The daily news continues, a year later, marked by COVID-19, given the worldwide incidence of a pandemic to which we hope to see the end soon. At the end of 2020 vaccination began in our country. In this sense, we have already talked about the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy or in women immersed in assisted reproduction treatment.
In addition, since this virus appeared in our lives in March last year, since IVI we have carried out various studies that have allowed us to provide you with information and peace of mind about COVID-19. We know that there is no greater risk of contagion of the disease due to the fact of being pregnant or the possibility of transmission to the fetus.
Despite this, the information we know about the reproductive effects of the virus is still very limited. It was almost a year ago, based on the recommendations and prevention measures set by the authorities, when we were able to resume activity in the IVI clinics. At the same time, the need arose to know the reproductive reality of people infected by Coronavirus.
Does the Coronavirus negatively affect female fertility?
In this sense, and in line with the presence of virus receptors in the ovary, the question was clear: Can COVID-19 infection affect the ovarian reserve of women?
“Between May and June 2020 we conducted a study with 46 patients from IVI clinics in Spain, who had overcome the Coronavirus. All participants had a previous study of their antimüllerian (AMH) in the previous 6 months. The results of the research were very positive, showing that passing this disease does not affect the state of the ovarian reserve. Therefore, we can assume that the chances of success of a reproductive treatment will remain intact “answers Dr. Antonio Requena, IVI’s medical director.
COVID-19 does not affect a woman’s ovarian reserve
The 46 study participants were divided into 2 groups, based on their previous AMH levels. On the one hand, 16 low responding patients with a mean age of 38.6 years. On the other, normo-high responders, the remaining 30, with a mean age of 34.7. In neither of the two groups of patients was there evidence that COVID-19 causes a decrease in ovarian reserve. The conclusion of this study is also encouraging for those women with low ovarian reserve, prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
“The results obtained are encouraging for women infected with COVID-19. Despite this, in the face of reproductive forecasts, more data will be necessary to draw firm conclusions. For this reason, it will be essential to increase the size of the sample, to verify that the results are maintained in this line “, concludes Dr. Requena.
The importance of knowing the ovarian reserve
Women are born with a certain number of eggs that, in principle, covers the entire fertile life. Naturally, the number of eggs decreases each month. That is why we usually say that the biological clock advances as time passes. For this reason, the ovarian reserve test allows us to know the available ovules of the patient at that moment. One of the ways to measure it is through blood levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). The result of the analysis allows us to know the number of fertile eggs.
