In China, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among infertile couples is a significant clinical problem. It is necessary to determine the effect of HBV infection on embryo development.

The 4301 fresh cycles and 5763 frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles were grouped according to the couple with or without HBV infection. The embryo fertilization rate, cleavage rate, transplantable embryo rate, and rate of high-quality embryos were analysed. The methylation status of maternal antigen that embryos require (MATER), zygote arrest 1 (ZAR1) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) genes in the peripheral blood of assisted reproductive technology (ART) women was detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP).

The pregnancy rate of the female HBV-positive group was significantly lower than that of the HBV-negative group. The fertilization rate of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in the male HBV-positive group was significantly lower than that of the male HBV-negative group. There were no differences in biochemistry or clinical pregnancy rates among the FET groups. The promoter methylation of GDF9 in HBV-positive ART women was higher than that in HBV-negative ART women, and that of ZAR1 in HBV-positive ART women was lower than that in HBV-negative ART women.

It was a detrimental effect of HBV infection on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and ICSI treatment outcomes in women. The HBV infection was associated with the maternal genes promoting methylation.

This study assessed the impact of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on ovarian reserve in women.

We analyzed data from 38,861 infertile women undergoing their first in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment (2016-2022), including 1574 HBsAg-positive cases. A control group of 1574 HBsAg-negative women was matched by age and body mass index (BMI). Comparison of clinical characteristics, antral follicle count (AFC), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH)/FSH ratio, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), gonadotropins (Gn) days, total Gn dosage, number of retrieved oocytes, number of mature metaphase II (MII) oocytes, and the proportion of patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR; AMH < 1.1 ng/ml) between two groups.

HBsAg-positive women showed lower basal AFC and AMH, higher basal FSH, received more Gn, and had fewer retrieved and MII oocytes than HBsAg-negative women. No significant differences in ovarian reserve or stimulation outcomes were found between e antigen-positive and e antigen-negative HBV-infected groups. DOR was less prevalent in HBsAg-negative women, and logistic regression indicated a higher DOR risk with HBV infection.

HBsAg positivity significantly impairs ovarian reserve in women, but e antigen status does not notably affect it among HBV-infected individuals.

To investigate whether the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in oocytes and embryos affects pregnancy outcomes for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (ET) as well as is related to the vertical transmission of HBV to children.

Retrospective cohort study.

A university-affiliated fertility center.

This study included 167 couples with at least 1 hepatitis B surface antigen-seropositive partner. These couples underwent in vitro fertilization-ET, and the discarded oocytes and embryos had been tested for HBV. Couples with HBV-positive oocytes or embryos were categorized as the positive group, whereas those couples with HBV-negative oocytes and embryos served as the negative group.

None.

Pregnancy outcomes and the rate of children's HBV infection.

The pregnancy outcomes of fresh and frozen ETs were not associated with the presence of HBV in the oocytes and embryos. Of the 106 infants born, 1 child whose mother tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen but had negative oocytes and embryos was infected with HBV. Additionally, 26.09% of children who had been administered passive immunization and active vaccinations did not reach protective levels of anti-HBV antibodies (hepatitis B surface antibodies) and became nonresponders. The negative rate of children's hepatitis B surface antibody was associated with the presence of HBV in oocytes and embryos (odds ratio, 3.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-9.25).

The presence of HBV in oocytes and embryos did not affect pregnancy outcomes or result in the vertical transmission of HBV to the offspring of HBV carriers. Follow-up is needed for HBV-vaccinated children with an HBV-infected parent. Booster vaccinations are necessary for continued protection.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most widespread viruses worldwide and a major cause of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Previous studies have revealed the impacts of HBV infection on fertility. An increasing number of infertile couples with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection choose assisted reproductive technology (ART) to meet their fertility needs. Despite the high prevalence of HBV, the effects of HBV infection on assisted reproduction treatment remain limited and contradictory. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the effect of HBV infection on fertility and discuss its effects on pregnancy outcomes, vertical transmission, pregnancy complications, and viral activity during ART treatment. METHODS: We conducted a literature search in PubMed for studies on HBV infection and ART published from 1996 to 2022. RESULTS: HBV infection negatively affected fertility in both males and females. Existing research shows that HBV infection may increase the risk of pregnancy complications in couples undergoing assisted reproduction treatment. The impact of HBV infection on the pregnancy outcomes of ART is still controversial. Current evidence does not support that ART increases the risk of vertical transmission of HBV, while relevant studies are limited. With the development of ART, the risk of HBV reactivation (HBVr) is increasing, especially due to the wide application of immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Regular HBV infection screening and HBVr risk stratification and management are essential to prevent HBVr during ART. The determination of optimal strategy and timing of prophylactic anti-HBV therapy during ART still needs further investigation.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of male hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on male fertility, embryonic development, and in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcomes. We performed a retrospective cohort study that included 3965 infertile couples who received fresh embryo transfer cycles for the first time at the Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital (Fuzhou, China) from January 2018 to January 2021. Infertile couples were categorized based on their HBV infection status into the HBV group (HBV-positive men and HBV-negative women) and the control group (HBV-negative couples). A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed with relatively balanced covariates. Baseline characteristics, semen parameters, laboratory outcomes, clinical outcomes, and obstetric and neonatal outcomes were compared between groups. After propensity score matching, 821 couples were included in each group. Both groups had similar semen parameters and obstetric and neonatal outcomes. The HBV group showed a significantly lower live birth rate than the control group ( P < 0.05). The HBV group had a significantly higher abortion rate than the control group ( P < 0.05). The rates of high-quality embryos and blastocyst formation were significantly lower in the HBV group than those in the control group (both P < 0.05). In conclusion, in couples who undergo IVF/ICSI, male HBV infection reduces the live birth rate and increases the risk of miscarriage. However, the incidence of low birth weight in women with IVF/ICSI does not increase with male HBV infection.

