COVID-19 pandemic effects on seminal fluid analysis parameters: A prospective cohort study

To investigate the effects of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus on seminal fluid analysis (SFA) parameters in patients who have had the infection.

COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and has had a significant global impact. Recent studies suggest a potential relationship between COVID-19 and male reproductive health, particularly in its effects on semen quality.

A prospective cohort study was conducted, and the trial had 50 participants outset (6 participants were lost to follow-up later, and the final analysis involved 44 participants). The study was conducted at the Baghdad Medical City Complex, and it lasted from August 2020 to August 2022. Patients who had received any COVID-19 vaccination were excluded.

In the present study, 44 male participants were included in this study, their mean age is 31.8 ± 5.1 years ranging from 22 to 42 years, their mean body mass index is 24.7 ± 3.4 kg/m², and about 77.3% were smokers. All SFA parameters were significantly reduced from baseline to 3-month visits, while from 3 to 6 months, there was a significant increase in all SFA parameters.

COVID-19 infection has a negative effect on SFA parameters during the first 3 months of post-viral infection. Parameters of SFA recovered to levels comparable to baseline SFA between 3 and 6 months after viral infection.