Coronavirus Disease 19 and Infertility

Year 2021, Volume: 3 Issue: 3, 72 - 77, 30.09.2021

Şeval Çiçek Zeynep Akdemir Selin Çelik Seza Kurukafa İlknur Özkaya İpek Yılmaz Yusuf Aytaç Tohma Hulusi Zeyneloglu

https://doi.org/10.46969/ezh.942362

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes pneumonia, was first detected in Wuhan,
China in December 2019. The cause of the infection is the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the coronavirus family, and since it was
first discovered in 2019, it was named as coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). The receptors used by the virus to interact
with the cell are expressed in many organ systems such as type I and type II alveolar epitheli-al cells, enterocytes in
the small intestine, heart, kidneys and testicles. Therefore, COVID-19 affects more than one system. In this review, we
reviewed the relationship between COVID-19 and infertility. The effect of both the virus itself and the pandemic process
on infertility has been emphasized. COVID-19; the effects on the male and female reproductive system, the relationship
between drugs used in treatment with infertility, their relationship with special conditions such as endometriosis and
polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the status of in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratories during the pandemic period, and
the outcome of the on-going infertility treatments, its psychological dimension and its effect on the psychological status
of infertility patients are mentioned. The fact that the disease is newer and the limited number of studies are limiting
our knowledge. Lack of proven data and long-term results of the studies are the most important difficulties encountered.
Therefore, more studies are needed to increase our knowledge on this subject.

Keywords

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, COVID-19, Male Infertility, Female Infertility, pregnancy

Koronavirus Hastalığı 19 ve İnfertilite

Abstract

Pnömoniye sebep olan ciddi akut solunum yolu sendromu koronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ilk olarak 2019 yılının Aralık ayında
Çin’in Wuhan şehrinde saptanmıştır. Enfeksiyonun nedeni koronavirus ailesinden SARS-CoV-2 virüsüdür ve ilk kez 2019
yılında keşfedildiği için koro-navirus hastalığı 19 yani COVID-19 olarak isimledirilmiştir. Virüsün hücreyle etkileşmek için
kullandığı reseptörler tip I ve tip II alveolar epitel hücreleri, ince bağırsaktaki enterositler, kalp, böbrekler ve testisler gibi
pek çok organ sisteminde ifadelenmektedir. Bu nedenle COVID-19 birden fazla sistemi etkilemektedir. Biz bu derlememizde
COVID-19 ve infertilite ilişkisini gözden geçirdik. Hem virüsün kendisinin hem de pandemi sürecinin infertiliteye etkisi
üzerinde durulmuştur. COVID-19’un; erkek ve kadın üreme sistemi üzerine etkilerine, tedavide kullanılan ilaçların infertilite
ile ilişkisine, endometriosis ve polikistik over sendromu (PCOS) gibi özel durumlarla olan ilişkisine, pandemi döneminde
tüp bebek (IVF) laboratuvarlarının durumuna ve halihazırda devam eden infertilite tedavilerinin akıbetine, psikolojik
boyutuna ve infertilite hastalarının psikolojik durumu üzerindeki etkisine değinilmiştir. Hastalığın daha yeni olması ve
yapılan çalışmaların kısıtlılığı bilgilerimizi sınırlandırmaktadır. Kesin kanıtlanmış verilerin bulunmaması ve çalışmaların
uzun dönem sonuçlarının bilinmemesi karşılaşılan en önemli zorluklardır. Bu nedenle bu konu ile ilgili olan bilgilerimizin
artması için daha fazla çalışma yapılması gerekmektedir

Keywords

Ciddi akut solunum yolu sendromu koronavirus 2, COVID-19, erkek infertilitesi, kadın infertilitesi, gebelik

