{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]],"date-time":"2026-07-03T10:28:02Z","timestamp":1783074482457,"version":"3.54.6"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,20]],"date-time":"2023-01-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1674172800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Reprod. Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>The male reproductive system may be a potential target for SARS-CoV-2 since the presence of ACE and TMPRS2 receptors. After a first report of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen of COVID-19 patients, several papers reported that SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in the semen. However, some evidences indicated that COVID-19 disease could impair semen parameters. During the infection, or in a short period after, a reduction in sperm concentration and motility and an increase in DNA fragmentation were observed, even in asymptomatic patients. There is no conclusive data exploring whether this damage changes with time. We investigated whether COVID-19 disease has a negative impact on semen parameters and male reproductive potential after recovery.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>In this longitudinal retrospective study, we enrolled 20 men who had COVID-19 disease. We compared sperm parameters in samples collected before COVID-19 and after infection (8.3\u2009\u00b1\u20094.8 months). We also evaluated the reproductive potential in pre- and post-COVID-19 infertility treatments of 8 self-controlled couples as well as in 40 cycles after COVID-19 infection of the male partner.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>For most patients, we obtained results of more than one semen analysis before and after COVID-19. After adjusting for age, days of sexual abstinence, frequency of ejaculations and presence of fever, we found no significant difference over time in any semen parameter. The interval between COVID-19 infection and subsequent infertility treatments was 10.7\u2009\u00b1\u20097.5 months. There were no differences in the embryological and clinical outcomes of infertility treatments performed before and after male infection. One couple obtained a single pregnancy in the post COVID-19 IUI. Normal fertilization (65%), cleavage (99%) and blastocyst development (40%) rates in treatments performed after male infection were within the expected range of competencies. A total of 5 singleton and 1 twin clinical pregnancies were obtained, and 6 healthy children were born. A total of 10 blastocysts have been cryopreserved.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Our data are reassuring that COVID-19 disease has no negative effect on semen quality and male reproductive potential when semen samples are collected three months or more after infection.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/frph.2022.1114308","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,20]],"date-time":"2023-01-20T05:27:23Z","timestamp":1674192443000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Semen parameters and male reproductive potential are not adversely affected after three or more months of recovery from COVID-19 disease"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"4","author":[{"given":"Sara","family":"Stigliani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Claudia","family":"Massarotti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francesca","family":"Bovis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Maccarini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paola","family":"Anserini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paola","family":"Scaruffi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"562","DOI":"10.1038\/s41564-020-0688-y","article-title":"Functional assessment of cell entry and receptor usage for SARS-CoV-2 and other lineage B betacoronaviruses","volume":"5","author":"Letko","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nat Microbiol"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cell.2020.02.052","article-title":"SARS-CoV-2 cell entry depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and is blocked by a clinically proven protease inhibitor","volume":"181","author":"Hoffmann","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cell"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"E878","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpendo.00183.2020","article-title":"Is there an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on male fertility? The ACE2 connection","volume":"318","author":"Younis","year":"2020","journal-title":"Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"449","DOI":"10.1093\/biolre\/ioaa080","article-title":"ACE2 Receptor expression in testes: implications in COVID-19 pathogenesis","volume":"103","author":"Verma","year":"2020","journal-title":"Biol Reprod"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"920","DOI":"10.3390\/cells9040920","article-title":"scRNA-seq profiling of human testes reveals the presence of the ACE2 receptor, a target for SARS-CoV-2 infection in spermatogonia leydig and sertoli","volume":"9","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cells"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1111\/bju.15573","article-title":"Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on male reproductive health","volume":"129","author":"Nassau","year":"2022","journal-title":"BJU Int"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"974","DOI":"10.3390\/biology11070974","article-title":"COVID-19 Severity and androgen receptor polymorphism","volume":"11","author":"Buonacquisto","year":"2022","journal-title":"Biology"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1124","DOI":"10.1016\/j.euf.2020.05.009","article-title":"Pathological findings in the testes of COVID-19 patients: clinical implications","volume":"6","author":"Yang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur Urol Focus"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e208292","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2020.8292","article-title":"Clinical characteristics and results of semen tests among men with coronavirus disease 2019","volume":"3","author":"Li","year":"2020","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2020.05.028","article-title":"Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in human semen-a cohort study","volume":"114","author":"Holtmann","year":"2020","journal-title":"Fertil Steril"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1003","DOI":"10.1159\/000511618","article-title":"Semen does not cause additional risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission during sexual contact","volume":"104","author":"Kayaaslan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Urol Int"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1135","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2020.04.024","article-title":"No evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 in semen of males recovering from coronavirus disease 2019","volume":"113","author":"Pan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Fertil Steril"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1819","DOI":"10.1007\/s40618-020-01261-1","article-title":"Study of SARS-CoV-2 in semen and urine samples of a volunteer with positive naso-pharyngeal swab","volume":"43","author":"Paoli","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Endocrinol Invest"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1093\/biolre\/ioaa050","article-title":"Absence of 2019 novel coronavirus in semen and testes of COVID-19 patients","volume":"103","author":"Song","year":"2020","journal-title":"Biol Reprod"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"287","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2021.10.022","article-title":"Sperm quality and absence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen after COVID-19 infection: a prospective, observational study and validation of the SpermCOVID test","volume":"117","author":"Donders","year":"2022","journal-title":"Fertil Steril"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1520","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/deab026","article-title":"Semen impairment and occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in semen after recovery from COVID-19","volume":"36","author":"Gacci","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hum Reprod"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1111\/andr.12848","article-title":"Absence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen of a COVID-19 patient cohort","volume":"9","author":"Guo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Andrology"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12677701","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2021.677701","article-title":"Effect of COVID-19 on male reproductive system- A systematic review","volume":"12","author":"He","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1186\/s43043-021-00089-w","article-title":"Semen parameters in men recovered from COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"26","author":"Tiwari","year":"2021","journal-title":"Middle East Fertil Soc J"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"506","DOI":"10.5534\/wjmh.200134","article-title":"Male fertility and the COVID-19 pandemic: systematic review of the literature","volume":"38","author":"Khalili","year":"2020","journal-title":"World J Mens Health"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.5534\/wjmh.200170","article-title":"Histopathology and ultrastructural findings of fatal COVID-19 infections on testis","volume":"39","author":"Achua","year":"2021","journal-title":"World J Mens Health"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"456","DOI":"10.1002\/jmv.26259","article-title":"Evaluation of sex-related hormones and semen characteristics in reproductive-aged male COVID-19 patients","volume":"93","author":"Ma","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Med Virol"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"489","DOI":"10.5534\/wjmh.200192","article-title":"Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 in human semen and effect on total sperm number: a prospective observational study","volume":"39","author":"Best","year":"2021","journal-title":"World J Mens Health"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1060","DOI":"10.1111\/andr.13019","article-title":"Short term effects of COVID-19 on semen parameters: a multicenter study of 69 cases","volume":"9","author":"Erbay","year":"2021","journal-title":"Andrology"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"479","DOI":"10.4103\/aja.aja_31_21","article-title":"Semen parameters in men recovered from COVID-19","volume":"23","author":"Guo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Asian J Androl"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e14157","DOI":"10.1111\/and.14157","article-title":"Impaired semen parameters in patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection: a prospective cohort study","volume":"53","author":"Pazir","year":"2021","journal-title":"Andrologia"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"E173","DOI":"10.5489\/cuaj.7292","article-title":"Effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on semen parameters","volume":"16","author":"Hamarat","year":"2022","journal-title":"Can Urol Assoc J"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1186\/s12958-022-00918-1","article-title":"Investigating the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on basic semen parameters and in vitro fertilization\/intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes: a retrospective cohort study","volume":"20","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Reprod Biol Endocrinol"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"895","DOI":"10.1080\/09513590.2021.1918080","article-title":"Does COVID-19 infection influence patients\u2019 performance during IVF-ET cycle?: an observational study","volume":"37","author":"Orvieto","year":"2021","journal-title":"Gynecol Endocrinol"},{"key":"B30","volume-title":"WHO Department of reproductive health and research. WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen","year":"2010"},{"key":"B31","volume-title":"WHO Laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen","year":"2021"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"907","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/deaa376","article-title":"Occurrence of smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates in metaphase II oocytes: relationship with stimulation protocols and outcome of ICSI and IVF cycles","volume":"36","author":"Massarotti","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hum Reprod"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.1097\/MPG.0b013e3181da213e","article-title":"Neonatal anthropometric charts: the Italian neonatal study compared with other European studies","volume":"51","author":"Bertino","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"561","DOI":"10.5534\/wjmh.220055","article-title":"mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines do not affect male fertility: a prospective study","volume":"40","author":"Massarotti","year":"2022","journal-title":"World J Mens Health"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1093\/hropen\/hox011","article-title":"The Vienna consensus: report of an expert meeting on the development of art laboratory performance indicators","year":"2017","journal-title":"Hum Reprod Open"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e13912","DOI":"10.1111\/and.13912","article-title":"Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in semen samples and the effects of COVID-19 on male sexual health by using semen analysis and serum male hormone profile: a cross-sectional, pilot study","volume":"53","author":"Temiz","year":"2021","journal-title":"Andrologia"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s12020-022-03221-6","article-title":"COVID-19 and its treatments: lights and shadows on testicular function","author":"Pallotti","year":"2022","journal-title":"Endocrine"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s40618-022-01887-3","article-title":"Male reproductive health after 3 months from SARS-CoV-2 infection: a multicentric study","author":"Paoli","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Endocrinol Invest"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"256","DOI":"10.1038\/s41586-018-0080-8","article-title":"Chromatin analysis in human early development reveals epigenetic transition during ZGA","volume":"557","author":"Wu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nature"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Reproductive Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/frph.2022.1114308\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,20]],"date-time":"2023-01-20T05:27:27Z","timestamp":1674192447000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/frph.2022.1114308\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,20]]},"references-count":39,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/frph.2022.1114308"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/frph.2022.1114308","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-3153"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-3153","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,20]]},"article-number":"1114308"}}