tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Hum Reprod Sci
. 2022 Oct-Dec;15(4):357-361.
doi: 10.4103/jhrs.jhrs_121_22. Epub 2022 Dec 30.
Does Coronavirus Disease-19 Infection Affect Ovarian Reserve in Infertile Women? A Retrospective Study
Serkan Kahyaoglu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Muzeyyen Gulnur Ozaksit[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Inci Kahyaoglu[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ahmet Arif Filiz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Meryem Kuru Pekcan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ece Atalay[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ozlem Moraloglu Tekin[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have revealed menstrual changes following coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) disease. The potential impact of COVID-19 on female reproductive organs, ovary in particular, has not been investigated thoroughly.
Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and oestradiol (E2) following COVID-19 disease as a surrogate for the detection of ovarian vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Settings and design: In this retrospective study, hospital records of unexplained infertile women between 21 and 40 years old who have attended our institution's reproductive medicine unit for evaluation and/or treatment of infertility have been evaluated.
Materials and methods: Menstrual cycle day 2-5 serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone and E2 levels of 28 infertile women have been studied both before and after the COVID-19 disease to evaluate ovarian reserve before the ovulation induction treatment cycle.
Statistical analysis used: The demographic characteristics and hormonal results of these 28 unexplained infertile women have been compared. The Shapiro-Wilk test has been used to evaluate the normal distribution of variables. Comparison of ovarian reserve markers which were established before and after COVID-19 infection has been performed using paired samples t-test.
Results: All patients except one have shown mild COVID-19 symptoms and their infection courses have resulted in uneventful recovery. Serum FSH, LH and E2 levels of 24 (85%) and serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels of 4 (15%) patients have been evaluated before and after COVID-19 disease is statistically similar.
Conclusion: COVID-19 disease or inflammatory response of the infection itself does not seem to affect pituitary gonadotropins and ovarian hormones in infertile women based on menstrual cycle day 2-5 serum FSH, LH, E2 and AMH levels. Further studies including higher patient numbers are urgently needed to clarify the potential effects of COVID-19 disease on the gonadal function of women.
Keywords: Coronavirus disease-19; female; infertility; ovarian reserve; severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2.
. 2022 Oct-Dec;15(4):357-361.
doi: 10.4103/jhrs.jhrs_121_22. Epub 2022 Dec 30.
Does Coronavirus Disease-19 Infection Affect Ovarian Reserve in Infertile Women? A Retrospective Study
Serkan Kahyaoglu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Muzeyyen Gulnur Ozaksit[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Inci Kahyaoglu[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ahmet Arif Filiz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Meryem Kuru Pekcan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ece Atalay[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ozlem Moraloglu Tekin[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 37033136
- PMCID: PMC10077751
- DOI: 10.4103/jhrs.jhrs_121_22
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have revealed menstrual changes following coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) disease. The potential impact of COVID-19 on female reproductive organs, ovary in particular, has not been investigated thoroughly.
Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and oestradiol (E2) following COVID-19 disease as a surrogate for the detection of ovarian vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Settings and design: In this retrospective study, hospital records of unexplained infertile women between 21 and 40 years old who have attended our institution's reproductive medicine unit for evaluation and/or treatment of infertility have been evaluated.
Materials and methods: Menstrual cycle day 2-5 serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone and E2 levels of 28 infertile women have been studied both before and after the COVID-19 disease to evaluate ovarian reserve before the ovulation induction treatment cycle.
Statistical analysis used: The demographic characteristics and hormonal results of these 28 unexplained infertile women have been compared. The Shapiro-Wilk test has been used to evaluate the normal distribution of variables. Comparison of ovarian reserve markers which were established before and after COVID-19 infection has been performed using paired samples t-test.
Results: All patients except one have shown mild COVID-19 symptoms and their infection courses have resulted in uneventful recovery. Serum FSH, LH and E2 levels of 24 (85%) and serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels of 4 (15%) patients have been evaluated before and after COVID-19 disease is statistically similar.
Conclusion: COVID-19 disease or inflammatory response of the infection itself does not seem to affect pituitary gonadotropins and ovarian hormones in infertile women based on menstrual cycle day 2-5 serum FSH, LH, E2 and AMH levels. Further studies including higher patient numbers are urgently needed to clarify the potential effects of COVID-19 disease on the gonadal function of women.
Keywords: Coronavirus disease-19; female; infertility; ovarian reserve; severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2.