References

• Pascarella G, Strumia A, Piliego C, et al. COVID-19 diagnosis and management: a comprehensive review. J Intern Med 2020; 288:192-206.
• Li MY, Li L, Zhang Y, Wang XS. Expression of the SARS-CoV-2 cell receptor gene ACE2 in a wide variety of human tissues. Infect Dis Poverty 2020; 9:45.
• Scialo F, Daniele A, Amato F, et al. ACE2: The Major Cell Entry Receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Lung 2020; 198:867-877.
• Li R, Yin T, Fang F, et al. Potential risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection on reproductive health. Reprod Biomed Online 2020; 41:89-95.
• Lawson AK, McQueen DB, Swanson AC, Confino R, Feinberg EC, Pavone ME. Psy-chological distress and postponed fertility care during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Assist Re-prod Genet 2021; 38:333-341.
• Esposito V, Rania E, Lico D, et al. Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on the psycho-logical status of infertile couples. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020; 253:148-153.
• Vaughan DA, Shah JS, Penzias AS, Domar AD, Toth TL. Infertility remains a top stressor despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Reprod Biomed Online 2020; 41:425-427.
• Wang MY, Zhao R, Gao LJ, Gao XF, Wang DP, Cao JM. SARSCoV-2: Structure, Biology, and Structure-Based Therapeutics Development. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:587269.
• Gkogkou E, Barnasas G, Vougas K, Trougakos IP. Expression profiling meta-analysis of ACE2 and TMPRSS2, the putative antiinflammatory receptor and priming protease of SARS-CoV-2 in human cells, and identification of putative modulators. Redox Biol 2020; 36:101615.
• Stanley KE, Thomas E, Leaver M, Wells D. Coronavirus disease-19 and fertility: viral host entry protein expression in male and female reproductive tissues. Fertil Steril 2020; 114:33-43.
• Olaniyan OT, Dare A, Okotie GE, et al. Testis and blood-testis barrier in Covid-19 infestation: role of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in male infertility. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2020; 31.
• Shen Q, Xiao X, Aierken A, et al. The ACE2 expression in Sertoli cells and germ cells may cause male reproductive disorder after SARS-CoV-2 infection. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:9472-9477.
• Wang Z, Xu X. scRNA-seq Profiling of Human Testes Reveals the Presence of the ACE2 Receptor, A Target for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Spermatogonia, Leydig and Sertoli Cells. Cells 2020; 9:920.
• Dutta S, Sengupta P. SARS-CoV-2 and Male Infertility: Possible Multifaceted Pathol-ogy. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:23-26.
• Holtmann N, Edimiris P, Andree M, et al. Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in human se-men-a cohort study. Fertil Steril 2020; 114:233-238.
• Guo L, Zhao S, Li W, et al. Absence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen of a COVID-19 patient cohort. Andrology 2021; 9:42-47.
• Ma L, Xie W, Li D, et al. Evaluation of sex-related hormones and semen characteristics in reproductive-aged male COVID-19 patients. J Med Virol 2021; 93: 456-462.
• Li D, Jin M, Bao P, Zhao W, Zhang S. Clinical Characteristics and Results of Semen Tests Among Men With Coronavirus Disease 2019. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e208292.
• Bendayan M, Robin G, Hamdi S, Mieusset R, Boitrelle F. COVID-19 in men: With or without virus in semen, spermatogenesis may be impaired. Andrologia 2021; 53:e13878.
• Ye Q, Wang B, Mao J. The pathogenesis and treatment of the `Cytokine Storm' in COVID-19. J Infect 2020; 80:607-613.
• Hallak J, Teixeira TA, Bernardes FS, et al. SARS-CoV-2 and its relationship with the genitourinary tract: Implications for male reproductive health in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Andrology 2021; 9:73-79.
• Sergerie M, Mieusset R, Croute F, Daudin M, Bujan L. High risk of temporary altera-tion of semen parameters after recent acute febrile illness. Fertil Steril 2007; 88:970 e1-7.
• Gavriatopoulou M, Ntanasis-Stathopoulos I, Korompoki E, et al. Emerging treatment strategies for COVID-19 infection. Clin Exp Med 2021; 21:167-179.
• Hofer H, Donnerer J, Sator K, et al. Seminal fluid ribavirin level and functional semen parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis C on antiviral combination therapy. J Hepatol 2010; 52:812-816.
• Pecou S, Moinard N, Walschaerts M, Pasquier C, Daudin M, Bujan L. Ribavirin and pegylated interferon treatment for hepatitis C was associated not only with semen alterations but also with sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation in humans. Fertil Steril 2009; 91:933 e17-22.
• Mattos-Silva P, Felix NS, Silva PL, et al. Pros and cons of corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19 patients. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2020; 280:103492.
• Sasagawa I, Yazawa H, Suzuki Y, Nakada T. Stress and testicular germ cell apoptosis. Arch Androl 2001; 47:211-216.
• Prasad S, Tiwari M, Pandey AN, Shrivastav TG, Chaube SK. Impact of stress on oo-cyte quality and reproductive outcome. J Biomed Sci 2016; 23:36.
• Dobrakowski M, Kasperczyk S, Horak S, Chyra-Jach D, Birkner E, Kasperczyk A. Oxidative stress and motility impairment in the semen of fertile males. Andrologia 2017; 49.
• Brauner EV, Nordkap L, Priskorn L, et al. Psychological stress, stressful life events, male factor infertility, and testicular function: a cross-sectional study. Fertil Steril 2020; 113:865-875.
• Lenzi A, Lombardo F, Salacone P, Gandini L, Jannini EA. Stress, sexual dysfunctions, and male infertility. J Endocrinol Invest 2003; 26:72-76.
• Babore A, Lombardi L, Viceconti ML, et al. Psychological effects of the COVID-2019 pandemic: Perceived stress and coping strategies among healthcare professionals. Psychiatry Res 2020; 293:113366.
• Kizilkan Y, Senel S, Ozercan AY, et al. Evaluating the Anxiety and Depression Status of Prostate Cancer Patients whose Operations were Postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Clin Pract 2021:e14278.
• Ben-Kimhy R, Youngster M, Medina-Artom TR, et al. Fertility patients under COVID-19: attitudes, perceptions and psychological reactions. Hum Reprod 2020; 35:2774-2283.
• Boivin J, Harrison C, Mathur R, Burns G, Pericleous-Smith A, Gameiro S. Patient experiences of fertility clinic closure during the COVID-19 pandemic: appraisals, coping and emotions. Hum Reprod 2020; 35:2556-2566.
• Seifer DB, Petok WD, Agrawal A, et al. Psychological experience and coping strategies of patients in the Northeast US delaying care for infertility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2021; 19:28.
• Yalcin Bahat P, Kaya C, Selcuki NFT, Polat I, Usta T, Oral E. The COVID-19 pan-demic and patients with endometriosis: A surveybased study conducted in Turkey. Int J Gy-naecol Obstet 2020; 151:249-252.
• Ajmal N, Khan SZ, Shaikh R. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and genetic predis-position: A review article. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X 2019; 3:100060.
• Kyrou I, Karteris E, Robbins T, Chatha K, Drenos F, Randeva HS. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and COVID-19: an overlooked female patient population at potentially higher risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Med 2020; 18:220.
• Andrabi SW, Jaffar M, Arora PR. COVID-19: New adaptation for IVF laboratory protocols. JBRA Assist Reprod 2020; 24:358-361.