Does COVID-19 Worsen the Semen Parameters? Early Results of a Tertiary Healthcare Center

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic which may affect multiple organs and systems including testes and disrupt the gonadal functions. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on the semen parameters and sex-related hormone levels in infertile men. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The study included 21 patients who were evaluated in Ankara City Hospital, Andrology Clinic, for male infertility and have had the diagnosis of COVID-19. All the patients were evaluated in terms of semen parameters. The follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone (T) levels were also evaluated in 8 of the patients. The results were presented through 2 dependent group analyses, based on the data of the patients collected before and after the diagnosis of COVID-19. <b><i>Results:</i></b> None of the patients needed to be hospitalized at any time through the course of COVID-19. There was a significant decrease in semen volume, percentage of total motility, percentage of progressive motility, and normal sperm morphology after COVID-19 (3 [1–8] vs. 2.5 [1.5–5], <i>p</i> = 0.005; 48.6 ± 22.1 vs. 34.7 ± 20.7, <i>p</i> = 0.001; 35.1 ± 21.7 vs. 21.8 ± 15.9, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001; 6 [3–24] vs. 5 [3–18], <i>p</i> = 0.015; respectively). There was also a significant decline in T level of the patients after the diagnosis of COVID-19 (350.1 ± 115.5 vs. 289.8 ± 103.3, <i>p</i> = 0.009). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> COVID-19 may have unfavorable effects on the gonadal functions and may lead to further deterioration of the semen parameters in infertile men, which should be considered through the evaluation for infertility.