It is assumed that SARS-CoV-2- and COVID-19-associated autoimmune processes may affect the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles. This observational prospective study included 240 infertile patients: 105 patients had no history of COVID-19 (group 1) and 135 patients had experienced COVID-19 (group 2) in a mild (n = 85) or moderate (n = 50) form less than 12 months prior to oocyte retrieval. Using ELISAs, the profiles of their serum autoantibodies were determined, including antiphospholipid antibodies and antibodies to nuclear and thyroid antigens. The parameters of oogenesis and embryogenesis, as well as the pregnancy and childbirth rates, did not differ between groups 1 and 2, and also between the subgroups with different severities of COVID-19. However, when oocyte retrieval was performed less than 180 days after COVID-19, a higher proportion of poor-quality blastocysts was obtained (p = 0.006). A high risk of early miscarriage was found in the patients with moderate COVID-19. In group 2, IgG antibodies to annexin V, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and TSHr were detected more often than in group 1 (p = 0.035; p = 0.028; and p = 0.033, respectively), and a weak inverse correlation was revealed between anti-PE IgG and the number of oocytes and zygotes obtained. The results of the study suggest a possible adverse effect of COVID-19 and its associated autoantibodies on the outcomes of fresh oocyte ART cycles and early pregnancy, which depends on the severity of COVID-19 and the time interval after the disease.

Active study of viruses, their transmission mechanisms, and interactions with the human body has been going on for over a century. Special attention is paid to the study of the probability of viral infection transmission from parents to offspring. In this article, we focused on the aspect of infectious safety of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), presented world literature data on the detection of hepatitis B and C viruses and human immunodeficiency virus in germ cells, seminal fluid, follicular fluid, embryos of couples in which one or both partners are infected with one of the above-mentioned infections. By now, sufficient information has been accumulated demonstrating the possibility of virus transmission through these routes, but there is still a need to continue research in this area. Important aspects include the epidemiological safety of patients and medical personnel of ART laboratories when handling the biomaterial of infected patients, the development and careful adherence to infection screening protocols, as well as quarantine of donor gametes/embryos.

Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is a condition that occurs as a result of a malfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in women of reproductive age due to effects of environmental factors, many of which are widely known. However, the factors that determine the individual predisposition to this condition, as well as the duration and severity of its course, remain unexplored. Epigenetic modifications that alter gene activity without altering DNA structure are among the most promising markers of many diseases, including those involving the hypothalamus-pituitary system. The pathogenetic role of one of the key epigenetic regulators in the genesis of these diseases – non-coding RNAs – is actively being studied. Also, the potential of using non-coding RNAs as therapeutic agents in some conditions is being investigated. The purpose of the review was to systematize the literature data on the potential role of microRNAs as one of the most actively studied epigenetic regulators in the pathogenesis of FHA. The main types of epigenetic modifications and current data on their role in the development of diseases involving the hypothalamus-pituitary system, as well as conditions associated with FHA, are described. The study of epigenetic regulators whose activity is altered by external factors in FHA development is highly promising. Moreover, further studies are needed to evaluate the potential of epigenetic regulators as therapeutic agents in patients with FHA to improve treatment effectiveness and minimize the adverse consequences of the disease on reproductive and somatic health.