Transient Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Post-COVID-19 Infection

Colleen N Gorman; Tori E Abdalla; Yasmina Sultan; Spencer A Grabois; Ellen G Wood

doi:10.7759/cureus.37379

Transient Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Post-COVID-19 Infection

Cureus. 2023 Apr 10;15(4):e37379. doi: 10.7759/cureus.37379. eCollection 2023 Apr.

Authors

Colleen N Gorman¹, Tori E Abdalla², Yasmina Sultan³, Spencer A Grabois⁴, Ellen G Wood⁵

Affiliations

¹ Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Davie, USA.
² Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
³ Biomedical Sciences Program, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
⁴ Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami, USA.
⁵ Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, IVFMD South Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Cooper City, USA.

Abstract

Anti-ovarian antibodies (AOAs) have been linked to autoimmune premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). This report details a case in which a patient experienced transient POI after a COVID-19 infection and tested positive for AOA. After treatment with oral contraceptives and subsequent high-dose oral corticosteroids, the patient underwent fertility treatment with in vitro fertilization (IVF). A total of 23 oocytes were retrieved. Two euploid blastocysts and three untested blastocysts were successfully created. This report hypothesizes the connection between autoimmune POI, AOA, and COVID-19. Conflicting data have been reported linking COVID-19 and ovarian injury. However, it is suggested that COVID-19 transiently impacts the menstrual cycle and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels. Treatment to overcome poor ovarian response due to AOA has not been adequately determined; however, similar autoimmune conditions have been successfully treated with corticosteroids.

Keywords: anti-ovarian antibody; corticosteroid; covid-19; in vitro fertilization (ivf); oophoritis.

Publication types

Case Reports