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Published on: March 11, 2018
Effects of COVID-19 Infection on Spermatogenesis, Oxidative Stress and Erectile Function
Peter Törzsök1, David Oswald1, Christopher Steiner1
1Department of Urology and Andrology, Salzburg University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
Background:
Our aim was to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 infection on male fertility and sexual function.
Methods:
Thirty-one patients were investigated over a mean follow-up of 90 days (22-527) after a COVID-19 infection. Erectile dysfunction (ED), blood tests for sexual hormones, semen analysis including analysis of oxidative stress (OS), as well as COVID-19 antibody titer and the nasal COVID-19 PCR test were evaluated pre- and post-infection.
Results:
Five patients reported a mild de novo ED (16.13%). One patient had a de novo positive mixed antiglobulin reaction test after the infection. We found no significant difference between pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 spermiogram parameters (p = 0.815). OS showed no significant association with COVID-19 infection, but with pathological spermiogram categories, sperm concentration, total sperm count, testis volume, FSH and testosterone.
Conclusion:
COVID-19 infection does not appear to affect sperm quality and OS negatively in the intermediate term. Further investigations will be needed to assess the potential long-term effects of the infection and vaccination on male sexual function and fertility.
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