Alterations in Semen Quality and Immune‐Related Factors in Men with Infertility who Recovered from COVID‐19

ABSTRACT The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has triggered research into its impact on male reproductive health. However, studies exploring the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) on semen quality in infertile men remain limited. Herein, we enroll...

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Main Authors: Ying Zhang, Feiyin Zhu, Zhe Zhang, Jing Wang, Tianyi Liao, Yu Xi, Defeng Liu, Haitao Zhang, Haocheng Lin, Jiaming Mao, Wenhao Tang, Lianming Zhao, Peng Yuan, Liying Yan, Qiang Liu, Kai Hong, Jie Qiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:MedComm
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.70179
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author Ying Zhang
Feiyin Zhu
Zhe Zhang
Jing Wang
Tianyi Liao
Yu Xi
Defeng Liu
Haitao Zhang
Haocheng Lin
Jiaming Mao
Wenhao Tang
Lianming Zhao
Peng Yuan
Liying Yan
Qiang Liu
Kai Hong
Jie Qiao
author_facet Ying Zhang
Feiyin Zhu
Zhe Zhang
Jing Wang
Tianyi Liao
Yu Xi
Defeng Liu
Haitao Zhang
Haocheng Lin
Jiaming Mao
Wenhao Tang
Lianming Zhao
Peng Yuan
Liying Yan
Qiang Liu
Kai Hong
Jie Qiao
author_sort Ying Zhang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has triggered research into its impact on male reproductive health. However, studies exploring the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) on semen quality in infertile men remain limited. Herein, we enrolled 781 male infertile patients who recovered from COVID‐19 and analyzed their semen and blood samples collected at different time points. We found that SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA was undetectable in semen samples. Compared with pre‐COVID‐19 status, total sperm count, sperm concentration, vitality, motility, and percentage of sperm cells with normal morphology decreased significantly in the first month post‐COVID‐19. However, these alterations were reversed in the third month. Furthermore, seminal plasma samples exhibited reduced proinflammatory cytokine levels and notable changes in amino acid, nucleic acid, and carbohydrate metabolism by the third month compared with those in the first month. By contrast, no significant alterations in reproductive hormone levels were found. Vitality, progressive motility, and total motility negatively correlated with body temperature when it was above 38°C. In conclusion, semen quality initially decreases post‐COVID‐19 but reverses after approximately 3 months, with a decline related to inflammatory and fever. These findings may provide guidance to infertile male patients who need assisted reproductive technology.
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spelling doaj-art-e8a5eeaf824240079b767ff83eb1dfad2025-08-20T02:32:12ZengWileyMedComm2688-26632025-05-0165n/an/a10.1002/mco2.70179Alterations in Semen Quality and Immune‐Related Factors in Men with Infertility who Recovered from COVID‐19Ying Zhang0Feiyin Zhu1Zhe Zhang2Jing Wang3Tianyi Liao4Yu Xi5Defeng Liu6Haitao Zhang7Haocheng Lin8Jiaming Mao9Wenhao Tang10Lianming Zhao11Peng Yuan12Liying Yan13Qiang Liu14Kai Hong15Jie Qiao16Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center for Reproductive Medicine Peking University Third Hospital Beijing ChinaABSTRACT The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has triggered research into its impact on male reproductive health. However, studies exploring the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) on semen quality in infertile men remain limited. Herein, we enrolled 781 male infertile patients who recovered from COVID‐19 and analyzed their semen and blood samples collected at different time points. We found that SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA was undetectable in semen samples. Compared with pre‐COVID‐19 status, total sperm count, sperm concentration, vitality, motility, and percentage of sperm cells with normal morphology decreased significantly in the first month post‐COVID‐19. However, these alterations were reversed in the third month. Furthermore, seminal plasma samples exhibited reduced proinflammatory cytokine levels and notable changes in amino acid, nucleic acid, and carbohydrate metabolism by the third month compared with those in the first month. By contrast, no significant alterations in reproductive hormone levels were found. Vitality, progressive motility, and total motility negatively correlated with body temperature when it was above 38°C. In conclusion, semen quality initially decreases post‐COVID‐19 but reverses after approximately 3 months, with a decline related to inflammatory and fever. These findings may provide guidance to infertile male patients who need assisted reproductive technology.https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.70179male infertilitysemen qualityCOVID‐19feverimmune response
spellingShingle Ying Zhang
Feiyin Zhu
Zhe Zhang
Jing Wang
Tianyi Liao
Yu Xi
Defeng Liu
Haitao Zhang
Haocheng Lin
Jiaming Mao
Wenhao Tang
Lianming Zhao
Peng Yuan
Liying Yan
Qiang Liu
Kai Hong
Jie Qiao
Alterations in Semen Quality and Immune‐Related Factors in Men with Infertility who Recovered from COVID‐19
MedComm
male infertility
semen quality
COVID‐19
fever
immune response
title Alterations in Semen Quality and Immune‐Related Factors in Men with Infertility who Recovered from COVID‐19
title_full Alterations in Semen Quality and Immune‐Related Factors in Men with Infertility who Recovered from COVID‐19
title_fullStr Alterations in Semen Quality and Immune‐Related Factors in Men with Infertility who Recovered from COVID‐19
title_full_unstemmed Alterations in Semen Quality and Immune‐Related Factors in Men with Infertility who Recovered from COVID‐19
title_short Alterations in Semen Quality and Immune‐Related Factors in Men with Infertility who Recovered from COVID‐19
title_sort alterations in semen quality and immune related factors in men with infertility who recovered from covid 19
topic male infertility
semen quality
COVID‐19
fever
immune response
url https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.70179
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