The scientists found that SARS-CoV-2 infection had no clear negative impact on the human oocyte and early development of the embryo.
The research was published in the journal Science Chinese Life Sciences.
The scientists used data from 906 couples from three breeding centers in China. Couples were divided into COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups according to whether one of the couples was infected with SARS-CoV-2 prior to egg collection.
The scientists found no significant differences in the eggs and embryos of the two groups. He also found that infection 7-14 days before egg retrieval increased the number of eggs retrieved, fertilized eggs, and quality embryos. However, infection within 7 days prior to oocyte retrieval reduced egg use.
Overall, the study showed no clear adverse effects of COVID-19 on oocyte quality or embryonic development. However, in women with acute infection, the pros and cons must be weighed fully, as SARS-CoV-2-related receptors such as ACE2 are found in gametes and fertilized eggs. It is therefore reasonable to suspect that infection may affect the quality of oocytes and early embryos. The scientists will track the health of the offspring as well as long-term pregnancy outcomes in this study.