[Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on seminal quality]

The discovery of the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor and carrier protein in the testicles, along with the mandatory preventive social isolation during 2020 and subsequent immunization, prompted us to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on seminal variables in males seeking consultation at the laboratory.

An analytical and observational experimental design was employed. Seminal variables from semen analyses and kinetic values were analyzed using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system in 409 semen samples collected from patients attending the laboratory between April and December 2019, and April and December 2021. COVID-positive patients were stratified based on the time elapsed since the illness into three groups: less than 3 months (acute phase), 4-12 months, and more than 1 year.

A significant difference (p=0.013) was found in the total sperm count per ejaculate in the COVID-positive group compared to the prepandemic and COVID-negative groups (Median (Q1-Q3): 67.49 (26.42-139.44) vs. 102.48 (43.86-197.05) and 96.72 (38.22-189.27)). When stratifying the COVID-positive group based on the time since the illness, the significant decrease (p=0.038) occurred during the acute phase, with recovery over time to values similar to the prepandemic and COVID-negative groups. Social isolation and vaccination did not have significant effects on seminal variables.

The study revealed reversible changes in testicular function reflected by a decrease in sperm count in the total ejaculate of patients who had experienced COVID-19. These changes appear to be related to fever and inflammation rather than the virus infection itself.