COVID-19 may cause male infertility

Speaking of major events in 2020, it must be the COVID-19 epidemic. This disease has a very fast infection rate and a high mortality rate in many other countries. Authoritative experts are also actively looking for ways to cure COVID-19. However, authoritative experts recently emphasized that COVID-19 may cause male infertility, which makes many men very worried. Is this information true or false? Can COVID-19 cause male infertility? Does COVID-19 affect male fertility? Let's follow the editor to find out!

Will COVID-19 cause male infertility?

According to a report from Ukraine on June 30, the Ukrainian Ministry of Health warned that COVID-19 may cause male infertility. The Ukrainian Ministry of Health said that according to data collected and analyzed by medical staff, the quality of sperm in male patients recovering from COVID-19 decreased by 38%.

The new coronavirus infection mainly harms the lungs and the human immune system, but in theory, the new coronavirus infection may also cause testicular damage. Therefore, men of the age of those infected with the new coronavirus should undergo fertility tests after recovery and treatment.

The novel coronavirus invades cells through the fusion of the spike protein (S protein) with the target cell angiotensin-2-converter 2 (ACE2), causing tissue damage. In addition to the lungs, many other organs of the body also express ACE2, such as the testicles, colon, kidneys, heart and thyroid glands. Among them, the testicles express a large amount of ACE2, which is mainly concentrated in testicular spermatocytes, mesenchymal cells and interstitial cells. These types of cells are closely related to male reproductive function.

The seminiferous tubules, also called seminiferous tubules, are the place where sperms are transformed. They contain spermatogenic cells and somatic cells. There are interstitial cells in the middle of the seminiferous tubules. Spermatogonia are the pre-germ cells that produce sperms; somatic cells are particularly important for maintaining the microenvironment for sperm growth and development. The somatic cells of adults no longer break down and their number is stable; interstitial cells are key somatic cells that produce and metabolize male hormones. Male hormones can promote sperm formation and the growth and development of male reproductive organs, as well as maintain male secondary sexual characteristics and male sexual function.

Although there is no scientific research to confirm whether the novel coronavirus infection damages male testicles and affects male fertility, the novel coronavirus and SARS virus infection are similar in aspect ratio, and the protein kinase used to infect and invade somatic cells is the same, namely ACE2. Although SARS virus infection has not been detected in male testicles, SARS infection can still cause more serious immune system disease damage to male testicles, causing orchitis, and leading to widespread damage to reproductive-related somatic cells.

Therefore, theoretically, COVID-19 infection may cause testicular damage, affecting the conversion of male sperm and the production of male hormones. The obstruction of male sperm conversion will affect male reproductive function, and in severe cases may cause male infertility; insufficient male hormones will affect male secondary sexual characteristics and male sexual function, reducing the quality of life.

Therefore, for men with a history of infection, especially those who want to have a baby, it is best to carry out relevant fertility tests such as semen quality and female hormones after rehabilitation treatment, so as to deal with the problem in time and resolve it as soon as possible.