The Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Female Fertility: A Review of the Literature

Andreea Carp-Veliscu, Claudia Mehedintu, Francesca Frincu, Elvira Bratila, Simona Rasu, Ioana Iordache, Alina Bordea and Mihaela Braga
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Andreea Carp-Veliscu: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
Claudia Mehedintu: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
Francesca Frincu: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
Elvira Bratila: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
Simona Rasu: Panait Sarbu Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 060251 Bucharest, Romania
Ioana Iordache: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
Alina Bordea: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
Mihaela Braga: Panait Sarbu Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 060251 Bucharest, Romania

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 2, 1-13

Abstract: As the coronavirus pandemic is far from ending, more questions regarding the female reproductive system, particularly fertility issues, arise. The purpose of this paper is to bring light upon the possible link between COVID-19 and women’s reproductive health. This review emphasizes the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the hormones, endometrium and menstrual cycle, ovarian reserve, follicular fluid, oocytes, and embryos. The results showed that endometrial samples did not express SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Regarding the menstrual cycle, there is a large range of alterations, but they were all reversible within the following months. The ovarian reserve was not significantly affected in patients recovering from both mild and severe infection in most cases, except one, where the levels of AMH were significantly lower and basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were increased. All COVID-19 recovered patients had positive levels of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in the follicular fluid. The amount of retrieved and mature oocytes and the fertilization rate were unharmed in three studies, except for one study, where the quantity of retrieved and mature oocytes was reduced in patients with higher levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The numbers of blastocysts, top-quality embryos, and euploid embryos were affected in most of the studies reviewed.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; female reproductive system; endometrium; menstrual cycle; ovarian reserve; follicular fluid; oocytes; embryos; in vitro fertilization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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