Covid-19 infection may impact semen quality in men: AIIMS study

Infection with the SARSCoV2 virus may negatively impact semen quality according to a study on 30 males conducted by researchers at the All India Institute of Medical SciencesThe team led by researchers at AIIMS Patna noted that COVID19 can lead to multiorgan damage through the angiotensinconverting enzyme2 receptor ACE2 abundant in testicular tissueACE2 acts as the receptor for the SARSCoV2 spike protein through which the virus gains entry into the host cellsHowever little information is available regarding the shedding of SARSCoV2 in semen the thick white fluid that contains sperm and its impact on sperm formation and fertility potentialAlso read Kanjhawala case Police looking for two people suspected of shielding accusedThe study published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science investigated the presence of SARSCoV2 in the semen of COVID19 malesThe researchers also analysed the effect of the disease on semen quality and sperm DNA fragmentation index which reflects the integrity of and the damage to the DNA thereby detecting potential sperm damageThirty COVID19 male patients aged 1945 registered to AIIMS Patna hospital participated in the study between October 2020 and April 2021We conducted a realtime reverse transcriptase test on all the semen samples Detailed semen analysis including the sperm DNA fragmentation index was done at first sampling that is during COVID19 the authors of the study saidAfter 74 days of the first sampling we obtained the second sampling and repeated all the tests they saidThe study including researchers from AIIMS Managalagiri and AIIMS New Delhi found that all semen samples collected in the first and second sampling tested with realtime reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction RTPCR were negative for SARSCoV2In the first sampling semen volume vitality total motility sperm concentration and total sperm count were significantly lower the researchers saidIn contrast semen agglutination or formation of sperm heaps head defect DNA fragmentation index liquefaction time semen viscosity and leukocytes or white blood cells were increasedLiquefaction time is a measure of the time it takes for the semen to turn into liquid while viscosity is the thickness of the seminal fluidThese results were reversed at the second sampling but not to the optimum level according to the resaerchersThe findings were statistically significant suggesting COVID19 negatively affects semen parameters including sperm DNA fragmentation index the authors notedAlthough we could not find SARSCoV2 in the semen the semen quality remained poor until the second sampling they saidThe researchers noted that assisted reproductive technology ART clinics and sperm banking facilities should consider assessing the semen of COVID19 infected malesART includes all fertility treatments in which either eggs or embryos are handledThese clinics should exclude men with a positive history of SARSCoV2 until their semen quality returns to normal the researchers addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever