Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in human semen-a cohort study

To investigate the presence of viral RNA in human semen of patients with severe acute-respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and to evaluate its presence and relevance in semen parameters. Pilot cohort study. University hospital. Thirty-four men were distributed as: 1) patients in convalesc...

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Published in:Fertility and sterility Vol. 114; no. 2; p. 233
Main Authors: Holtmann, Nora, Edimiris, Philippos, Andree, Marcel, Doehmen, Cornelius, Baston-Buest, Dunja, Adams, Ortwin, Kruessel, Jan-Steffen, Bielfeld, Alexandra Petra
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 01.08.2020
Subjects:
Adult
Betacoronavirus - metabolism
Cohort Studies
Coronavirus Infections - blood
Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis
COVID-19
Humans
Infertility, Male - blood
Infertility, Male - diagnosis
Infertility, Male - virology
Male
Middle Aged
Pandemics
Pilot Projects
Pneumonia, Viral - blood
Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis
Prospective Studies
RNA, Viral - blood
SARS-CoV-2
Semen - metabolism
Semen - virology
Young Adult
COVID-19
semen
SARS-CoV-2
ART
infertility
ISSN:1556-5653, 1556-5653
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Summary:To investigate the presence of viral RNA in human semen of patients with severe acute-respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and to evaluate its presence and relevance in semen parameters. Pilot cohort study. University hospital. Thirty-four men were distributed as: 1) patients in convalescence (patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in pharyngeal swab according to reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] or antibodies); 2) negative control group (no antibodies); and 3) patients with an acute infection (detection of SARS-CoV-2 in pharyngeal swab). Semen and a blood sample were collected from each individual. Analysis of semen quality according to the World Health Organization standards. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR in the native semen sample and after density gradient preparation. Confirmation of immunoglobulin (Ig) A und IgG antibodies in the blood. Eighteen semen samples from recovered men were obtained 8-54 days after absence of symptoms, 14 from control subjects, and 2 from patients with an active COVID-19 infection. No RNA was detected by means of RT-PCR in the semen, including semen samples from two patients with an acute COVID-19 infection. Subjects with a moderate infection showed an impairment of sperm quality. A mild COVID-19 infection is not likely to affect testis and epididymis function, whereas semen parameters did seem impaired after a moderate infection. SARS-CoV-2 RNA could not be detected in semen of recovered and acute COVID-19-positive men. This suggests no viral transmission during sexual contact and assisted reproductive techniques, although further data need to be obtained.
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ISSN:1556-5653
1556-5653
DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.05.028