COVID-19 - compliant - IVF: reorganized clinical practice taking into account the pandemic. 2022

Ermanno Greco, and Valeria Donno, and Pierfrancesco Greco, and Cristina Arrivi, and Katerina Litwicka, and Maria Teresa Varricchio
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Villa Mafalda, Rome, Italy.

The need for protective measures during the COVID-19 pandemic forced assisted reproduction centers to adopt new protocols in order to reduce the risk of infection for patients and staff. A COVID-19 Compliant IVF (in vitro fertilization) program based on the use of follitropin delta to induce ovarian stimulation and fixed protocol with GnRH (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone) antagonists was applied to demonstrate the efficacy of this program in reducing the necessity of patients to be present within the clinic while maintaining the expected success rate. The program was applied to 100 patients (women aged between 20 and 40 years, at their first IVF cycle): pretreatment assessment was carried out via video conference and clinical documentations were sent by email. Ovarian stimulation was based on doses of Follitropin delta selected on the basis of body weight and serum AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone). The study population was then compared with historical controls to assess the percentage of patients receiving fresh embryo transfer. Finally, a questionnaire was proposed to assess patient satisfaction. The ovarian stimulation protocol with a fixed dose of follitropin delta led to an optimal ovarian response (8-14 oocytes) in 54% of the women included in the study. The rate of hyper response was 15% and was significantly lower that what reported in the control group (26.8%, p < .05). The good control of ovarian response to stimulation is the reason for the large percentage of cycles associated with fresh embryo transfer (84%, n 84/100). The rate of fresh embryo transfer was significantly higher that what reported for the control population (68.5%, p < .05). In 40 out of 84 patients, blastocysts were available for the fresh embryo transfer procedure. Eighty-five percent (89/100) of survey responders reported being extremely satisfied with the simplified approach to the IVF cycle because of reduced number of visits, easy management of working hours and reduction in travel costs. The use of follitropin delta and fixed protocol with GnRH antagonist in COVID-19 - Compliant IVF program is associated to a low percentage of patients developing excessive ovarian response compared to conventional strategy and a very good level of patient satisfaction. Beyond the pandemic, the new approach to ovarian stimulation, modern technologies and telemedicine could play a key role in bridging the gap between different geographic areas and could offer advantages such as increased accessibility, cost saving and patient satisfaction.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007987 Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone A decapeptide that stimulates the synthesis and secretion of both pituitary gonadotropins, LUTEINIZING HORMONE and FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE. GnRH is produced by neurons in the septum PREOPTIC AREA of the HYPOTHALAMUS and released into the pituitary portal blood, leading to stimulation of GONADOTROPHS in the ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND. FSH-Releasing Hormone,GnRH,Gonadoliberin,Gonadorelin,LH-FSH Releasing Hormone,LHRH,Luliberin,Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone,Cystorelin,Dirigestran,Factrel,Gn-RH,Gonadorelin Acetate,Gonadorelin Hydrochloride,Kryptocur,LFRH,LH-RH,LH-Releasing Hormone,LHFSH Releasing Hormone,LHFSHRH,FSH Releasing Hormone,Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone,LH FSH Releasing Hormone,LH Releasing Hormone,Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone,Releasing Hormone, LHFSH
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260 Female Females
D005307 Fertilization in Vitro An assisted reproductive technique that includes the direct handling and manipulation of oocytes and sperm to achieve fertilization in vitro. Test-Tube Fertilization,Fertilizations in Vitro,In Vitro Fertilization,Test-Tube Babies,Babies, Test-Tube,Baby, Test-Tube,Fertilization, Test-Tube,Fertilizations, Test-Tube,In Vitro Fertilizations,Test Tube Babies,Test Tube Fertilization,Test-Tube Baby,Test-Tube Fertilizations
D006727 Hormone Antagonists Chemical substances which inhibit the function of the endocrine glands, the biosynthesis of their secreted hormones, or the action of hormones upon their specific sites. Antagonists, Hormone
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000086382 COVID-19 A viral disorder generally characterized by high FEVER; COUGH; DYSPNEA; CHILLS; PERSISTENT TREMOR; MUSCLE PAIN; HEADACHE; SORE THROAT; a new loss of taste and/or smell (see AGEUSIA and ANOSMIA) and other symptoms of a VIRAL PNEUMONIA. In severe cases, a myriad of coagulopathy associated symptoms often correlating with COVID-19 severity is seen (e.g., BLOOD COAGULATION; THROMBOSIS; ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME; SEIZURES; HEART ATTACK; STROKE; multiple CEREBRAL INFARCTIONS; KIDNEY FAILURE; catastrophic ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODY SYNDROME and/or DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION). In younger patients, rare inflammatory syndromes are sometimes associated with COVID-19 (e.g., atypical KAWASAKI SYNDROME; TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME; pediatric multisystem inflammatory disease; and CYTOKINE STORM SYNDROME). A coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, in the genus BETACORONAVIRUS is the causative agent. 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease,2019 Novel Coronavirus Infection,2019-nCoV Disease,2019-nCoV Infection,COVID-19 Pandemic,COVID-19 Pandemics,COVID-19 Virus Disease,COVID-19 Virus Infection,Coronavirus Disease 2019,Coronavirus Disease-19,SARS Coronavirus 2 Infection,SARS-CoV-2 Infection,Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection,COVID19,2019 nCoV Disease,2019 nCoV Infection,2019-nCoV Diseases,2019-nCoV Infections,COVID 19,COVID 19 Pandemic,COVID 19 Virus Disease,COVID 19 Virus Infection,COVID-19 Virus Diseases,COVID-19 Virus Infections,Coronavirus Disease 19,Disease 2019, Coronavirus,Disease, 2019-nCoV,Disease, COVID-19 Virus,Infection, 2019-nCoV,Infection, COVID-19 Virus,Infection, SARS-CoV-2,Pandemic, COVID-19,SARS CoV 2 Infection,SARS-CoV-2 Infections,Virus Disease, COVID-19,Virus Infection, COVID-19
D054304 Anti-Mullerian Hormone A glycoprotein that causes regression of MULLERIAN DUCTS. It is produced by SERTOLI CELLS of the TESTES. In the absence of this hormone, the Mullerian ducts develop into structures of the female reproductive tract. In males, defects of this hormone result in persistent Mullerian duct, a form of MALE PSEUDOHERMAPHRODITISM. Mullerian-Inhibiting Hormone,Anti-Muellerian Hormone,Anti-Mullerian Factor,Antimullerian Hormone,Mullerian Inhibiting Hormone,Mullerian Inhibiting Substance,Mullerian Regression Factor,Mullerian-Inhibiting Factor,Mullerian-Inhibitory Substance,Anti Muellerian Hormone,Anti Mullerian Factor,Anti Mullerian Hormone,Hormone, Anti-Muellerian,Mullerian Inhibiting Factor,Mullerian Inhibitory Substance
D058873 Pandemics Epidemics of infectious disease that have spread to many countries, often more than one continent, and usually affecting a large number of people. Pandemic
D018873 Pregnancy Rate The ratio of the number of conceptions (CONCEPTION) including LIVE BIRTH; STILLBIRTH; and fetal losses, to the mean number of females of reproductive age in a population during a set time period. Live-Birth Pregnancy Rate,Pregnancy Rate, Live-Birth,Pregnancy Rates,Rate, Pregnancy,Rates, Pregnancy,Live Birth Pregnancy Rate,Live-Birth Pregnancy Rates,Pregnancy Rate, Live Birth,Pregnancy Rates, Live-Birth,Rate, Live-Birth Pregnancy,Rates, Live-Birth Pregnancy

