Asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 infection in women prior to oocyte retrieval has no impact on embryo laboratory outcomes: a retrospective study

Few previous studies have addressed the impact of COVID-19 infection status on assisted reproductive technology outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess whether COVID-19 infection affects ovulation induction outcomes and the laboratory outcomes of women undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment. In total, 363 patients were divided into three groups: the COVID-19 infection group (group A, n = 49), the COVID-19 recovery group (group B, n = 119) and the COVID-19 non-infection group (group C, n = 195). Intergroup comparisons of baseline characteristics, stimulation characteristics and laboratory outcomes were performed. The Gn dosage in group A was significantly higher than those in groups B and C. The duration of Gn treatment was longer in group A than in group B. In group B, the number of high-quality blastocysts was lower than that in group C. The rates of blastocyst formation (42.56%) and high-quality blastocyst formation (12.05%) in group B were significantly lower than those in group A (51.51%; P = 0.003, 16.58%; P = 0.026) and C (48.20%; P = 0.005, 16.49%; P = 0.002). The high-quality blastocyst rate in group C (34.20%) was the highest and was different from that in group B (28.33%). The main risk factor for high-quality blastocyst formation according to multivariate logistic regression analysis was recovery from COVID-19 (0.599, 95% CI: 0.360-0.996; P = 0.048). Asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 infection prior to oocyte retrieval may not has a significant negative effect on ovulation induction outcomes or laboratory outcomes, although the number of Gn days and dose of Gn may increase. In addition, we should pay attention to infertile women recovering from COVID-19 infection and be aware of the significant reduction in the number of high-quality blastocysts in this population.