The Impact of Previous Exposure to COVID-19 on the Outcome of ICSI Cycles.

OBJECTIVE: Due to the large increase in the number of reported cases and the impact of COVID-19 on public health, the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) recommended the cessation of all activities related to assisted reproduction. There are many unknowns about the long-term effects of the virus on fertility and pregnancy. We conducted this study to offer some evidence-based guidance on the relationship between COVID-19 and IVF/ICSI cycle outcomes.

METHODS: This observational study included 179 patients who underwent ICSI cycles at the Albaraka Fertility Hospital, Manama, Bahrain and the Almana hospital, KSA. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 88 individuals with a history of Covid-19 and Group 2 included 91 subjects without a history of COVID-19.

RESULTS: Despite the higher pregnancy (45.1% vs. 36.4%, with p=0.264) and fertilization (52% vs. 50.6% with p=0.647) rates seen in patients without a history of COVID-19, the differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: There is no clear evidence that exposure to COVID-19 significantly affects ICSI cycle outcomes.