Semen quality changes during infection and recovery phases of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in reproductive-aged patients: a prospective case seriesBackground Despite the documented effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on spermatogenesis, the re

Faculty of Medicine

Assiut University

Semen quality changes during infection and recovery phases of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in reproductive-aged patients: a prospective case seriesBackground Despite the documented effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on spermatogenesis, the re

Research Authors
Nasreldin Mohammed, Mostafa Kamel, Rabea Ahmed Gadelkareem, Mohammed Ali Zarzour, Adel Kurkar, Ahmed Mohammed Abdel-Moniem, Hosny Behnsawy
Research Date
Research Department
Department of Urology
Research File
semen.pdf
Research Journal
Basic and Clinical Andrology
Research Member
Mostafa Kamel Abdel Rahman
Mohamed Ali Hussein Ali Zarzor
Adel Kerkar Abdullah Abdel-mottaleb
Ahmed Mohamed Abdel-Moniem Hassanein
Rabea Ahmed Gadelkareem Salman
Nasreldin Abdelaal Mohammed Ramadan
Hosny Mahmoud Ahmed Behnsawy
Research Publisher
BioMed Central
Research Vol
33
Research Website
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12610-022-00175-7
Research Year
2023
Research_Pages
2
Research Abstract

Background

Despite the documented effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on spermatogenesis, the reversibility of these effects is uncertain. We aimed to assess the changes of sperm quality between the infection and recovery phases of COVID-19 in reproductive-aged men. The semen quality of men with mild-to-moderated COVID-19 (defined by the degrees of symptoms and chest involvement on computed tomography) was studied during October, 2020–May, 2021 at our hospital. Two semen samples were analyzed at timings estimated to represent spermatogenic cycles during the infection and recovery phases of COVID-19.

Results

A total of 100 patients were included with mean ± SD (range) age of 24.6 ± 3.3 (21–35) years. During infection, 33% of patients had abnormal semen quality. However, a significant reduction was found in this abnormality from 33 to 11% (P < 0.001) after recovery from infection. In a comparison of the two semen analyses, there were significant improvements in the mean values of sperm progressive motility (P =0.043) and normal morphology (P < 0.001). However, the mean sperm concentration showed a statistically insignificant increase (P = 0.844).

Conclusions

In reproductive-aged patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, the effects on seminal quality were recoverable, represented by significant improvements in the means of progressive sperm motility and normal morphology between the infection and recovery phases of COVID-19.