tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Endocrinol Invest
. 2023 Mar 14.
doi: 10.1007/s40618-023-02055-x. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 and male infertility: from short- to long-term impacts
P Dai[SUP] 1 [/SUP], F Qiao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Y Chen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], D Y L Chan[SUP] 2 [/SUP], H C H Yim[SUP] 3 [/SUP], K L Fok[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], H Chen[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Purpose: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-caused by a new type of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-has posed severe impacts on public health worldwide and has resulted in a total of > 6 million deaths. Notably, male patients developed more complications and had mortality rates ~ 77% higher than those of female patients. The extensive expression of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor and related proteins in the male reproductive tract and the association of serum testosterone levels with viral entry and infection have brought attention to COVID-19's effects on male fertility.
Methods: The peer-reviewed articles and reviews were obtained by searching for the keywords SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, endocrine, spermatogenesis, epididymis, prostate, and vaccine in the databases of PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar from 2020-2022.
Results: This review summarizes the effects of COVID-19 on the male reproductive system and investigates the impact of various types of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines on male reproductive health. We also present the underlying mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 affects male reproduction and discuss the potentially harmful effects of asymptomatic infections, as well as the long-term impact of COVID-19 on male reproductive health.
Conclusion: COVID-19 disrupted the HPG axis, which had negative impacts on spermatogenesis and the epididymis, albeit further investigations need to be performed. The development of vaccines against various SARS-CoV-2 variations is important to lower infection rates and long-term COVID risks.
Keywords: Epididymis; Male infertility; SARS-CoV-2; Testis.
. 2023 Mar 14.
doi: 10.1007/s40618-023-02055-x. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 and male infertility: from short- to long-term impacts
P Dai[SUP] 1 [/SUP], F Qiao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Y Chen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], D Y L Chan[SUP] 2 [/SUP], H C H Yim[SUP] 3 [/SUP], K L Fok[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], H Chen[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36917421
- DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02055-x
Abstract
Purpose: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-caused by a new type of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-has posed severe impacts on public health worldwide and has resulted in a total of > 6 million deaths. Notably, male patients developed more complications and had mortality rates ~ 77% higher than those of female patients. The extensive expression of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor and related proteins in the male reproductive tract and the association of serum testosterone levels with viral entry and infection have brought attention to COVID-19's effects on male fertility.
Methods: The peer-reviewed articles and reviews were obtained by searching for the keywords SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, endocrine, spermatogenesis, epididymis, prostate, and vaccine in the databases of PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar from 2020-2022.
Results: This review summarizes the effects of COVID-19 on the male reproductive system and investigates the impact of various types of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines on male reproductive health. We also present the underlying mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 affects male reproduction and discuss the potentially harmful effects of asymptomatic infections, as well as the long-term impact of COVID-19 on male reproductive health.
Conclusion: COVID-19 disrupted the HPG axis, which had negative impacts on spermatogenesis and the epididymis, albeit further investigations need to be performed. The development of vaccines against various SARS-CoV-2 variations is important to lower infection rates and long-term COVID risks.
Keywords: Epididymis; Male infertility; SARS-CoV-2; Testis.