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.