Since the new coronavirus has only been around since the end of 2019, it is difficult to fully comprehend the long-term effects that COVID will have on humans in the coming years. Although researchers and doctors need more time to discover all the long-term effects that COVID can have on those who overcome it, recent studies have begun to investigate how the virus can affect the body beyond the standard symptoms. This week, a new study found that the coronavirus can affect the quality of sperm and thus the fertility of men, which could potentially affect the ability of COVID survivors to conceive. Some experts note that it is too early to tell, but read on to find out what the latest study found. And to see what you will not be able to do in the future, go look at dr. Fauci. We just said we would never be able to do it again.
New research from Justus-Liebig University in Germany has determined that COVID can negatively affect sperm quality and reduce male fertility. The researchers behind the study said in a statement that their findings show that the virus ‘can cause increased sperm death, inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to lower sperm quality and which can reduce fertility.’ According to their findings, sperm concentration, quality, motility and shape were negatively affected by COVID. The researchers also concluded that the worse the disease, the worse the disease.
“These effects on sperm cells are associated with lower sperm quality and reduced fertility potential,” Behzad Hajizadeh Maleki, lead researcher and doctoral student, said in a statement. “Although these effects tended to improve over time, they remained significantly and abnormally higher in the COVID-19 patients.” And subscribe to our daily newsletter for more up-to-date COVID news delivered directly to your inbox.
Although the findings of the study are frightening, some experts have said they should take it with a grain of salt. “I must issue a strong warning with the interpretation of this data,” Allan Pacey, PhD, a professor of andrology at the University of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, UK, told CNN. “The authors say, for example, that their data show that ‘COVID-19 infection causes a significant deviation from male reproductive function’, but this only shows a link.”
It is also important to note that the study was for a short time. The researchers compared the semen of only 105 healthy men with that of 84 men with COVID. The semen of the participants was studied over ten days at intervals of ten days. As a result, skeptics say, limiting this time frame limits us to seeing how long-term these effects on fertility are. And to see if you are safe against a serious case of COVID, look at If you have it in your blood, you can be safe for COVID, study says.
Since early in the COVID pandemic, researchers have hypothesized about the potentially harmful effects of COVID on the sexual and reproductive health of men. Several studies have emerged that suggest sperm may be affected by the virus.
Just a week before this new study came out, other research was published by the journal Open biology claims that COVID could pose a ‘global threat to male fertility potential’. That study, conducted by Indian researchers, found that negative effects of the virus are on men’s fertility, many of which overlapped with the most recent German study. The study mentioned tissue damage, interference with sex hormones and sperm production, inflammation, erectile dysfunction and general stress associated with COVID. And for another COVID update you should know about, check out these over-the-counter medications that can kill COVID, says study.
It is not uncommon for sperm count to be affected for some time, but it is generally nothing to worry about. “If you are sick with any virus like flu, you can temporarily lower your sperm (sometimes to zero) for a few weeks or months,” Channa Jayasena, MD, a consultant in reproductive endocrinology and andrology at Imperial College London, told CNN. “This makes it difficult to work out how much of the reduction observed in this study was specific to COVID-19, rather than just being sick.”
Another recent report published in the magazine Reproduction from Wuhan, China, where the virus originated, also noted that ‘adverse effects on male fertility have been reported during infections with Zika (ZIKV), mumps (MuV) and SARS-CoV-1 viruses, but the picture is less complete for COVID-19. “And if you are preparing to be vaccinated soon, then know that Dr. Fauci says it’s a big mistake to do so after you have been vaccinated.