Knowledge, anxiety levels and attitudes of infertile couples towards COVID-19 and its impact on self-funded fertility treatment: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection during ovarian stimulation on ART outcomes

RESEARCH QUESTION

Does severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during ovarian stimulation affect assisted reproductive technology outcomes?

DESIGN

This retrospective cohort study conducted at the Reproductive Medicine Centre of The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University aimed to assess the effects of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection during IVF on treatment outcomes and the reproductive system. The study included 151 treatment cycles involving couples with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during ovarian stimulation, along with 224 cycles of non-infected couples as a control group. Clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters were analysed, including total gonadotrophin dosage, duration of ovarian stimulation, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization method, fertilization rate, and number of blastocyst embryos available. Forty-six follicular fluid samples, 38 semen samples and 78 embryo culture medium samples from patients with COVID-19 were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay.

RESULTS

The treatment and control groups showed similar cycle characteristics, including fertilization method, total gonadotrophin dosage and duration of ovarian stimulation. The mean number of oocytes retrieved per cycle and rate of mature oocytes in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles were comparable. No significant difference was observed in the total number of blastocyst embryos available between the groups. Furthermore, no SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in any of the samples of patients with COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, acute SARS-CoV-2 infection during ovarian stimulation does not have a significant impact on IVF treatment outcomes. Additionally, no risk to the reproductive system was observed in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, individuals with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 can safely continue IVF treatment. Future research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of COVID-19 on fertility and reproductive outcomes.

Childbearing decisions and related factors in the COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative review study

The COVID-19 pandemic has had considerable consequences in many areas of life, including the social area and childbearing plans. The present narrative review aimed to examine the childbearing decisions and its related factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review was conducted by searching in scientific databases, including Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane, PubMed, ProQuest, Scientific Information Database (SID), Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc) and Iranian Journal Database (Magiran) in June 2022. The search resulted in 111 sources, of which 16 were in line with the research objective. Couples have mainly cancelled or delayed their previous plans related to childbearing decisions. There are two groups of direct and indirect factors related to childbearing decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic: The former includes (1) well-being-related factors such as economic conditions, interpersonal relationships and gender roles in terms of task division; and (2) health-related factors, including health emergencies and physical and psychological health. The latter includes factors such as social distancing and social media. Based on the results, governments should facilitate childbearing by adjusting existing policies, addressing economic insecurity and protecting the livelihoods of those affected by the crisis. Health policymakers and planners must also prioritize women's access to reproductive health services in a safe environment while promoting equity in access. It is also necessary to promote the quality and quantity of indirect care and virtual counseling based on the needs of women in crisis.

COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Anxiety Response among Physical Education Teachers during Practical In-Person Lessons: Effects of Potential Moderators

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in heightened anxiety levels among teachers, especially regarding PE teachers who are required to engage students in practical in-person or contact teaching lessons. Previous research showed that these levels of anxiety among PE teachers appeared to be explained by the interplay between COVID-19 knowledge, workplace safety perception, and educational qualification. This study assessed the relationship between COVID-19-related knowledge and anxiety response among PE teachers during such practical lessons while moderating the effects of workplace safety perception and educational qualification within the relationship. The study conveniently recruited 160 PE teachers to solicit responses through both online and printed questionnaires. Using correlation and linear regression analyses, the study revealed a significant negative relationship between COVID-19-related knowledge and anxiety response among PE teachers. The educational qualification of PE teachers did not significantly moderate the association between COVID-19-related knowledge and anxiety response. Workplace safety perception significantly moderated the association between COVID-19-related knowledge and anxiety response among PE teachers. The findings remind educational authorities about the essence of creating a positive and safe working environment conducive to academic work. Achieving this goal requires the provision of adequate COVID-19 management logistics (e.g., personal protective equipment, hand sanitizers) by educational authorities for PE teachers to maintain safety practices and optimal learning conditions.