{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T20:56:26Z","timestamp":1790283386114,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"22","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,15]],"date-time":"2023-11-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1700006400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Department of Urology and Andrology, Salzburg University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Austria"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Our aim was to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 infection on male fertility and sexual function. Methods: Thirty-one patients were investigated over a mean follow-up of 90 days (22\u2013527) after a COVID-19 infection. Erectile dysfunction (ED), blood tests for sexual hormones, semen analysis including analysis of oxidative stress (OS), as well as COVID-19 antibody titer and the nasal COVID-19 PCR test were evaluated pre- and post-infection. Results: Five patients reported a mild de novo ED (16.13%). One patient had a de novo positive mixed antiglobulin reaction test after the infection. We found no significant difference between pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 spermiogram parameters (p = 0.815). OS showed no significant association with COVID-19 infection, but with pathological spermiogram categories, sperm concentration, total sperm count, testis volume, FSH and testosterone. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection does not appear to affect sperm quality and OS negatively in the intermediate term. Further investigations will be needed to assess the potential long-term effects of the infection and vaccination on male sexual function and fertility.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm12227099","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,15]],"date-time":"2023-11-15T00:47:48Z","timestamp":1700009268000},"page":"7099","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Effects of COVID-19 Infection on Spermatogenesis, Oxidative Stress and Erectile Function"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0661-388X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Peter","family":"T\u00f6rzs\u00f6k","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology and Andrology, Salzburg University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Oswald","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology and Andrology, Salzburg University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christopher","family":"Steiner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology and Andrology, Salzburg University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Abenhardt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology and Andrology, Salzburg University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christian","family":"Ramesmayer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology and Andrology, Salzburg University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ljiljana","family":"Milinovic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology and Andrology, Salzburg University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bethseba","family":"Plank","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology and Andrology, Salzburg University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zoe","family":"Tischleritsch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fachhochschule Salzburg, 5431 Salzburg, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5284-7276","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lukas","family":"Lusuardi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology and Andrology, Salzburg University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3541-6973","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Susanne","family":"Deininger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology and Andrology, Salzburg University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"727","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa2001017","article-title":"A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019","volume":"382","author":"Zhu","year":"2020","journal-title":"N. Engl. J. Med."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","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":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"631","DOI":"10.1002\/path.1570","article-title":"Tissue distribution of ACE2 protein, the functional receptor for SARS coronavirus. A first step in understanding SARS pathogenesis","volume":"203","author":"Hamming","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4703","DOI":"10.1210\/en.2004-0443","article-title":"The novel angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) homolog, ACE2, is selectively expressed by adult Leydig cells of the testis","volume":"145","author":"Douglas","year":"2004","journal-title":"Endocrinology"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, Z., and Xu, X. (2020). 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 Cells. Cells, 9.","DOI":"10.20944\/preprints202002.0299.v1"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mussa, B.M., Srivastava, A., and Verberne, A.J.M. (2021). COVID-19 and Neurological Impairment: Hypothalamic Circuits and Beyond. Viruses, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/v13030498"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"782","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2020.12839","article-title":"Pathophysiology, Transmission, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Review","volume":"324","author":"Wiersinga","year":"2020","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"615","article-title":"A Systematic Review on the Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in Semen","volume":"12","author":"Gonzalez","year":"2020","journal-title":"Res. Rep. Urol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1111\/andr.12939","article-title":"No detection of SARS-CoV-2 from urine, expressed prostatic secretions, and semen in 74 recovered COVID-19 male patients: A perspective and urogenital evaluation","volume":"9","author":"Ruan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Andrology"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.5534\/wjmh.220091","article-title":"Association between COVID-19 and Male Fertility: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies","volume":"41","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"World J. Men\u2019s Health"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"538","DOI":"10.5534\/wjmh.220019","article-title":"Male Reproductive Tract Involvement and Sperm Parameters in SARS-CoV-2 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","volume":"41","author":"Kloping","year":"2022","journal-title":"World J. Men\u2019s Health"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","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":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"668","DOI":"10.4103\/1008-682X.146967","article-title":"Effect of transient scrotal hyperthermia on sperm parameters, seminal plasma biochemical markers, and oxidative stress in men","volume":"17","author":"Rao","year":"2015","journal-title":"Asian J. Androl."