A recent American study indicates that further research is needed to determine why male fertility decreases after contracting COVID-19, potentially linked to fever symptoms associated with the virus, according to the National Institutes of Health. The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, revealed that COVID-19 vaccines do not affect fertility in either men or women; however, contracting COVID-19 may temporarily impact fertility for up to two months.
The study analyzed data from over 2,100 women and men in the United States and Canada. It noted that there was no effect on fertility rates related to COVID-19 vaccines, confirming their safety for use. Data showed that women who tested positive for COVID-19 were less likely to conceive during the 60 days following infection.
Emilia Wyslink, an epidemiologist at Boston University, stated to CNBC that "there's no harm regarding women's ability to conceive, but it may take longer after contracting COVID-19." The findings thus far indicate no long-term effects on the fertility of either men or women due to COVID-19 infection.
Adi Katz, Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lenox Hill, noted that "the inflammation caused by COVID-19 may play a role in reducing sperm quality." She mentioned that multiple studies have now shown that COVID-19 infection can impact male fertility, particularly for those with moderate to severe illness. Dr. Bobak Birookim, a fertility specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, stated that "men who experience COVID-19 symptoms with fever may face a temporary decline in sperm count, which returns to normal levels after about two months."
