COVID-19 and male reproductive system: pathogenic features and possible mechanisms

Abstract

Multiorgan dysfunction is the main characteristic of severe COVID-19 patients and the involvement of male reproductive system may occur among these patients. Although there is a limited evidence to confirm the orchitis and virus presence in the semen of patients, there are concerns about the transmission of virus through the semen. In addition, reduced fertility or infertility can be seen as consequences of severe COVID-19 in recovered subjects. In this study, we aimed to review articles related to COVID-19 and male reproductive system to find the possible underlying mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 in affecting male fertility. The following keywords of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, testis, orchitis, semen, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular (HPT) axis, Hypothalamus, etc., were defined to find the related publications from standard search engines, e.g., PUBMED, SCOPUS, Google Scholar. According to studies, COVID-19 occurs in severe patients as respiratory disease, along with multi-organ failure. The most important mechanisms are classified as direct and indirect pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. The presence of ACE2 on the cell surface of various cells in testis increases the risk of direct infection by this virus. SARS-CoV-2 also affects the testis through the cytokine storm. In addition, the important role of HPT axis dysregulation through impaired Leydig cells and hypothalamus should be considered. Using antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy can be harmful for testis function. Further investigations are required to investigate potential mechanisms of male infertility in survivals of COVID-19. Since involvement of testis is essential for fertility, increasing the knowledge of health system may improve the outcomes.

Introduction

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are common cause of human respiratory diseases with a range of mild to severe symptoms (Kang et al. 2020). COVID-19 has led to a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC) (Mohamed Khosroshahi et al. 2021). In December 2019, the outbreak of a novel virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) from China led to a more recent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic (Yang et al. 2020b). Over the past decades, some viral respiratory infections, such as SARS- CoV (China in 2003), H1N1 influenza virus (Mexico in 2009) (Dawood et al. 2009), and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV) (Saudi Arabia in 2012), were responsible for the global viral outbreak (Matoba et al. 2015; Shirato et al. 2014). SARS-COV-2 is a human CoV that belongs to the Coronaviridae family with a non-segmented large positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome (Cabeça et al. 2013; Li et al. 2020a). The genomic characteristics of SARS-COV-2 is a bat-origin CoV. Its sequences is 79.5% similar to SARS-CoV (Andersen et al. 2020). The structural proteins, including spike (S) glycoprotein, matrix (M), envelope (E), and nucleocapsid (N) proteins, are translated from this genome (Guo et al. 2020). SARS-CoV-2 directly infects the host cells by using similar receptor of SARS-CoV and leads to similar pathophysiological characteristics (Prompetchara et al. 2020). SARS-CoV-2 may bind to cells angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, a monocarboxypeptidase on the host cell, though spike-protein (Hoffmann et al. 2020). Then, the activated transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) facilitates the entry and spread of the virus through interfacing with the ACE2 receptor in the host cell (Huang et al. 2020; Lu et al. 2020). ACE2 is a member of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) family, which involves in the regulation of blood pressure. While this receptor is highly spread in the respiratory system (He et al. 2006), its presence in other organs such as the heart, liver, and kidney has been reported (Roca-Ho et al. 2017). Since the high concentration of ACE2 has been found in the respiratory system, respiratory disease is the most common characteristic of COVID-19 (Zhang et al. 2020a). Different cell types of respiratory system express ACE2, including alveolar epithelial type II cells, bronchiolar epithelial cells, and lung vascular cells (endothelium and arterial smooth muscle cells) (Shenoy et al. 2011; Zhang et al. 2020a). However, the involvement of other organs was reported in critically ill patients (Wang et al. 2020). It seems that the distribution of this receptor in other organs may be responsible for the non-respiratory manifestation of COVID-19 patients, e.g., cardiac diseases (myocardial injury, arrhythmia) and acute kidney injury (Hamming et al. 2004; Leng et al. 2020). The expression of the ACE2 receptor on other cells such as myocardial cells, epithelial cells of the esophagus, and epithelial cells of the ileum has been confirmed by single-cell RNA sequencing (Zou et al. 2020). SARS-CoV-2 is more contagious than other CoVs, including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. This virus can be transmitted human-to-human through direct contact, droplets, or stool. Because of asymptomatic cases and/or incubation period of 1–14 days (commonly 3–7 days) in infected patients, the risk of silent spreading is higher than other viruses (Naicker et al. 2020).

