Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Sperm Quality
10.13471/j.cnki.j.sun.yat-sen.univ(med.sci).2025.0416
- VernacularTitle:SARS-CoV-2病毒感染对精子质量的影响
- Author:
Longmei WU
1
;
Yuqi ZHOU
;
Guanjian LI
;
Lu ZHU
;
Zongliu DUAN
;
Dongdong TANG
;
Bing SONG
;
Ying ZHU
Author Information
1. 安徽医科大学第一附属医院妇产科//安徽省公共卫生临床中心妇产科,安徽 合肥 230012
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
COVID-19;
sperm quality;
male reproductive tract;
SARS-CoV-2 RNA;
infertility
- From:
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences)
2025;46(4):693-699
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
[Objective]To investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen after COVID-19 infection in vaccinated individuals and to evaluate the impact of different recovery stages on sperm quality.[Methods]From January to March 2023,vaccinated male patients with recent SARS-CoV-2 infections confirmed by throat swabs were recruited from the Reproductive Medicine Center at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University.Semen samples were analyzed with RT-qPCR to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA.A retrospective analysis assessed sperm quality across recovery stages,comparing patients within 30 days of recovery to those with 30 days or more.Semen parameters evaluated included volume,total sperm count,forward motility percentage,abnormal morphology rate,and sperm DNA fragmentation index.In addition,a longitudinal self-comparison was performed to examine changes in semen quality before and after recovery(＜30 days and≥30 days).[Results]SARS-CoV-2 RNA was undetectable in the semen of all 205 patients.Neither cross-sectional comparisons nor longitudinal analyses showed significant differences in semen volume,sperm concentration,total sperm count,sperm morphology rate,sperm DNA fragmentation index,or high DNA stainability between recovery stages or compared to pre-infection values(P＞0.05).However,forward motility percentage markedly decreased during recovery,with statistical significant between groups(P＜0.05).[Conclusions]In vaccinated individuals who contracted COVID-19,SARS-CoV-2 was not transmitted through semen.Although the incidence of asthenozoospermia may increase within 30 days post-infection,this effect appears reversible in the short time.