Related Publications

Ermanno Greco, and Valeria Donno, and Pierfrancesco Greco, and Cristina Arrivi, and Katerina Litwicka, and Maria Teresa Varricchio
January 2022, Medecine sciences : M/S,
Ermanno Greco, and Valeria Donno, and Pierfrancesco Greco, and Cristina Arrivi, and Katerina Litwicka, and Maria Teresa Varricchio
January 2015, Soins. Gerontologie,
Ermanno Greco, and Valeria Donno, and Pierfrancesco Greco, and Cristina Arrivi, and Katerina Litwicka, and Maria Teresa Varricchio
January 2017, Prescrire international,
Ermanno Greco, and Valeria Donno, and Pierfrancesco Greco, and Cristina Arrivi, and Katerina Litwicka, and Maria Teresa Varricchio
January 2024, Patient preference and adherence,
Ermanno Greco, and Valeria Donno, and Pierfrancesco Greco, and Cristina Arrivi, and Katerina Litwicka, and Maria Teresa Varricchio
July 2020, Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics,
Ermanno Greco, and Valeria Donno, and Pierfrancesco Greco, and Cristina Arrivi, and Katerina Litwicka, and Maria Teresa Varricchio
March 2024, Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland),
Ermanno Greco, and Valeria Donno, and Pierfrancesco Greco, and Cristina Arrivi, and Katerina Litwicka, and Maria Teresa Varricchio
September 2022, Health communication,
Ermanno Greco, and Valeria Donno, and Pierfrancesco Greco, and Cristina Arrivi, and Katerina Litwicka, and Maria Teresa Varricchio
October 1987, The Health service journal,
Ermanno Greco, and Valeria Donno, and Pierfrancesco Greco, and Cristina Arrivi, and Katerina Litwicka, and Maria Teresa Varricchio
October 2020, Trends in anaesthesia & critical care,
Ermanno Greco, and Valeria Donno, and Pierfrancesco Greco, and Cristina Arrivi, and Katerina Litwicka, and Maria Teresa Varricchio
July 1995, Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien,
Copied contents to your clipboard!