Coronavirus May Cause Infertility in Men!: “The most important of these is the possibility of infertility. There may be a decrease in testicular volume and sperm count after coronavirus,” said Associate Professor Mendes Garcia from the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, who pointed out that the infection of the male reproductive system with Covid-19 may have many important consequences.
Due to deaths due to pneumonia caused by Covid-19 infection, all attention is focused on the respiratory system. However, our other vital organs such as the heart, kidney and brain are also affected by the damage of both the virus itself and the relentless war created by the immune system. One of the tissues that we will understand over time is the male reproductive system.
In some studies published in reputable international journals, it has been shown that the male reproductive system can also be affected by Covid-19 infection. First, coronovirus was found in the sperm samples of 6 of 38 Covid-19 patients. In subsequent studies, it was found that there was a decrease in Covid-19 patients in some male hormones, which we call the testosterone / LH ratio and indicate the sensitivity of testicular cells.
Testicles are not susceptible to the virus
The blood testicular barrier that protects the testicles is not a very strong structure against virus spread. The same happens with other viral infections such as HIV, hepatitis, and mumps. One of the targets of the coronavirus in the body is the ACE2 molecule. The abundance of this molecule in testicular cells leaves the male reproductive system vulnerable to the new type of coronavirus.
The possibility that the virus can settle in sperm cells and spread through sperm cells is being investigated. Although coronovirus has been found in the sperm samples of male patients, many factors are decisive for the infection to be sexually transmitted, from the amount of virus taken to finding the appropriate environment for Covid-19 to reproduce.
Decrease in volume and sperm count
Infection of the male reproductive system with Covid 19 can have many important consequences. The most important of these is the possibility of infertility as a result of retention and damage of the testicles, just like mumps infection.
Such cases may appear as infertility cases whose cause cannot be found after years. Although there is a decrease in testicular volume and sperm count after viral infections, both testicles must be highly damaged in order to develop infertility. This situation will only be illuminated by the studies carried out over time.
