Investigation of the effect of COVID-19 on sperm count, motility, and morphology.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is a single‐stranded RNA virus that causes many diseases such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases. Although it has been shown that the angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 receptor, which has a high affinity for the SARS‐CoV‐2 is mostly expressed in the lungs, it is also expressed especially in the cells of the testicular tissue. Although there are studies showing the effect of SARS‐CoV‐2 on spermatogenesis, the effects of COVID‐19 on sperm count, motility, and morphology are still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate changes in sperm quality in men who had recovered and never had COVID‐19, therefore semen samples were analyzed from all individuals in the patient and control groups aged 20–50 years who agreed to participate in the study and voluntary in SBU Ministry of Health Adana City Training and Research Hospital. (Toros University Ethics Committee Decision Number: 1433, Date: April 15, 2021) (Adana Provincial Health Directorate Ethics Commission Decision dated May 27, 2021/5). Two groups were selected (100 men had and recovered from COVID‐19, and 100 men never had COVID‐19) spermiograms from both groups were analyzed in accordance with the World Health Organization standards. The sperm concentration of the COVID‐19 negative group was significantly higher than those in the COVID‐19 positive group. No statistically significant difference was detected between the groups for sperm motility and morphology. It was observed that men with COVID‐19 had decreased sperm concentrations suggesting that COVID‐19 may have a negative effect on male fertility. However, in the long term, more comprehensive studies with a large sample size are needed to understand better the changes in sperm concentration.