New research indicates that even mild COVID-19 infections can have lasting effects on male fertility.
The findings, presented at the 39th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), show that more than three months after infection, men have lower sperm concentrations and fewer sperm that are able to swim.
Continuing Impact on Sperm Quality
The study led by Professor Rocio Núñez-Calonge, a scientific advisor at UR International Group at the Scientific Reproduction Unit, Madrid, Spain, tracked semen quality in recovered COVID-19 patients for an average of 100 days post-infection.
The results showed no improvement in sperm quality and concentration, suggesting potential long-term or even permanent damage.
Study Design and Findings
The research team recruited 45 men who had suffered mild COVID-19 and were attending reproductive clinics in Spain.
The team had access to pre-infection semen samples for all participants and collected another sample between 17 and 516 days after infection.
The study found statistically significant reductions in semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm count, total motility (the ability to move and swim forward), and live sperm counts.
The total sperm count and motility were the most severely affected parameters. In half of the men, the total sperm count was 57% lower post-infection compared to their pre-infection samples.
Even in samples taken more than 100 days after COVID-19, sperm concentration and motility had not improved.
Potential Mechanisms and Future Research
While it’s known that SARS-CoV-2 can affect the testicles and sperm, the exact mechanism remains unclear.
The researchers suggest that inflammation and immune system damage seen in long COVID might contribute to the observed effects.
Additionally, changes in testosterone levels, a hormone critical for male reproductive health, have previously been reported in COVID-infected male patients and could be playing a role.
The researchers plan to continue studying these men, monitoring both semen quality and hormonal status over time.
They are calling for more research into male reproductive function after COVID-19 infection to determine whether fertility effects are temporary or permanent.
It’s important to note that despite these changes, the semen quality in these patients after a COVID-19 infection is still within the World Health Organization’s criteria for ‘normal’ semen and sperm.
It remains unclear whether these reductions in semen quality translate into impaired fertility, which requires further investigation.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about new evidence on rare blood clots after COVID-19 vaccination, and how diets could help manage post-COVID syndrome.
For more information about COVID, please see recent studies that low-sodium plant-based diets may prevent COVID-19 better, and results showing zinc could help reduce COVID-19 infection risk.
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