ArticleJournal of endocrinological investigation2023
Male reproductive health after 3 months from SARS-CoV-2 infection: a multicentric study.
Article in Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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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.
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Who cites it
25 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 47 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effect of SARS-CoV-2 on semen parameters: A meta-analysis of 39 articles from 15 countries.Journal of global health · 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
- Review
- The sperm quality change in 6 months recovery from COVID-19: a retrospective observational study.Scientific reports · 2025Observational
- Update on andrological effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19: An overview review.Andrology · 2025Review
- COVID-19 infection was associated with poor sperm quality: a cross-sectional and longitudinal clinical observation study.Scientific reports · 2025Observational
- Unraveling The Impact of Viral Infections on Sperm Genetic Stability: A Scoping Review.International journal of fertility & sterility · 2025Article
- Article
- Temporal shifts in semen parameters across a major COVID-19 outbreak wave: a retrospective cohort study using epidemiological time-windows.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2025Article
- Repercussion of SARS-CoV-2 on the Sexual Function in Males: An Updated Review.Infectious disorders drug targets · 2025Review
- Zinc as a Possible Critical Element to Prevent Harmful Effects of COVID-19 on Testicular Function: a Narrative Review.Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2024Review
- COVID-19 and Oncofertility: No SARS-CoV-2 in Semen but Inflammation Seems to Affect Sperm Parameters.Journal of medical virology · 2024Article
- The Aftermath of COVID-19: Exploring the Long-Term Effects on Organ Systems.Biomedicines · 2024Review
- Molecular study of the presence and transcriptional activity of HPV in semen.Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2024Article
- COVID-19 and male fertility: short- and long-term impacts of asymptomatic vs. symptomatic infection on male reproductive potential.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2024Article
- Article
- Persistent oligonecrozoospermia after asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. A case report and literature review.Heliyon · 2023Article
- SARS-CoV-2 and male infertility: from short- to long-term impacts.Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2023Review
- Mild COVID-19 has no detrimental effect on semen quality.Basic and clinical andrology · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
21 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeWhile SARS-CoV-2 infection appears not to be clinically evident in the testes, indirect inflammatory effects and fever may impair testicular function. To date, few long-term data of semen parameters impairment after recovery and comprehensive andrological evaluation of recovered patients has been published. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 infection affect male reproductive health.
methodsEighty patients were recruited three months after COVID-19 recovery. They performed physical examination, testicular ultrasound, semen analysis, sperm DNA integrity evaluation (TUNEL), anti-sperm antibodies (ASA) testing, sex hormone profile evaluation (Total testosterone, LH, FSH). In addition, all patients were administered International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF-15). Sperm parameters were compared with two age-matched healthy pre-COVID-19 control groups of normozoospermic (CTR1) and primary infertile (CTR2) subjects.
resultsMedian values of semen parameters from recovered SARS-CoV-2 subjects were within WHO 2010 fifth percentile. Mean percentage of sperm DNA fragmentation (%SDF) was 14.1 ± 7.0%. Gelatin Agglutination Test (GAT) was positive in 3.9% of blood serum samples, but no positive semen plasma sample was found. Only five subjects (6.2%) had total testosterone levels below the laboratory reference range. Mean bilateral testicular volume was 31.5 ± 9.6 ml. Erectile dysfunction was detected in 30% of subjects.
conclusionOur data remark that COVID-19 does not seem to cause direct damage to the testicular function, while indirect damage appears to be transient. It is possible to counsel infertile couples to postpone the research of parenthood or ART procedures around three months after recovery from the infection.
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Registered trials
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