State of assisted reproduction technology in the coronavirus disease 2019 era and consequences on human reproductive system

Abstract

Abstract The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created havoc on the socio-economic aspect of the world. With billions of lives being affected by this wrecking pandemic, global fertility services were also not left untouched by its impact. The possibility of sexual transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus, its impact on male and female fertility, pregnancy, its potential teratogenic effect, and handling of gametes in the clinical laboratories were major concerns among reproductive medicine specialists, which led down all the reproductive health services, including IUI, IVF/ICSI in most of the countries. Even the people did not intend to conceive during the pandemic crisis and were hesitant to avail such services. Discrete evidence regarding the pathophysiology of COVID-19 infection and its impact on the human reproductive system is not very clear. In this review article, we intend to incorporate all the evidence related to the COVID-19 infection and its impact on human reproduction available to date. It is our responsibility to provide rightful information and to keep our patients familiar with the existing lack of clear evidence. In this COVID-19 era, it is important that the fertility management be prioritized in sub-fertile couples with diminished fertility reserve and high-risk conditions, like malignancies, that may affect their long-term fertility prospects.