Comparison of Semen Parameters in the Same Patients Before and After
Diagnosis of COVID-19
Abstract
Clinical and histopathological evidence suggest that the male
reproductive system may be negatively impacted in patients with
coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The objective of this study is to
investigate the effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
2 (SARS-CoV-2) on semen parameters by comparing semen analyses before
and after COVID-19 diagnosis in the same patient. We retrospectively
analyzed 342 semen analyses by reviewing medical records. The study
included two groups of patients: (i) those who underwent two consecutive
semen analyses within 6 months, one before (n=114) and one after (n=114)
COVID-19 diagnosis, and (ii) a control group (n=114) that was
age-matched and did not receive a diagnosis of COVID-19. The study
results indicated a significant decrease in semen volume, total sperm
count per ejaculate, progressive motile sperm count, total motile sperm
count, and normal sperm morphology after SARS-CoV-2 infection in
comparison to their respective values before the infection. Subgroup
analyses showed that the duration of COVID-19 diagnosis (short-term vs
long-term) did not impact the changes in semen parameters. However,
fever during the COVID-19 process had a negative effect on semen
parameters, particularly sperm concentration, unlike in patients without
fever. In conclusion, our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection is
associated with a decline in semen quality, which may potentially impact
male fertility. Furthermore, it’s important to note that the negative
effects on semen parameters may persist in the long-term. Our results
also indicate that fever during active infection could be a significant
risk factor that negatively affects spermatogenesis.