News | Coronavirus and Male Fertility: Study Finds COVID-19 Reduces Sperm Quality
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had a profound impact on the respiratory system and may also pose a serious hidden threat to male reproductive health. A recent study published in Scientific Reports revealed how COVID-19 infection may harm sperm health in men, with effects that may persist for months and continue to affect sperm quality after recovery.
How Does COVID-19 Affect Sperm Quality?
Research indicates that COVID-19 affects more than the respiratory system. SARS-CoV-2 can also infect multiple organs, including the reproductive tract. The male genitourinary tract may be particularly susceptible because angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), two proteins essential for viral entry into cells, are widely expressed in this area.
Despite these associations, research on how COVID-19 affects male fertility, especially sperm quality, remains limited. Further study of how SARS-CoV-2 infection affects male reproductive health and sperm health is therefore particularly important.
Study Overview
The study was conducted by the Shenyang Reproductive Medicine Center in China and included men who had previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and uninfected controls. Researchers collected semen samples from all participants and measured sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology, sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), and chromatin immaturity.
In the cross-sectional study, approximately 83% of the 604 participants (501 men) had previously had COVID-19, and 140 provided semen samples from before and after infection. Semen samples from 149 uninfected men served as controls.
Study Results
The study found that patients who had COVID-19 generally had poorer sperm quality than controls, with significantly lower sperm counts, grade A sperm counts (rapidly progressive sperm), sperm motility, and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) measurements. Post-infection semen samples also showed lower sperm parameters but higher DNA fragmentation index (DFI) values.
Comparison of Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Findings
The longitudinal study showed that sperm quality after COVID-19 infection was significantly lower than in samples collected before infection. In particular, the earlier control semen samples had poorer sperm quality, highlighting the potential improvement associated with fertility treatment.
Specifically, 75% of patients with COVID-19 had a 21% increase in sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) after infection. Only 10% of controls showed poorer sperm quality in later samples.
Nearly 58% of infected patients had lower sperm counts in their second sample. The count fell by about 12%, equivalent to approximately 20.5 million fewer sperm.
In addition, approximately 70% of infected patients had a 17% decrease in total sperm motility, and 71% of samples showed a 37% decrease in grade A sperm motility.
Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Assisted Reproductive Technology
Sperm DNA fragmentation may adversely affect the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART), because sperm with a high DFI are more likely to produce poor-quality embryos, increasing miscarriage rates and reducing live birth rates. The high DFI values observed in this study therefore suggest that COVID-19 infection may have long-lasting and substantial effects on male fertility.
Study Conclusions
Overall, the study found a significant decline in sperm quality after COVID-19 infection. Compared with both controls and pre-infection samples, sperm counts and motility declined, while the sperm DNA fragmentation index increased significantly.
These findings indicate that COVID-19 is associated with poorer sperm quality, including lower sperm counts, reduced motility, and increased sperm DNA fragmentation. Although COVID-19 is no longer considered a public health emergency, SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread and evolve worldwide, increasing its pathogenicity and adaptability. The findings suggest that clinicians should include COVID-19 screening or diagnosis when evaluating and treating male infertility.
News | Coronavirus and Male Fertility: Study Finds COVID-19 Reduces Sperm Quality
News | Coronavirus and Male Fertility: Study Finds COVID-19 Reduces Sperm Quality
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had a profound impact on the respiratory system and may also pose a serious hidden threat to male reproductive health. A recent study published in Scientific Reports revealed how COVID-19 infection may harm sperm health in men, with effects that may persist for months and continue to affect sperm quality after recovery.
How Does COVID-19 Affect Sperm Quality?
Research indicates that COVID-19 affects more than the respiratory system. SARS-CoV-2 can also infect multiple organs, including the reproductive tract. The male genitourinary tract may be particularly susceptible because angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), two proteins essential for viral entry into cells, are widely expressed in this area.
Despite these associations, research on how COVID-19 affects male fertility, especially sperm quality, remains limited. Further study of how SARS-CoV-2 infection affects male reproductive health and sperm health is therefore particularly important.
Study Overview
The study was conducted by the Shenyang Reproductive Medicine Center in China and included men who had previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and uninfected controls. Researchers collected semen samples from all participants and measured sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology, sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), and chromatin immaturity.
In the cross-sectional study, approximately 83% of the 604 participants (501 men) had previously had COVID-19, and 140 provided semen samples from before and after infection. Semen samples from 149 uninfected men served as controls.
Study Results
The study found that patients who had COVID-19 generally had poorer sperm quality than controls, with significantly lower sperm counts, grade A sperm counts (rapidly progressive sperm), sperm motility, and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) measurements. Post-infection semen samples also showed lower sperm parameters but higher DNA fragmentation index (DFI) values.
Comparison of Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Findings
The longitudinal study showed that sperm quality after COVID-19 infection was significantly lower than in samples collected before infection. In particular, the earlier control semen samples had poorer sperm quality, highlighting the potential improvement associated with fertility treatment.
Specifically, 75% of patients with COVID-19 had a 21% increase in sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) after infection. Only 10% of controls showed poorer sperm quality in later samples.
Nearly 58% of infected patients had lower sperm counts in their second sample. The count fell by about 12%, equivalent to approximately 20.5 million fewer sperm.
In addition, approximately 70% of infected patients had a 17% decrease in total sperm motility, and 71% of samples showed a 37% decrease in grade A sperm motility.
Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Assisted Reproductive Technology
Sperm DNA fragmentation may adversely affect the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART), because sperm with a high DFI are more likely to produce poor-quality embryos, increasing miscarriage rates and reducing live birth rates. The high DFI values observed in this study therefore suggest that COVID-19 infection may have long-lasting and substantial effects on male fertility.
Study Conclusions
Overall, the study found a significant decline in sperm quality after COVID-19 infection. Compared with both controls and pre-infection samples, sperm counts and motility declined, while the sperm DNA fragmentation index increased significantly.
These findings indicate that COVID-19 is associated with poorer sperm quality, including lower sperm counts, reduced motility, and increased sperm DNA fragmentation. Although COVID-19 is no longer considered a public health emergency, SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread and evolve worldwide, increasing its pathogenicity and adaptability. The findings suggest that clinicians should include COVID-19 screening or diagnosis when evaluating and treating male infertility.
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