The most common manifestations of COVID-19 are fever and dry cough, and difficulty breathing, dyspnea, and fatigue have been reported (Adhikari et al. 2020; McMichael 2020). The illness progresses as severe form with dyspnea, hypoxemia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) within 1 week following the onset of disease (Chen et al. 2020). The mortality rate of COVID-19 seems to be related to ARDS, followed by multi-organ impairment (hepatic, renal, cardiac, and gastrointestinal complications), resulting in death (El Zowalaty and Järhult 2020; Shanmugaraj et al. 2020; Zhou et al. 2020). Moreover, the underlying diseases such as kidney, liver, and cardiovascular disease, malignant tumors, and old age (older than 50) are risk factors to worsen the prognosis of illness (Chen et al. 2020; Cui et al. 2020). The other problem is associated with the reproductive system involvement, which may enhance the risk of fertility issues in infected patients (Ma et al. 2020). Thus, the potential multiorgan impairment needs to be considered in clinical approaches to prevent and treat COVID-19 patients (Chen et al. 2020). While there is a possibility of infertility in male patients, there is limited information on management of these patients.

In this review, we aimed to investigate the possibility of infertility or reduced fertility in COVID-19 patients and discover potential underlying pathogenic mechanisms of infertility induced by SARS-CoV-2.

Male reproductive system in COVID-19 patients

It has been recorded that men are more susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2 than women (Jin et al. 2020). Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 can lead to infertility in male patients and survivors due to some potential alterations, such as hypothalamic and pituitary dysfunction, disrupted sex hormone profile, and testicular atrophy (Selvaraj et al. 2021). In a study, scrotal discomfort was observed in 19% of patients during the diagnosis for COVID-19 (Pan et al. 2020). Moreover, a case of COVID-19 with severe bilateral testicular pain, which was prevalent on the left side, was reported (La Marca et al. 2020). One import point was to know the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the semen (Patel et al. 2021). In a systematic review, it was emphasized that while SARS-CoV-2 might induce male infertility, there we no epidemiological evidence to confirm the sexual transmission of this virus (Tur-Kaspa et al. 2021) The orchitis and testicular damages due to infection by the CoVs family have been reported in humans (e.g., SARS-Co) (Xu et al. 2006) and animals (e.g., feline CoV) (Sigurðardóttir et al. 2001; Stranieri et al. 2020). While the various pathological characteristic with testicular damage and germ cell destruction was clearly observed in these cases (Xu et al. 2006), the presence of virus in the testis and direct infection of tissue is still the subject of debate due to conflicting findings (Ding et al. 2004; Gu et al. 2005; Xu et al. 2006).

It seems that SARS-CoV-2 may be transmitted by semen through the asymptomatic or mild patients even during the incubation period (Cardona Maya et al. 2020). The sexual transmission of the Zika virus and Ebola virus has been confirmed in the symptomatically infected patients and survivors of the disease (Feldmann 2018). The direct invasion of host cells via SARS-CoV-2 is under doubt (Ma et al. 2020; Song et al. 2020). Besides, orchitis and subsequent infertility in these patients should be considered as an important complication of disease.

Additionally, even researches on the presence of virus in the semen were unsuccessful, there are some evidences show the febrile episode due to the viral infection can affect the quality of sperm (Wiwanitkit 2010). This may result in reduced fertility due to lower sperm count and motility within 72–90 days following COVID19 (Segars et al. 2020). Also, the impairment of semen quality can be temporary when the fever is managed through therapeutic options, as it was reported in a case report following a recent acute fever of 38–39 °C due to a throat infection (Andrade-Rocha 2013). In another study, fever ≥ 39 °C for duration of ≥ 3 days led to temporary infertility with severely impaired semen quality and even azoospermia in five patients, which recovered in 4–6 months (Jung et al. 2001).

