Resolution of sperm quality impairment following SARS-CoV-2 infection: A prospective study

• Published in: Asian pacific journal of reproduction Vol. 13; no. 5; pp. 207 - 212
• Main Authors: Derakhshan, Marzieh, Derakhshan, Maryam, Naghshineh, Elham, Movahedi, Minoo, Ghasemi-Tehrani, Hatav, Bamarinejad, Fatemeh, Bamarinejad, Atefeh, Omidvar, Zeinab
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 01-10-2024
• Subjects: male fertility; recovery; sars-cov-2; sperm dna fragmentation; sperm parameter
• ISSN: 2305-0500; 2305-0519
• DOI: 10.4103/apjr.apjr_55_24

Objective: To investigate the length of time required to resolve COVID-19 effects on semen quality and DNA integrity. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted among 42 men who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and underwent semen analysis at baseline and four months’ post-recovery. Semen samples were collected and evaluated for macroscopic and microscopic parameters, sperm chromatin maturation, and DNA fragmentation. Results: The mean age of participants was 37(±7) years, and 14% had normozoospermia at baseline. After a four-month recovery from COVID-19, 48% of patients had normozoospermia. Sperm count, motility, and morphology increased significantly, while sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm chromatin maturation decreased significantly post-recovery from COVID-19. Conclusions: Sperm parameters improve after a four-month recovery from COVID-19. The findings indicate significant improvements in sperm count, motility, morphology, DNA fragmentation, and chromatin maturation after a four-month recovery period.