clinical guidelines on the use of assisted reproductive technology during covid-19 pandemic: a minireview of the current literature

Background: the coronavirus disease-2019 (covid-19), caused by a the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2), is now spread worldwide. therefore, informative and reliable data related to the exact effects of covid-19 on fertility and pregnancy is still of great interest until the pandemic is declared over. general guidelines regarding the protection and management of covid-19 have been published and new information will continue to be updated daily. methods: in this review, we summarized clinical health guidelines for reproductive and infertility centers to improve quality management in assisted reproductive technology and minimize the potentially harmful consequences of covid-19 on pregnancy and fertility. results: as specified in the literature, protocols consist of five categories, including protocols for couples, protocols for women, protocols for men, labor and delivery, and postpartum and breastfeeding. conclusion: general protocols for patients and staff may vary depending on specific conditions. however, this review provides some rules to ensure their safety against the disease during the pandemic.