SARS-CoV-2 effects on the male reproductive system: pathologic alterations and underlying mechanisms

Microscopical evaluations of testis samples showed that the spermatogenesis process was not affected during the acute phase of the COVID-19. However, significant seminiferous tubular damage, swelling Sertoli cells, decreased Leydig cells, interstitial edema, and mild inflammation (predominant T lymphocytes) were observed. The authors proved that although spermatogenesis was normal at the time of analysis, functional changes in Sertoli and Leydig cells may lead to future testicular damage (Yang et al. 2020a). The results of another molecular and morphological evaluation of autopsy from six men with COVID-19 demonstrated the severe spermatogenesis damages in these patients compared to controls. In addition to the detection of viral RNA and particles, evaluation of TMPRSS2 and ACE2 was confirmed. Also, infiltration of different leukocytes (e.g., CD68 macrophages, CD3 T cells, CD20 B cells, CD38 plasma cells, and HLA-DR myeloid cells) was observed in histopathological evaluations (Ma et al. 2020). Recently, it was demonstrated that the serum luteinizing hormone (LH) was enhanced. In contrast, the ratio of testosterone/LH and ratio of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/LH were dramatically reduced in 81 male cases with moderate-to-severe COVID-19. No difference was observed in serum testosterone levels of COVID-19 patients and control groups (Ma et al. 2020). Although dysregulation of sex hormones was proven in this study, it is essential to repeat these measurements 3–6 months after recovery. In a cohort study on 221 consecutive male patients with COVID-19, reduced levels of testosterone were observed correlated with the severity of disease (Çayan et al. 2020). In a case report, the semen analysis of a COVID-19 patient 135 days after recovery showed improved sperm count and motility, but the morphological features remained poor with damaged DNA. During assisted reproductive technology, the lower quality of embryo was detected (Mannur et al. 2021). The underlying mechanisms of SARS-COV-2 in the involvement of the male genital tract are not clear. We discussed the potential mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 in two direct and indirect pathways. Also, these mechanisms were summarized in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1.

Possible mechanism of SARS-COV-2 in induction of male infertility. SARS-COV-2 can affect male infertility by direct and indirect mechanisms. Directly, this virus invades cells of testicular tissue via binding ACE2 receptor. Indirectly, hyperinflammation (increased levels of cytokines), RAAS dysregulation, hypoxia, fever, brain alterations, and medical therapy can lead to dysregulation of testosterone, several pathological features, and the production of impaired sperms. IL interleukin, RAAS angiotensin–aldosterone system, ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme, TGF transforming growth factor, TNF tumor necrosis factor, IFN interferon, GE germinal epithelium, LC Leydig cells, SC Sertoli cell, OS oxidative stress, ROS reactive oxygen species (Created with BioRender.com)

Direct mechanisms

As described, SARS-CoV-2 uses the ACE2 receptor to infect host cells. Therefore, the presence of ACE2 on the cell surface increases the risk of local infection in the target organ (Mokhtari et al. 2020). The existence of ACE2 on different testicular cells such as spermatogonia, Leydig cells, and Sertoli cells has been confirmed (Douglas et al. 2004; Hamming et al. 2004; Wang and Xu 2020). Based on immunohistochemistry, the primary localization of ACE2 in Leydig cells of rat testis and Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and glandular cells of seminal vesicles of the human testis has been confirmed (Douglas et al. 2004; Hikmet et al. 2020). The analysis of online databases revealed the expression of ACE2 in seminiferous duct cells and Leydig cells of human testis (Fan et al. 2020). The expression of ACE2 in Leydig cells in rodents and Leydig and Sertoli cells in humans has been reported to play a critical role in regulating testicular cells, particularly Leydig cell function, possibly controlling steroidogenesis and some other functions (Douglas et al. 2004). On the other hand, the existence of the angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor on the Leydig cell has been proven. Ang II inhibits the production of both basal and LH-stimulated testosterone synthesis by Leydig cells (Khanum and Dufau 1988). Also, bioinformatics analysis has shown the high mRNA and protein expression levels of ACE2 in the testis and spermatids (Zhang et al. 2020b). Therefore, the presence of ACE2 in testis may increase the risk of orchitis among the COVID-19 patients. There are limited studies to confirm the direct invasion of testicular cells via SARS-CoV-2. In a study, the absence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen and testes of 12 patients at both was confirmed in both acute and recovery phases (Song et al. 2020). In addition, there was no evidence to show the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the semen of these patients (Pan et al. 2020). The postmortem RT-PCR evaluation of samples from the COVID-19 patient showed that viral RNA was not detected in testicular tissue (Song et al. 2020). In RT-PCR and electron microscopy, the RNA of SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in the reticular samples of COVID-19 patients (Yang et al. 2020a). However, the viral RNA, viral particles, and S- protein of the SARS-CoV-2 were detected in autopsy from six testes of COVID-19 patients (Ma et al. 2020). Recently, evidence from a survey on postmortem testis biopsies has confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 can directly invade the testis and germ cells. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and viral nucleic acid in the testicular samples from COVID-19 patients represent the potential impact of the COVID-19 on spermatogenesis. (Ma et al. 2021). While the results of these studies are considerable, their sample size involved a small population. Therefore, new investigations should be conducted on larger samples to detect the virus in the semen of COVID-19 patients.

