospital if you are having an emergency.

You may be able to get birth control without having an office visit. You do not need a physical exam or testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to get a birth control prescription.

But if you want an intrauterine device (IUD), a birth control implant, or sterilization, you will need an office visit. Your gynecologist may suggest birth control pills, a vaginal ring, or another user-controlled method until an office visit can be scheduled. Talk with your gynecologist or other health care professional about these options.

If you are in your first trimester, you may be able to have a medication abortion. This involves taking two pills, either at home or at an office visit. Ask your gynecologist or other health care professional if you can get the pills delivered to you at home or whether your state requires an in-person visit.

If you need or prefer an abortion procedure, rather than a medication abortion, the procedure may be done in a health care professional’s office, a surgical center, or a hospital. Read Abortion Care to learn more.

Access to abortion may depend on state and local laws. But abortion is essential health care that should not be delayed because of COVID-19.

If you have a visit scheduled, your gynecologist’s office may tell you about their safety policies. They may ask if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and tell you if you need to wear a mask at the visit. You can also call them before your visit if you have any questions.

Call ahead before bringing anyone with you, including your children. Your health care team may sometimes change their policies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Your visit may be done over the phone or on a video call if you need

• a birth control prescription, including emergency contraception

• help with menopause symptoms

• mental health care

• help with abuse at home (called intimate partner violence or domestic violence)

• to discuss your options if you find out or think you are pregnant

• a routine check-in after a surgery or other procedure

Access to these services with telemedicine may depend on

• what your state and local laws allow

• whether your health care team is set up for telemedicine

• whether you have access to the internet and a computer or phone

If you have access to the internet and a computer or phone, you may be able to have a virtual health care visit. Your health care professional should talk with you about how this works. They may ask you to download a video calling app or use one that you already have, such as FaceTime or Skype. If you need help, they can teach you how to download and use the app. Or they may just use a phone call.

Your health care team may ask you to do a few things at home before or after the visit. They may ask you to send them a photo, such as a picture of a wound that is healing after surgery. Or they may ask you to take your temperature or blood pressure at home. They would tell you how to do this and how to get the tools you need to do it.

Your health care team should give you directions for anything they ask you to do. If you need more help, be sure to let them know. And no matter how your visit is done, your health care team should keep what you share with them private.

• If possible, find a quiet and private place for your visit. Try to choose a spot that has good cell phone service or internet connection. Consider using headphones if you have them.

• If needed, try to make plans for childcare during your visit.

• Test any technology you need for the visit ahead of time. If you are using an app or website, try it out and make sure you can log in.

• Prepare just like you would for an in-person visit. Write down your symptoms, health history, medications, and questions for your ob-gyn. (Read Making the Most of Your Health Care Visit.)

Read the infographic 10 Telehealth Tips for an Ob-Gyn Visit for more advice.

If COVID-19 is spreading quickly in your area, some health care appointments may be postponed to free up health care resources and reduce your exposure to people who may have COVID-19. Appointment delays may happen if you live in an area where many people have COVID-19, and if you would not be harmed by the delay. Talk with your gynecologist or other health care professional if you have a health care visit or surgery scheduled.

There have been reports of COVID-19 vaccines causing swollen lymph nodes in underarms. This is a temporary side effect, but the swelling can make mammograms hard to read correctly. Because of this side effect, routine mammograms may be postponed for 4 to 6 weeks after you get a COVID-19 vaccine.

But if you have any problems with your breasts or if you are at high risk for breast cancer, you should not delay your mammogram. If you do have a mammogram fewer than 4 to 6 weeks after getting a COVID-19 vaccine, tell the health care staff when you got your vaccine, which type of vaccine you had, and which arm the shot went in.

Remember, breast cancer screening is important health care that you should not skip. Read Mammography and Other Screening Tests for Breast Problems to learn more.

If you have COVID-19 or think you may have it, call your gynecologist before your visit. You may be able to have a virtual visit with telemedicine. Or you may need to reschedule your visit to avoid spreading the virus.

If you have an urgent issue for your gynecologist (see above), they may be able to schedule you for the last appointment of the day or see you in an area that is separated from other patients. They should also tell you about any safety policies, such as whether you can bring your children with you and whether you need to wear a mask.

Read COVID-19, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding: Answers From Ob-Gyns.

Read COVID-19 Vaccines: Answers From Ob-Gyns.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

• COVID-19: A hub for the latest information on COVID-19.

• Prevent Getting Sick: Learn how the virus spreads and how to protect yourself and your family.

• If You Are Sick: Guidance on what to do if you have COVID-19 or think you may have it.

• Health Department Directories: Find the health department in your area.

National Abortion Federation Hotline
Free hotline for information on abortion care and funding support.

• Find abortion care: 877-257-0012

• Funding support and other resources: 800-772-9100

Birth Control Implant: A small, single rod that is inserted under the skin in the upper arm. The implant releases a hormone to prevent pregnancy.

Emergency Contraception (EC): Methods that are used to prevent pregnancy after a woman has had sex without birth control, after the method has failed, or after a rape.

Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes that starts during pregnancy.

Gynecologist: A doctor with special training and education in women’s health.

Infertility: The inability to get pregnant after 1 year of having regular sexual intercourse without the use of birth control.

Intrauterine Device (IUD): A small device that is inserted and left inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy.

Menopause: The time when a woman’s menstrual periods stop permanently. Menopause is confirmed after 1 year of no periods.

Menstrual Periods: The monthly shedding of blood and tissue from the uterus.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Infections that are spread by sexual contact. Infections include chlamydia, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]).

Sterilization: A permanent method of birth control.

Trimester: A 3-month time in pregnancy. It can be first, second, or third.