Twelve Months Down the Line: do we know Anything more about the Presence of the SARS-CoV-2 in Human Semen?

Dear Editor,

During the last year, the SARS-CoV-2 infectious agent of COVID-19 has caused more than 75 million infections and 1.5 million deaths worldwide. It has been observed to affect the respiratory tract and exert multiple effects on the human body, including the male reproductive tract. To date, it is understood that although the general infection rate is similar in men and women (50%), deaths in the male population are higher.[1] It has even been reported that the prostate expresses the virus receptor, which could negatively affect the seminal quality and could have a severe effect on human reproduction.[2] [3] Therefore, this commentarýs objective was to analyze the scientific data published to date on the presence of the virus in semen.

A literature search of the PubMed and Google Scholar databases was performed using the following keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, seminal, semen, and sperm. To date, only fourteen articles (both originals and case report)[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] described on the presence of the virus in semen samples. Of these, only a single study described to have identified the virus to be present in six semen samples from SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.[4] None of the remaining 13 studies detected the virus in the semen of 351 COVID-19 positive men ([Fig. 1]).

Fig. 1 SARS-CoV-2 in semen samples. Total semen samples (the size of each bubble is proportional), positive samples, and date publication (color).

Based on current evidence, although the virus could be causing adverse effects in the male reproductive tract, its presence in semen continues to be debated because current evidence suggests that the probability of being in semen is very low (1.68%). Consequently, the likelihood of infection through sexual intercourse would be extremely weak. Therefore, as a matter of urgency, further studies on this matter should be pursued.

 

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Conflicts to Interest

None to declare.

• References

• 1 Montaño Mendoza VM, Mendez Cortina YA, Velilla Hernandez PA, Cardona Maya WD. Understanding SARS-CoV-2 infection in males. J Med Res 2020; 6 (05) 180-182
• 2 Cardona Maya WD, Du Plessis SS, Velilla PA. SARS-CoV-2 and the testis: similarity with other viruses and routes of infection. Reprod Biomed Online 2020; 40 (06) 763-764
• 3 Omolaoye TS, Adeniji AA, Cardona Maya WD, du Plessis SS. SARS-COV-2 (Covid-19) and male fertility: Where are we?. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 99: 65-70
• 4 Li D, Jin M, Bao P, Zhao W, Zhang S. Clinical characteristics and results of semen tests among men with coronavirus disease 2019. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3 (05) e208292
• 5 Kayaaslan B, Korukluoglu G, Hasanoglu I, Kalem AK, Eser F, Akinci E. et al. Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in semen of patients in the acute stage of COVID-19 infection. Urol Int 2020; 104 (9-10): 678-683
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• 9 Pan F, Xiao X, Guo J, Song Y, Li H, Patel DP. et al. No evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 in semen of males recovering from coronavirus disease 2019. Fertil Steril 2020; 113 (06) 1135-1139
• 10 Rawlings SA, Ignacio C, Porrachia M, Du P, Smith DM, Chaillon A. No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 seminal shedding despite SARS-CoV-2 persistence in the upper respiratory tract. Open Forum Infect Dis 2020; 7 (08) a325
• 11 Ma L, Xie W, Li D, Shi L, Ye G, Mao Y. et al. Evaluation of sex-related hormones and semen characteristics in reproductive-aged male COVID-19 patients. J Med Virol 2021; 93 (01) 456-462
• 12 Li H, Xiao X, Zhang J, Zafar MI, Wu C, Long Y. et al. Impaired spermatogenesis in COVID-19 patients. EClinicalMedicine 2020; 28: 100604
• 13 Pavone C, Giammanco GM, Baiamonte D, Pinelli M, Bonura C, Montalbano M. et al. Italian males recovering from mild COVID-19 show no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen despite prolonged nasopharyngeal swab positivity. Int J Impot Res 2020; 32 (05) 560-562
• 14 Ruan Y, Hu B, Liu Z, Liu K, Jiang H, Li H. et al. 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. Andrology 2021; 9 (01) 99-106
• 15 Temiz MZ, Dincer MM, Hacibey I, Yazar RO, Celik C, Kucuk SH. et al. Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in semen samples and the effects of COVID-19 on male sexual health by using semen analysis and serum male hormone profile: A cross-sectional, pilot study. Andrologia 2021; 53 (02) e13912
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• 17 Paoli D, Pallotti F, Colangelo S, Basilico F, Mazzuti L, Turriziani O. et al. Study of SARS-CoV-2 in semen and urine samples of a volunteer with positive naso-pharyngeal swab. J Endocrinol Invest 2020; 43 (12) 1819-1822

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 14. Februar 2021

Angenommen: 16. März 2021

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
12. Mai 2021