The association between pregnancy outcomes of frozen thawed embryo transfers and previous SARS-CoV-2 infections

Abstract The present study aimed to explore whether there is an association between the transfer of frozen thawed embryos (FET) obtained during SARS-CoV-2 infection and an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. We performed a case-control cohort study. Couples undergoing FET treatment in six...

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Main Authors: Hao Zhao, Fen Tian, Shaodi Zhang, Saijiao Li, Ning Li, Jing Zhang, Zenghui Mao, Qianjie Zhang, Rong Li, Ying Liang, Cuilian Zhang, Yanping Li, Jing Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11446-4
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Summary:Abstract The present study aimed to explore whether there is an association between the transfer of frozen thawed embryos (FET) obtained during SARS-CoV-2 infection and an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. We performed a case-control cohort study. Couples undergoing FET treatment in six reproductive centers in four provinces from February 2022 to December 2022 were enrolled. A total of 440 couples who underwent FET treatment participated in this study, with 110 and 330 couples in the SARS-CoV-2 -positive and SARS-CoV-2-negative cohorts, respectively. The baseline characteristics of the cohorts were comparable. The SARS-CoV-2-positive cohort had statistically significantly lower ongoing pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, and live birth rate than that of the SARS-CoV-2 -negative cohort. Analysis of the effects of previous infection by sex showed that the co-infected sub-cohort showed significantly decreased live birth rate, and implantation rate compared with the SARS-CoV-2 -negative cohort. FET with embryos obtained during SARS-CoV-2 infection was negatively associated with pregnant outcomes. Greater efforts are needed to improve clinical interventions and public health policies, based on the negative impact of COVID-19 on human reproductive health.
ISSN:2045-2322