The Effect of the SARS-CoV-19 (COVID-19) Virus on Sperm Parameters of Patients with Male İnfertility

Erkek İnfertilitesi Olan Hastalarda SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Virüsünün Sperm Parametreleri Üzerine Etkisi

Abstract

Background: Altough Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease mainly affects the pulmonary system, studies on male reproductive health are limited. We aimed to investigate effect of spermiogram parameters of COVID-19 disease in patients who applied our clinic with male infertility.

Material and Methods: We retropspectively analysed 39 outpatients with male infertility diagnosed with COVID-19 disease between 1st March 2020 and 31st March 2022 in our andrology policlinic. The demographic data of the patients and the spermiogram analyzes before and after the COVID-19 disease, which were evaluated in the andrology laboratory of our clinic, were recorded and compared statistically.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 33.44±7.52 years and body mass index (BMI) was 27.05±3.38 kg/m². The mean time between PCR test and second semen analysis was 3.95±3.59 months.  While we observed a statistically significant reduction in semen volume and significant deterioration in sperm morphology, we could not detect alteration on sperm motility.

Conclusion: We observed adversly effects of SARS-CoV-2 virus on spermiogram parameters in patients wtih male infertility. Deterioration of spermiogram after COVID-19 disease may results with male infertility.

Keywords: Semen, COVID-19, Male infertiliy, SARS-CoV-2, Spermatogenesis