COVID-19 is a new illness that affects the lungs and breathing. It is caused by a new coronavirus. Symptoms include fever, cough, and trouble breathing. It also may 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.

While the virus spreads, your gynecologist or other health care professional may change your regular checkup. If you don’t have any urgent concerns, your checkup may be delayed until there is a lower risk of being exposed to the virus. 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 or other health care professional 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. It is safe to take the pills at home, but you still may need an office visit to pick up the pills. This is because of how the pills are regulated (you can’t get them in a pharmacy). You also may need an office visit if you need or prefer an abortion procedure, rather than a medication abortion. (See Induced Abortion 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.

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, your gynecologist or other health care professional may ask you to have a virtual health care visit. They will 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. You also may be asked 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.

While COVID-19 is spreading, your regular checkup may be postponed (see above). Some routine screenings also may be postponed. For example, if you are due for routine mammography but do not have a high risk of breast cancer, your screening may be rescheduled. Screenings and checkups should continue when there is a lower risk of exposure to the virus. Some infertility treatments also may be delayed. Talk with your gynecologist or other health care professional about this possibility.

While COVID-19 is spreading, some surgeries may be postponed to free up health care resources and to protect you from the disease. This 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 surgery scheduled.

If you have a visit scheduled, your gynecologist’s office may call you ahead of time. They may tell you about telemedicine. If you are going to the office, they will ask if you have symptoms of COVID-19. You also can call them before your visits if you do not hear from them.

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

If you have COVID-19 or think you may have it, you should call your gynecologist or other health care professional before your visit. 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 also should tell you about any policies that may have changed, such as whether you can bring your children with you. When you go to your appointment, wear a mask if possible.

You can stay healthy by following the usual recommendations, including:

• Eating healthy meals (see Healthy Eating).

• Exercising regularly (see Staying Active, though be mindful to stay at home or away from other people while exercising).

• Getting plenty of sleep.

• Avoiding alcohol and drugs (see Alcohol and Women).

Some women may be feeling fear, uncertainty, stress, or anxiety because of COVID-19. Reaching out to friends and family during this time may help. Phone calls, texts, and online chats are safe ways to stay connected. There also are treatment and support resources you can access over the phone or online. Talk with your ob-gyn or other health care professional about how to get help if you’re having symptoms like these:

• Feeling sad, hopeless, worthless, or helpless

• Having fear or worry, which may cause a fast heartbeat

• Feeling that life is not worth living

• Having repeated, scary, and unwanted thoughts that are hard to get rid of

If you are in crisis or feel like you want to harm yourself or others, call 911 right away. See the Resources section for other support options, including helplines you can text or call. Physical activity also may help your mental health. And it may be useful to focus on your breathing each day, especially if you are feeling anxious. Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and breathe out for 8 seconds. Repeat three times.

Times of crisis can be very hard for people in abusive relationships. Abuse at home is known as intimate partner violence or domestic violence. If you need help, you can call your gynecologist, other health care professional, or the 24-hour, toll-free National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233) and 800-787-3224 (TTY). Or you can text LOVEIS to 22522 or use the live chat option at www.thehotline.org.

This is a personal choice. You can make the decision based on your health, the potential risks of COVID-19, and other factors. Researchers are still learning how COVID-19 affects pregnant women. Current reports show that pregnant women do not have more severe symptoms than the general public. But people with some health conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, lung disease, or heart disease, have a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Based on current research, it is not likely that COVID-19 passes to a fetus during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. But more research is needed on this. After birth, a newborn can get the virus if they are exposed to it. Talk with your ob-gyn or other health care professional about how your pregnancy care and childbirth may be affected while COVID-19 is spreading.

See Coronavirus (COVID-19), Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding: A Message for Patients.