Infection with "Covid" can negatively affect sperm quality for up to three months, according to a recent study that found the coronavirus reduces sperm count by 37% while also slowing its motility. The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, was conducted by academics in Belgium on 120 men who had experienced symptoms of Covid, and it was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility on Monday.
Samples from all the study participants, who had an average age of 35 and were asymptomatic for an average of 52 days by the time of sampling, showed a 37% decline in sperm count after contracting the virus. Researchers found that the impact of Covid on male fertility lasted for three months, during which time sperm counts returned to normal levels. Alongside the decrease in sperm count, there was a 60% decline in the motility of sperm.
The study concluded that couples wishing to conceive should be warned that sperm quality following a Covid-19 infection might be suboptimal, although scientists acknowledged that further research is needed to examine the long-term effects on fertility. This finding reflects what is already known about other viruses, such as influenza, which are known to damage sperm.
Regarding influenza, scientists had previously blamed the harmful effects on elevated body temperatures caused by fever induced by the virus. However, with Covid, the study indicated that the blame lies not with fever but rather with the body's immune response to the virus. Tests performed on individuals participating in the study showed a correlation between high concentrations of Covid antibodies in patients' blood and reduced sperm function, known as temporary sperm dysfunction.
Despite the negative effects of Covid on sperm count, researchers noted that there is "strong evidence" that the virus cannot be transmitted sexually through the semen of those who have recently recovered from the infection.
