On the use of sex steroids in women during the COVID-19 pandemic

The consensus position statement of professional medical associations: Ukrainian Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, Association of Obstetricians-Gynecologists of Ukraine, Association of Pharmacologists of Ukraine, Association of Anesthesiologists of Ukraine, Association of Vascular Surgeons, Phlebologists and Angiologists of Ukraine

Authors

  • T.F. Tatarchuk NAMS of Ukraine, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5498-4143
  • Z.M. Dubossarska Dnipro State Medical University, Ukraine
  • V.I. Pyrohova Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Ukraine
  • N.Y. Pedachenko Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Ukraine
  • T.M. Tutchenko SI “O.M. Lukyanova IPOG of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Ukraine
  • O.О. Yefimenko SI “O.M. Lukyanova IPOG of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Ukraine
  • N.V. Kosei SI “O.M. Lukyanova IPOG of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Ukraine
  • Y.O. Dubossarska Dnipro State Medical University, Ukraine
  • K.L. Shatylovych Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Ukraine
  • V.M. Zaporozhan Odesa National Medical University, Ukraine
  • V.V. Kaminskyi Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Ukraine
  • G.V. Zaichenko O.O. Bogomolets National Medical University, Ukraine
  • S.A. Dubrov O.O. Bogomolets National Medical University, Ukraine
  • L.M. Chernukha O.O. Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology of the NAMS of Ukraine, Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2021.58.9-16

Keywords:

combined hormonal contraceptives, menopausal hormonal therapy, unregistered compounded bioidentical hormonal agents, venous thromboembolism, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors

Abstract

The document was approved at an expanded meeting of the Ukrainian Society of Gynecological Endocrinology with the involvement of all board members and representatives of the Association of Obstetricians-Gynecologists of Ukraine, the Association of Pharmacologists of Ukraine, the Association of Anesthesiologists of Ukraine, as well during the Third Ukrainian School of Gynecological and Reproductive Endocrinology with international participation ISGE 19–20.03.21.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted medical practice, in terms of organizational and clinical practices, posing a number of complex and contradictory challenges for professionals.
This document is the result of the systematization of scientific data available by March 2021 and recommendations of international medical and specialized professional societies on controversial clinical issues in gynecological practice caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as certain issues of safety and ratio of using hormonal drugs. The involvement of experts from professional associations of the obstetric and gynecological field, pharmacology, anesthesiology and vascular surgery and phlebology in the working group made it possible to formulate clinically justified provisions of the position.
The position includes three thematic sections: “On the use of estrogen-containing combined hormonal contraceptives (CHC) during the COVID-19 pandemic”; “On the use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) during the COVID-19 pandemic”; “On the issue of unregistered compounded bioidentical hormones”.
At the beginning of each thematic section, the main conclusions of the consensus position of professional medical associations are presented. According to the data available by March 2021, there is no reason to limit the use of CHC or MHT in healthy women (currently not having COVID-19). The question of CHC or MHT discontinuing or switching to other forms by women with COVID-19 should be decided depending on the severity of the disease, the total set of risk factors for thromboembolic complications and other individual characteristics of the clinical situation. Further research will provide elaboration of more detailed algorithms. Physicians need to be vigilant about the safety of compounded Bioidentical Hormonal Therapy (cBHT) in any dosage form (including pellets), especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, given the unexplored systemic effects and therefore the potential risks. Preference should be given to officially licensed medicinal products with a well-studied safety profile and clinical effects, the use of which is authorized by doctor's prescription and supported by clinical protocols and guidelines.

Author Biographies

T.F. Tatarchuk, NAMS of Ukraine

MD, professor, corresponding member of the NAMS of Ukraine, deputy director for research work, head of the Endocrine Gynecology Department, SI “O.M. Lukyanova IPOG of the NAMS of Ukraine”, chief researcher, Department of Reproductive Health, SSI “CIMT of the NAS of Ukraine”, President of the Ukrainian Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, Kyiv

Z.M. Dubossarska, Dnipro State Medical University

MD, professor, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Postgraduate Education, Vice President of the Ukrainian Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, Dnipro

V.I. Pyrohova, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University

MD, head of the Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Education, Vice President of the Ukrainian Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, Lviv

N.Y. Pedachenko, Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine

MD, professor at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology

T.M. Tutchenko, SI “O.M. Lukyanova IPOG of the NAMS of Ukraine”

PhD, senior researcher of the Endocrine Gynecology Department, Department of Reproductive Health, SSI “CIMT of the NAS of Ukraine", Kyiv

O.О. Yefimenko, SI “O.M. Lukyanova IPOG of the NAMS of Ukraine”

PhD, senior researcher at the Endocrine Gynecology Department, Department of Reproductive Health, SSI “CIMT of the NAS of Ukraine”, Kyiv

N.V. Kosei, SI “O.M. Lukyanova IPOG of the NAMS of Ukraine”

MD, professor, chief researcher, Endocrine Gynecology Department, head of Department of Reproductive Health, SSI “CIMT of the NAS of Ukraine", Kyiv

Y.O. Dubossarska, Dnipro State Medical University

MD, professor, head of the Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Education

K.L. Shatylovych, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University

MD, professor at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department

V.M. Zaporozhan, Odesa National Medical University

Academician of NAMS of Ukraine, MD, professor, Rector of Odesa National Medical University, President of the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Ukraine, Odesa

V.V. Kaminskyi, Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine

MD, professor, corresponding member of the NAMS of Ukraine, head of the Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology Department, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Ukraine, Kyiv

G.V. Zaichenko, O.O. Bogomolets National Medical University

MD, professor, head of the Department of Pharmacology

S.A. Dubrov, O.O. Bogomolets National Medical University

MD, professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Chief Specialist in anesthesiology of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, President of the Association of Anesthesiologists of Ukraine, Kyiv

L.M. Chernukha, O.O. Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology of the NAMS of Ukraine

MD, professor, chief researcher, Department of Vascular Surgery, Chief phlebologist of Ukraine, Vice President of the Association of Vascular Surgeons, Phlebologists and Angiologists of Ukraine, Kyiv

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Published

2021-05-27

How to Cite

Tatarchuk, T., Dubossarska, Z., Pyrohova, V., Pedachenko, N., Tutchenko, T., Yefimenko, O., Kosei, N., Dubossarska, Y., Shatylovych, K., Zaporozhan, V., Kaminskyi, V., Zaichenko, G., Dubrov, S., & Chernukha, L. (2021). On the use of sex steroids in women during the COVID-19 pandemic: The consensus position statement of professional medical associations: Ukrainian Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, Association of Obstetricians-Gynecologists of Ukraine, Association of Pharmacologists of Ukraine, Association of Anesthesiologists of Ukraine, Association of Vascular Surgeons, Phlebologists and Angiologists of Ukraine. REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY, (58), 9–16. https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2021.58.9-16

Issue

No. 58 (2021)

Section

Health care

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Copyright (c) 2021 Т.Ф. Татарчук , З.М. Дубоссарська, В.І. Пирогова, Н.Ю. Педаченко, Т.М. Тутченко, О.О. Єфіменко, Н.В. Косей, Ю.О. Дубоссарська, К.Л. Шатилович, В.М. Запорожан, В.В. Камінський, А.В. Зайченко, С.О. Дубров, Л.М. Чернуха

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