ArticlePloS one2021
Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 in semen, seminal plasma, and spermatozoa pellet of COVID-19 patients in the acute stage of infection.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 2 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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 33 citations in OpenAlex.
- Viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in body fluids associated with sexual activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ open · 2024Pooled it
- SARS-CoV-2 impairs male fertility by targeting semen quality and testosterone level: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2024Pooled it
- Unfolding the Semen Microbiota: Implications for Male Infertility.Biomedicines · 2026Review
- Article
- SARS-CoV-2 in semen: a multicenter prospective study and literature review.Basic and clinical andrology · 2024Article
- COVID-19 and Oncofertility: No SARS-CoV-2 in Semen but Inflammation Seems to Affect Sperm Parameters.Journal of medical virology · 2024Article
- Correlation between viral infections in male semen and infertility: a literature review.Virology journal · 2024Review
- The Multi-faceted Effects of COVID-19 on Female Reproductive Health: An Updated Narrative Review.Cureus · 2024Review
- Impact of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA in posttreatment nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection.Infectious agents and cancer · 2024Article
- Investigating the mode of transmission of COVID-19 through genital secretions, semen, the birth canal, and lactation: A systematic review.Journal of education and health promotion · 2024Article
- COVID-19 and Male Infertility: Is There a Role for Antioxidants?Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Viruses, bacteria and parasites: infection of the male genital tract and fertility.Basic and clinical andrology · 2023Review
- Association between COVID-19 and Male Fertility: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.The world journal of men's health · 2023Article
- SARS-CoV-2, fertility and assisted reproduction.Human reproduction update · 2023Review
- Molecular Diagnosis of COVID-19; Biosafety and Pre-analytical Recommendations.Iranian journal of pathology · 2023Review
- Article
- Effectiveness of enhanced check during acute phase to reduce central venous catheters-associated bloodstream infections: a before-after, real-world study.Antimicrobial resistance and infection control · 2022Article
- Validation of a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay: a requirement to evaluate viral contamination in human semen.Reproductive biomedicine online · 2022Article
- SARS-CoV-2 can infect human embryos.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- Mild COVID-19 Was Not Associated with Impaired IVF Outcomes or Early Pregnancy Loss in IVF Patients.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
12 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
To date, there is limited information about the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen especially in the acute phase of the infection. While available data from cohort studies including a total of 342 patients in the acute or recovery phase of the infection are reassuring, one study mentioned detecting virus in the semen of 6/38 COVID-19 patients. Here we assessed SARS-CoV-2 presence in the semen of COVID-19 positive patients in the acute stage of infection, within 24 hours of the positive nasopharyngeal swabs. Semen, seminal plasma and spermatozoa pellet were screened for SARS-CoV-2 and manual or airborne contamination during semen sampling. Among the 32 COVID-19 volunteers, the median interval from the onset of symptoms to semen collection was 4 days [IQR: 0-8]. Only one presented positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR in semen and seminal plasma fractions, although the spermatozoa pellet was negative. Viral cultures were all negative. We observed slightly higher concentrations of bacterial DNA in the SARS-CoV-2 positive specimen than in all negative samples. The bacteria identified neither confirm nor rule out contamination by oropharyngeal secretions during collection. SARS-CoV-2 was rarely present in semen during the acute phase of the disease. This very rare situation could be connected to oral or manual contamination during semen collection. The possible presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen calls for nasopharyngeal viral testing and strict hygiene protocols during semen collection before assisted reproductive attempts.
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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.