ArticleFertility and sterility2020
Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in human semen-a cohort study.
Article in Fertility and sterility, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04643522 (Does COVID-19 Worsen the Semen Parameters? Early Results of a Tertiary Health Center), which is not on this map. Cited by 230 papers, 12 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Does COVID-19 Worsen the Semen Parameters? Early Results of a Tertiary Health Center
Who cites it
230 citing papers in PubMed, 12 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effect of SARS-CoV-2 on semen parameters: A meta-analysis of 39 articles from 15 countries.Journal of global health · 2024Pooled it
- The impact of COVID-19 on male reproductive health: a Systematic Review.JBRA assisted reproduction · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- SARS-CoV-2 impairs male fertility by targeting semen quality and testosterone level: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2024Pooled it
- Effect of semen collection location on semen parameters and fertility outcomes and implications for practice in the COVID-19 era: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and observational studies.American journal of obstetrics and gynecology · 2023Pooled it
- Andrological effects of SARS-Cov-2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2022Pooled it
- Semen parameters and sex hormones as affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review.Progres en urologie : journal de l'Association francaise d'urologie et de la Societe francaise d'urologie · 2022Pooled it
- SARS-CoV-2 effects on sperm parameters: a meta-analysis study.Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics · 2022Pooled it
- Absence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the semen of men recovering from COVID-19 infection: An exploratory study and review of literature.Andrologia · 2021Pooled it
- Pooled it
- SARS-CoV-2 infection affects the lower urinary tract and male genital system: A systematic review.Journal of medical virology · 2021Pooled it
- Effect of COVID-19 on Male Reproductive System - A Systematic Review.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2021Pooled it
- Trial
- Unfolding the Semen Microbiota: Implications for Male Infertility.Biomedicines · 2026Review
- The effect of Covid-19 vaccines on semen parameters of patients undergoing infertility investigations: a self-controlled before-and-after study.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- SARS-CoV-2 infection reduces the number of spermatogonial stem cells and dysregulates the transcriptional landscape of the human testis.Research square · 2026Article
- Evaluation of acute and chronic phases of COVID-19 on semen parameters and gonad hormones: A case-control study.International journal of reproductive biomedicine · 2025Article
- Alterations in Semen Quality and Immune-Related Factors in Men with Infertility who Recovered from COVID-19.MedComm · 2025Article
- COVID-19 infection was associated with poor sperm quality: a cross-sectional and longitudinal clinical observation study.Scientific reports · 2025Observational
- Effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on human embryonic development and clinical outcomes: a retrospective cohort study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
170 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo investigate the presence of viral RNA in human semen of patients with severe acute-respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and to evaluate its presence and relevance in semen parameters.
designPilot cohort study.
settingUniversity hospital. PATIENT(S): Thirty-four men were distributed as: 1) patients in convalescence (patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in pharyngeal swab according to reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] or antibodies); 2) negative control group (no antibodies); and 3) patients with an acute infection (detection of SARS-CoV-2 in pharyngeal swab).
interventionSemen and a blood sample were collected from each individual. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Analysis of semen quality according to the World Health Organization standards. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR in the native semen sample and after density gradient preparation. Confirmation of immunoglobulin (Ig) A und IgG antibodies in the blood. RESULT(S): Eighteen semen samples from recovered men were obtained 8-54 days after absence of symptoms, 14 from control subjects, and 2 from patients with an active COVID-19 infection. No RNA was detected by means of RT-PCR in the semen, including semen samples from two patients with an acute COVID-19 infection. Subjects with a moderate infection showed an impairment of sperm quality. CONCLUSION(S): A mild COVID-19 infection is not likely to affect testis and epididymis function, whereas semen parameters did seem impaired after a moderate infection. SARS-CoV-2 RNA could not be detected in semen of recovered and acute COVID-19-positive men. This suggests no viral transmission during sexual contact and assisted reproductive techniques, although further data need to be obtained.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.