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Semen parameters in men recovered from COVID-19
Tong-Hang Guo1, Mei-Ying Sang1, Shun Bai1
1The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
Asian Journal of Andrology
|May 12, 2021
Summary
COVID-19 infection negatively impacts male fertility, reducing sperm count and motility. However, these effects appear to be reversible, with sperm parameters improving after recovery.
Area of Science:
- Andrology
- Reproductive Health
- Virology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic poses a global health threat, with a higher observed risk in men.
- Limited research exists on the specific andrological consequences of COVID-19 infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on sperm parameters and serum sex hormones in recovered male patients.
- To assess the potential reversibility of these effects over time.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of semen parameters (sperm count, concentration, motility, vitality, morphology) and serum sex hormones in 41 recovered male COVID-19 patients.
- Comparison with a control group and longitudinal analysis of 22 patients with a second sampling after approximately 29 days.
Main Results:
- Recovered COVID-19 patients showed significantly lower total sperm count, sperm concentration, and motility compared to controls.
- Sperm vitality and morphology were unaffected at the initial sampling.
- Longitudinal analysis revealed significant improvements in sperm count, concentration, and motility, with a reduction in abnormal sperm morphology.
- Hormonal analysis showed transient alterations in prolactin and progesterone but no significant long-term sex hormone changes.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 infection has an adverse, yet potentially reversible, effect on male sperm quality.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the long-term implications and mechanisms of COVID-19 on male reproductive health.
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