The effects of COVID-19 on semen parameter values in healthy males: a single-centre, retrospective study

Abstract

Background. To investigate the effects of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on spermatogenesis and the potential impact on patients with normal semen quality before a COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods. This retrospective study included 22 male patients (aged 18-48 years) diagnosed with mild COVID-19 via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR using combined oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs between April 2020 and June 2021. All participants had prior normal semen parameters (World Health Organization (WHO) standards) confirmed at our male infertility outpatient clinic before COVID-19 infection. Post-COVID-19 semen analyses were performed three months after diagnosis to evaluate subacute effects. Exclusion criteria included hospitalization for COVID-19, pre-existing abnormal semen parameters, or history of testicular surgery. Results. The mean age of the patients was 31.8 +/- 5.9 years. An abnormality was detected in at least one parameter value in the post-COVID-19 semen analysis in nine patients (40.9%) whose semen quality was normal before COVID-19. When post-COVID-19 semen samples of the patients were divided into normal and abnormal groups, total sperm motility, progressive motility, and normal morphology were found to be significantly decreased, immotility significantly was increased, and semen pH tended to be more alkaline in the abnormal group. Conclusion. Even though the effects of COVID-19 on spermatogenesis are not fully understood, COVID-19 infection may have negative effects on semen quality and impair fertilization.