A new study published in Reproduction, a medical journal focusing on fertility research, has been raising alarms about decreased sperm quality in men who have suffered severe cases of covid-19. The authors write, “this report provides the first direct evidence to date that covid-19 infection impairs sperm quality and male reproductive potential.”
The study compared a group of 104 fertile men without covid-19 to another group of 84 who previously had covid-19. Semen samples were obtained every 10 days for 2 months.
In contrast to the control group without covid, the men in the covid group had significantly decreased sperm concentration, morphology, and motility. When broken down by severity of covid-19 illness, the study showed that the sicker the men had been, the greater the negative impact on sperm quality.
What are the possible reasons that prior covid-19 infection would negatively impact sperm quality? There are several possibilities.
- It has been well-established that other febrile illnesses reduce sperm quality, often for several months. It could be that the increased body heat produced by fevers from covid-19 damages sperm in a way that is non-specific to the type of virus.
- Men with increased body mass are more likely to have severe covid-19 illness compared with leaner men. Being overweight, in general, is a risk factor for reduced sperm quality. It’s possible that simply being overweight - which is associated with more severe covid-19 - was also a factor associated with the worse sperm parameters in the covid-10 group.
- One theory that would support a unique impact of covid-19 on sperm quality involves an enzyme called ACE2. ACE2 is a protein that is concentrated in the lungs and testes. Covid-19 viral particles attach to ACE2 in the lungs and use this enzyme as a gateway to get inside, which accounts for the respiratory problems seen throughout the pandemic. Since the same ACE2 receptor is abundantly present in the testes, covid-19 may have a direct pathway for access to sperm-producing tissue.
Further research is needed to determine the exact cause of sperm impairment following covid-19 infection. Regardless of the underlying reason, however, men who have been infected - along with their partners - should be aware that it may be more difficult to achieve pregnancy. Swimmers antioxidant formula contains ingredients that have been proven to positively impact and various aspects of sperm quality, including those that have been shown to suffer from by prior covid-19.
