en Clinical Medicine Clinical Medicine مقاله پژوهشی Original Research Article <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><b><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Background & Objective:</span></span><b> </b></b><span style="color:black">Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on endometrial features in infertile patients through outpatient hysteroscopy provides a deeper understanding of the potential effects of COVID-19 on endometrial structure and function in the context of infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on endometrial features in infertile women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy in Southwestern Iran.</span><br> <b><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">&nbsp;Materials & Methods:</span></span></span></b> <span style="color:black"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Ahvaz, Southwest Iran, comparing 250 infertile women who underwent hysteroscopy before the pandemic (February 2018&ndash;February 2020) with 250 women after the pandemic onset (March 2020&ndash;February 2022). Endometrial morphological characteristics, including vascularity, uniformity, and presence of lesions, were assessed. The two groups were compared using independent-samples t-tests and chi-square tests.</span></span><br> <b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Results: </span></span></span>&nbsp;</b><span style="color:black"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">The study revealed significant increases in endometrial abnormalities following the COVID-19 pandemic. Hemorrhagic lesions rose from 0.40% to 10.40% (p < 0.001), punctate spots increased from 0.40% to 18.00% (p < 0.001), and diffuse endometrial patches appeared in 19.20% of post-pandemic patients but were absent pre-pandemic (p < 0.001). Among post-pandemic patients, endometrial abnormalities were most prevalent in those with less than six months between COVID-19 infection and hysteroscopy, although associations were not statistically significant.</span></span><br> <b><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Conclusion: </span></span>&nbsp;</b><span style="color:black">The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to notable changes in endometrial morphology among infertile women, potentially due to systemic effects of SARS-CoV-2 or indirect consequences of healthcare disruptions during the pandemic. Further longitudinal and multicenter studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and long-term reproductive health implications of these changes.</span></span></span></p> COVID-19, Endometrium, Infertility, Hysteroscopy, Reproductive Health 51 58 http://journal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-7266-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Farideh Moramezi moramezi-f@ajums.ac.ir 5200319475328460088283 5200319475328460088283 No Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Roshan Nikbakht nikbakht-r@ajums.ac.ir 5200319475328460088284 5200319475328460088284 No Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Zahra Kazemi kazemi-z@ajums.ac.ir 5200319475328460088285 0009-0009-1757-6528 No Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Zahra Bagheri zahrabagheri3278@gmail.com 5200319475328460088286 5200319475328460088286 Yes Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran