Abstract
The effect of COVID-19 on the male reproductive tract has been sparsely studied. This exploratory study was designed to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the semen of men recovering from COVID-19. A systematic literature review was also performed as per PRISMA guidelines to gather perspective on this topic. The prospective study included men 21 years and older recovering from COVID-19 with nasopharyngeal swab negative for SARS-CoV-2 or at least two weeks from the last COVID RT-PCR positivity. After clinical evaluation, freshly ejaculated semen sample by masturbation was collected in a sterile container. Samples were processed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. Twenty-one patients were contacted for the study, 11 of which consented to provide a semen sample. The mean age of the cohort was 29.72 ± 4.52 years. None of the patients gave a history of epididymo-orchitis or sexual dysfunction at the time of assessment. None of the semen samples demonstrated SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR. Median duration of semen sample collection from the COVID positivity was 44 days (Range 19-59 days). Detailed literature review revealed that SARS-CoV-2 is not found in patients recovering from COVID-19 infection. We conclude that SARS-CoV-2 is not found in the semen of patients recovering from COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; carrier state; semen; virus.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, carrier state, Semen, virus., 【초록키워드】 Prospective Study, Infection, RT-PCR, virus, COVID, Nasopharyngeal swab, Cohort, COVID-19 infection, clinical evaluation, male, Patient, age, carrier state, Semen, PCR positivity, sexual dysfunction, dysfunction, literature review, Older, Topic, PRISMA, Perspective, exploratory study, Semen samples, men, epididymo-orchitis, masturbation, performed, Sample, the patient, was collected, determine, demonstrated, reproductive, processed, Range, recovering from COVID-19, semen sample, 【제목키워드】 SARS-COV-2 infection, exploratory study, men, recovering from COVID-19,