COVID-19 and male reproductive function: a prospective, longitudinal cohort study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Virology
• Immunology

Background:

• The human reproductive system's vulnerability to COVID-19 is suspected, but virus-host interactions in sperm remain unclear.
• Understanding COVID-19's impact on male reproductive health is crucial for post-infection management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in seminal biomarkers and reproductive function in men recovering from COVID-19.
• To establish a connection between COVID-19 infection and male reproductive health impairments.

Main Methods:

• A prospective longitudinal cohort study involving 84 male COVID-19 patients and 105 healthy controls.
• Evaluation of seminal ACE2 activity, inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis markers, and semen quality at 10-day intervals for up to 60 days.

Main Results:

• COVID-19 patients exhibited elevated seminal ACE2 activity, inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TGF-β, TNF-α, IFN-α, IFN-γ), oxidative stress (ROS), and apoptosis markers (caspase-3, -8, -9).
• Reduced seminal SOD activity and significant impairments in semen volume, progressive motility, sperm morphology, concentration, and count were observed in the COVID-19 group.
• These alterations persisted over the follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 infection directly targets and damages the male reproductive system.
• Findings suggest a potential for transient male subfertility (oligoasthenoteratozoospermia) in recovering patients.
• Close monitoring of reproductive function in post-COVID-19 male patients is recommended to prevent future reproductive issues.