In addition to a number of scientific and medical questions about SARS-CoV-2 infection that still need to be answered, there is also the question of how this highly virulent virus and COVID-19 disease affect gametogenesis in humans. Even more important is the question of whether the virus can also enter and infect oocytes and possibly alter them in an unknown way, which could also affect the development and status of the human embryo. The answers to these questions are still poorly known, so we reviewed the human oocyte transcriptome and proteome obtained in our previous studies and found that human oocytes from the in vitro fertilization program expressed both the ACE2 and BSG genes and the corresponding ACE2 and BSG proteins. This means that human oocytes possess the molecular 'machinery' to facilitate SARS-CoV-2 entrance and infection. According to various studies, especially in animal models, different viruses can infect oocytes, so infection of the oocyte with SARS-Cov-2 cannot be completely ruled out. A hypothetical model of human oocyte infection with this virus has been proposed.

To assess the impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in women on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes.

An observational monocentric case-control cohort study conducted between 2012 and 2019 compared the outcomes of the first cycle of IVF between 64 woman infected with HBV and 128 seronegative controls. Frozen embryos transfers made within 18 months of the puncture were included. The exclusion criteria were severe infections, viral co-infection in women, any viral infection in their spouse, or lack of fresh embryo transfer. The matching was performed according to age, primary infertility or secondary, conventional or intracytoplasmic injection IVF technique and date of attempt. The main analysis focused on cumulative live births rates (LBR).

The clinical and ovarian stimulation characteristics were comparable except for a longer period of infertility in the HBV group. The LBR in the HBV group, when compared to controls, was not different after transfer of fresh (14.06 vs. 25.00% P=0.08) or frozen embryos (4.17 vs. 18.92% P=0.08), but significantly decreased in cumulative analysis (15.63 vs. 35.94% P=0.003). HBV infection was negatively associated with LBR in multivariate analysis OR=0.38 (95% CI 0.14-0.92) P<0.05. The implantation rate was lower in the HBV group versus controls, in fresh (14.89 vs. 27.72% P=0.02) and frozen (3.03 vs. 21.65% P=0.01) embryo transfers.

This study suggests a negative impact of HBV infection in women on the cumulative LBR after IVF.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the most common form of chronic hepatitis worldwide, is a major public health problem affecting an estimated 360 million people globally. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is responsible for more than one third of chronic HBV infections worldwide. An estimated 15%-40% of persons chronically infected develop HBV-related complications, such as cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma, and 25% die from these complications. MTCT can occur during pregnancy or during delivery. Screening pregnant women for HBV infection, providing infant postexposure prophylaxis, and maternal treatment with antiviral medications are strategies for reducing MTCT transmission rates and the global burden of new chronic HBV infections. Administration of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine within 24 hours of birth, followed by completion of the vaccine series, is 85%-95% efficacious for prevention of MTCT. Despite timely post-exposure prophylaxis, MTCT occurs in 5%-15% of infants. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive, hepatitis e antigen (HBeAg) positive mothers with HBV DNA level ≥10(6) copies/mL (>200 000 IU/mL) are at greatest risk of transmitting HBV to their infants. Consensus recommendations and evidence-based guidelines for management of chronic HBV infection and screening of pregnant women have been developed. The safety and efficacy of antiviral drug use during pregnancy are areas of ongoing research. Substantial advances have been achieved globally in reducing MTCT, but MTCT remains an ongoing health problem. Attaining a better understanding of the mechanisms of MTCT, implementing existing policies on maternal screening and infant follow-up, and addressing research gaps are critical for further reductions in MTCT transmission.