Sperm cryopreservation during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Virology
• Oncology

Background:

• Sperm cryopreservation is vital for cancer patients undergoing gonadotoxic treatments.
• Concerns exist regarding SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) and potential testicular infection.
• The safety of cryopreserved sperm from SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals for fertilization and embryo development is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety of sperm cryopreservation for cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.
• To evaluate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in this patient group.
• To perform viral RNA testing on semen samples before cryopreservation.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 10 cancer patients during the Italian lockdown (March-May 2020).
• Administered questionnaires on COVID-19 exposure and conducted medical interviews.
• Collected semen samples and tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using real-time RT-PCR.

Main Results:

• All participating patients were asymptomatic and reported no known contact with COVID-19 infected individuals.
• SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in any of the analyzed semen samples.

Conclusions:

• Thorough patient evaluation and molecular testing for SARS-CoV-2 are crucial for safe sperm cryopreservation.
• This preliminary study supports the safety of cryopreservation for asymptomatic cancer patients when semen is confirmed negative for the virus.