COVID-19 infection may have serious, and still unpredictable, medium- and long-term impact on fertility and assisted reproduction outcomes in some subgroups of men and women with different underlying health issues.
Since the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019, and its subsequent recognition by the World Health Organization (WHO) as pandemic in March 2020, most research efforts related to this disease were focused on saving lives. Possible effects on fertility and reproduction remained a marginal problem. Several published data showed that the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus, the agent responsible for COVID-19, by oocytes and spermatozoa to the progeny is highly unlikely. However, a question was raised if, and to what extent, the reproductive function of the gametes can be affected by the infection. The definitive response to this question is still lacking. Some data suggest that asymptomatic and mild symptomatic infections do not impair fertility, whereas severe forms of the disease might do. In addition, very little is known about relationships between the impact of COVID-19 on fertility and reproduction in subgroups of patients with different clinical conditions and those affected by different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Because of the relatively recent outbreak of the pandemic, there is a lack of information as to possible late effects of the past infection on the reproductive function.
In this Research Topic we will deal, especially but not exclusively, with the following points:
- Age-related effects of COVID-19 on male reproductive function.
- Age-related effects of COVID-19 on female reproductive function.
- Relationships between COVID-19 effects on male and female reproductive function and the background reproductive health status of the patients before being infected.
- Relationships between COVID-19 effects on male and female reproductive function and different underlying pathologies of the patients.
- Effects of COVID-19 on male and female reproductive function in patients affected with different virus variants.
- Late effects of previous COVID-19 infection on the male and female reproductive function (evolution of sperm quality and the onset of menopause).
- Late effects of previous male and female COVID infection on subsequent pregnancy, delivery and child health.
- Vaccination with regard to its effect on pregnancy outcome (e.g. spontaneous miscarriage) and infertility.
- Menstrual irregularity after vaccination or infection.
- Effects of disruption of assisted reproduction services as a result of the pandemic: the science, the policy, and the ethics.
Contributions concerning other topics concerning the relationship between COVID-19 and human reproduction, unrelated to any of the above points, will also be considered.
COVID-19 infection may have serious, and still unpredictable, medium- and long-term impact on fertility and assisted reproduction outcomes in some subgroups of men and women with different underlying health issues.
Since the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019, and its subsequent recognition by the World Health Organization (WHO) as pandemic in March 2020, most research efforts related to this disease were focused on saving lives. Possible effects on fertility and reproduction remained a marginal problem. Several published data showed that the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus, the agent responsible for COVID-19, by oocytes and spermatozoa to the progeny is highly unlikely. However, a question was raised if, and to what extent, the reproductive function of the gametes can be affected by the infection. The definitive response to this question is still lacking. Some data suggest that asymptomatic and mild symptomatic infections do not impair fertility, whereas severe forms of the disease might do. In addition, very little is known about relationships between the impact of COVID-19 on fertility and reproduction in subgroups of patients with different clinical conditions and those affected by different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Because of the relatively recent outbreak of the pandemic, there is a lack of information as to possible late effects of the past infection on the reproductive function.
In this Research Topic we will deal, especially but not exclusively, with the following points:
- Age-related effects of COVID-19 on male reproductive function.
- Age-related effects of COVID-19 on female reproductive function.
- Relationships between COVID-19 effects on male and female reproductive function and the background reproductive health status of the patients before being infected.
- Relationships between COVID-19 effects on male and female reproductive function and different underlying pathologies of the patients.
- Effects of COVID-19 on male and female reproductive function in patients affected with different virus variants.
- Late effects of previous COVID-19 infection on the male and female reproductive function (evolution of sperm quality and the onset of menopause).
- Late effects of previous male and female COVID infection on subsequent pregnancy, delivery and child health.
- Vaccination with regard to its effect on pregnancy outcome (e.g. spontaneous miscarriage) and infertility.
- Menstrual irregularity after vaccination or infection.
- Effects of disruption of assisted reproduction services as a result of the pandemic: the science, the policy, and the ethics.
Contributions concerning other topics concerning the relationship between COVID-19 and human reproduction, unrelated to any of the above points, will also be considered.