Reversible effects of the SARS-CoV-2 on semen parameters

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Andrology

Background:

• The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic raised concerns regarding potential long-term reproductive health effects in men.
• Understanding the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male fertility is crucial for public health and reproductive counseling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on semen parameters in infertile men.
• To compare semen quality before and after infection, considering factors like vaccination status and viral strain.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study design comparing infertile men with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Analysis of semen parameters including volume and motility using Wilcoxon test and general linear regression.
• Stratification of data based on vaccination status and SARS-CoV-2 strain (alpha variant).

Main Results:

• SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a detrimental effect on semen volume (p < 0.005).
• Reduced semen volume was observed primarily in the first spermatogenic cycle post-infection and in unvaccinated patients.
• Alterations in progressive motility were detected in patients infected with the alpha SARS-CoV-2 strain (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• SARS-CoV-2 infection has a limited, temporary impact on semen volume and sperm motility in infertile men.
• Semen parameters generally recover to pre-infection levels within one spermatogenic cycle.
• Vaccination status and specific viral strains may influence the extent of these effects.