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"459","DOI":"10.1016\/S0015-0282(99)00567-1","article-title":"Relationship between oxidative stress, semen characteristics, and clinical diagnosis in men undergoing infertility investigation","volume":"73","author":"Pasqualotto","year":"2000","journal-title":"Fertil. Steril."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1016\/j.urology.2022.04.007","article-title":"Varicocele Repair Improves Static Oxidation Reduction Potential as a Measure of Seminal Oxidative Stress Levels in Infertile Men: A Prospective Clinical Trial Using the MiOXSYS System","volume":"165","author":"Kavoussi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Urology"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1165","DOI":"10.1007\/s00011-021-01497-4","article-title":"COVID-19 disrupts the blood-testis barrier through the induction of inflammatory cytokines and disruption of junctional proteins","volume":"70","author":"Peirouvi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Inflamm. Res."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","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":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2249","DOI":"10.1007\/s10815-022-02621-x","article-title":"Sperm quality is not affected by the BNT162b2 mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine: Results of a 6-14 months follow-up","volume":"39","author":"Karavani","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Assist. Reprod. Genet."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1111\/andr.13315","article-title":"Effect of COVID-19 infection on the erectile function","volume":"11","author":"Salar","year":"2022","journal-title":"Andrology"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"202","DOI":"10.1080\/13685538.2022.2104833","article-title":"Impact of COVID 19 on erectile function","volume":"25","author":"Adeyemi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Aging Male"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1038\/s41443-022-00540-0","article-title":"Tip of the iceberg: Erectile dysfunction and COVID-19","volume":"34","author":"Kaynar","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Impot. Res."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"566","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2016.05.013","article-title":"MiOXSYS: A novel method of measuring oxidation reduction potential in semen and seminal plasma","volume":"106","author":"Agarwal","year":"2016","journal-title":"Fertil. Steril."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"(2020). COVID-19 Rapid Guideline: Managing the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zafar, M.I., Yu, J., and Li, H. (2021). Implications of RNA Viruses in the Male Reproductive Tract: An Outlook on SARS-CoV-2. Front. Microbiol., 12.","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2021.783963"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100157","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinsp.2022.100157","article-title":"The pituitary gland in SARS-CoV-2 infections, vaccinations, and post-COVID syndrome","volume":"78","author":"Finsterer","year":"2022","journal-title":"Clinics"},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"29","article-title":"Effects of acute severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection on male hormone profile, ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression, and potential for transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in semen of Asian men","volume":"3","author":"Huang","year":"2022","journal-title":"F S Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e195","DOI":"10.1210\/clinem\/dgac730","article-title":"Testis-Specific Genes Deregulation in the Testis of COVID-19 Patients: A Potential Driver of Spermatogenesis Disruption?","volume":"108","author":"Pivonello","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1111\/andr.13097","article-title":"Testosterone in males with COVID-19: A 7-month cohort study","volume":"10","author":"Salonia","year":"2022","journal-title":"Andrology"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"684","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rbmo.2014.02.004","article-title":"Sperm DNA damage caused by oxidative stress: Modifiable clinical, lifestyle and nutritional factors in male infertility","volume":"28","author":"Wright","year":"2014","journal-title":"Reprod. Biomed. Online"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"739","DOI":"10.1002\/j.1939-4640.2000.tb02142.x","article-title":"Characteristics of human sperm chromatin structure following an episode of influenza and high fever: A case study","volume":"21","author":"Evenson","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Androl."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shcherbitskaia, A.D., Komarova, E.M., Milyutina, Y.P., Ishchuk, M.A., Sagurova, Y.M., Safaryan, G.K., Lesik, E.A., Gzgzyan, A.M., Bespalova, O.N., and Kogan, I.Y. (2022). Oxidative Stress Markers and Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Men Recovered from COVID-19. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 23.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms231710060"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1262\/jrd.2021-126","article-title":"Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 suppresses gonadotrophin secretion from bovine anterior pituitaries","volume":"68","author":"Abdillah","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Reprod. Dev."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6023","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2022.09.019","article-title":"The impact of COVID-19 vaccines on fertility-A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"40","author":"Zace","year":"2022","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"183","article-title":"Distribution of Human Papillomavirus and Antisperm Antibody in Semen and Its Association with Semen Parameters Among Infertile Men","volume":"21","author":"Piroozmand","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Reprod. Infertil."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"423","DOI":"10.1080\/2090598X.2021.1955554","article-title":"The impact of COVID-19 on the male reproductive tract and fertility: A systematic review","volume":"19","author":"Sengupta","year":"2021","journal-title":"Arab. J. Urol."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"(2023, August 19). WHO COVID-19 Dashboard. Available online: https:\/\/covid19.who.int\/info."}],"container-title":["Journal of Clinical Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/12\/22\/7099\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T21:23:11Z","timestamp":1760131391000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/12\/22\/7099"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,15]]},"references-count":36,"journal-issue":{"issue":"22","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,11]]}},"alternative-id":["jcm12227099"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jcm12227099","relation":{},"ISSN":["2077-0383"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2077-0383","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,15]]}}}