Indirect mechanisms

Inflammation

Cytokine storm and hyperinflammation syndrome due to overexpression of cytokines and chemokines have been observed in COVID-19 patients (Tisoncik et al. 2012). Likewise, the cytokine storm might have a critical role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 (Lin et al. 2018). The direct attack of the lung epithelial cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells by SARS-CoV-2 leads to the systemic cytokine storm, inducing microcirculation dysfunctions in other organs and results in viral sepsis (Li et al. 2020b). This phenomenon is responsible for frequent complications such as ARDS and respiratory failure due to edema in lung tissue and dysfunction in air exchange, hepatic and renal insufficiency in the severe cases of COVID-19, which increase the risk of death in infected patients (Channappanavar and Perlman 2017; Leng et al. 2020; Liu et al. 2020). The severity of disease COVID-19 patients correlated with systemic levels of several proinflammatory mediators such as interleukins (e.g., IL-1, IL-2, IL-7, and IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ, inducible protein 10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (GCSF), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) (Ruan et al. 2020; Wrapp et al. 2020). High levels of IP-10, GCSF, MCP-1, MIP-1α, and TNF-α have been demonstrated in patients requiring ICU admission (Chen et al. 2020; Huang et al. 2020). IL-6 is the most important factor among these mediators, as its role in the progress of inflammation in viral disease (Hou et al. 2014). Inflammasomes complex, which activates IL-1 β by stimulation of caspase-1 (Bazrafkan et al. 2018), has been involved in viral infections (Farag et al. 2020). Cytokines play a critical role in the pathogenesis of infertility in male subjects (Loveland et al. 2017). High levels of cytokines in the reproductive tract (testis and epididymis) are inevitably related to oxidative stress, leading to sperm DNA damages and apoptosis (Azenabor et al. 2015). Deviations of cytokine microenvironment within the testicular tissue may induce tumorigenic adverse impacts, causing testicular cancer as a long-term outcome of inflammation (Loveland et al. 2017). On the other hand, dysregulated levels of inflammatory mediators (including Transforming growth factor-β, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-α, IFN-y, and TNF-α), oxidative products (including ROS, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9), and oxidative enzymes (including superoxide dismutase) were reported in COCID-19 group (Maleki and Tartibian 2021). By the way, it has been stated that it takes 3–4 months to return sperm parameters to basal state (Bendayan and Boitrelle 2021). Taken together, controlling cytokine storm in patients with COVID-19 can prevent the organ dysfunction, particularly in the testis.

The RAAS

The RAAS activation is vital in the regulation of blood pressure, vascular tone, and hemostasis. Renin activation in the kidney in response to some stimuli (such as reduced blood pressure) converts angiotensinogen to Ang (I) ACE2 contributes to the conversation of Ang I to Ang II in the lung (Paul et al. 2006). Also, ACE2 can directly convert Ang I to Ang 1–9 (Ocaranza and Jalil 2012). Ang II applies its action through interacting with Ang II type 1 and 2 receptors (AT1R and AT2R) (Paul et al. 2006). ACE2 is another component of RAAS that cleaves Ang II to generate Ang 1–7. Ang 1–7 exerts its action through its receptor, MasR (Liao and Wu 2020). Recently, another fragment of Ang II Ang 3–8 with acting on its receptor, insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP or AT4R), was discovered (George et al. 2010). Regulation of blood pressure is performed via the pressor (ACE/Ang II/AT1R) and the depressor (ACE 2/Ang 1–7/MasR) arms of the RAAS. A growing body of evidence has confirmed a widespread local tissue RAAS. Although different RAAS family members are able to regulate testicular functions, the exact role of this system in the fertility is not cleared yet (Mentz et al. 2013). While ACE2 has been shown to affect the Leydig cells’ function as a regulatory factor of the enzyme in steroidogenesis (Leal et al. 2009), the ACE2 knockout mice have been reported to be fertile without any gross structural abnormalities (Gurley et al. 2006). The presence of RAAS components (e.g., ACE) on several cell types of testis confirms that these components play a critical role in the regulation of steroidogenesis, testosterone secretion, spermatogenesis, epididymal contractility, and sperm function in the testis and epididymis (Reis et al. 2010; Younis et al. 2020). As mentioned before, ACE2 is highly expressed in both testicular germ and somatic cells (Shen et al. 2020; Younis et al. 2020). In addition, other RAAS peptides and related receptors such as Ang 1‐7 have been detected in Sertoli cells and Leydig cells (Younis et al. 2020). Men with normal spermatogenesis show the high activity of ACE 2/Ang 1‐7/MasR axis. Conversely, lower expression of MasR and ACE2 were identified in patients with abnormal spermatogenesis (Reis et al. 2010; Younis et al. 2020). It has been shown that Ace1^−/− male mice have are sterile (Kessler et al. 2000). Despite the sperm motility and fusing location of eggs generated in Ace2 and Ace3− deficient and both proved to be fertile, the male mice were slightly abnormal (Crackower et al. 2002; Inoue et al. 2010). It has been recorded that MasR− null mice exert reduced daily sperm count and impaired spermatogenesis through increased apoptosis during meiosis (Leal et al. 2009). The lower expression of ACE 2 on the cell surface after binding of the virus decreases the cleavage of Ang II to Ang 1–7, as well as Ang I to Ang 1–9 in the cell, leading to an increase amount of Ang (II) This accumulation can contribute to toxicity and inflammation in tissues with high expression of ACE2 (Fu et al. 2020; Naik 2020). Although the ACE2 role in the local vascular regulatory system and its relationship with Leydig cells, also direct and indirect regulator of microvascular flow characteristics has been proven (Widmark et al. 1986), this receptor has no hormonally control in the intact testis. There is no evidence to explain effects of the entire RAAS pathway within the testis (Douglas et al. 2004). Increased levels of serum LH and decreased testosterone/LH ratio are often clinical signs of primary hypogonadism (Hikmet et al. 2020), confirming Leydig cell dysfunction. Altered levels of sex hormones can explain how testicular impairment is induced by Leydig cell dysfunction due to the lower ACE2 activity and the Ang II/AT1R pathway imbalance.

Hypoxia

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and impaired gas exchange lead to systemic hypoxia in COVID-19 patients (Serebrovska et al. 2020). Since SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in the specimens, histopathological alterations in testicular tissue can be induced by hypoxia. The testicular dysfunction has been observed in conditions with the systemic oxygen deficit, such as mountaineers, obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, sleep apnea, sickle cell disease, and beta-thalassaemia (Bomhard and Gelbke 2013; Torres et al. 2014). Lower levels of testosterone was correlated with the severity of disease in men with ARDS (Heffernan et al. 2011). The hypoxic condition induces some testicular alterations, e.g., enhanced temperature, vascularization, and interstitial space, as well as reduced organ mass (Farias et al. 2005; Reyes et al. 2012). Histopathological studies have proven that exposure to chronic hypoxia induces some changes, including folding of the basement membrane, degeneration of germinal epithelium, detachment of germ cells, alterations in lipid contents of Sertoli cells, and elevated lipid peroxidation (Farias et al. 2005; Liao et al. 2010). The evidence shows that chronic hypoxia causes reversible injury (reduced sperm count and motility) on male fertility (Verratti et al. 2008). In an animal model of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it was shown that hypoxia was associated with increased oxidative stress (reduced expression of glutathione peroxidase 1 and superoxide dismutase-1) and decreased fertility (impaired progressive sperm motility) (Torres et al. 2014). Hypoxia triggers systemic and organ-related oxidative stress and affects organ function (Lavie 2009). Taken together, reduced oxygen content in COVID-19 patients can induce reversibly reduced fertility due to increased oxidative stress in testicular tissue.

Fever

Fever is a primary manifestation of COVID-19 observed in 80% of patients (Li et al. 2020c). High and sustained elevation in body temperature has been reported to impact spermatogenesis and leads to reduce the quality of sperm in viral infections (Wiwanitkit 2010). High fever can affect chromatin structure infertility in humans and animals (Evenson et al. 2000; Sharma and Polasa 1978). Hyperthermia increases the intratesticular temperature and causes vascular disturbances, which itself triggers the inflammation in testicular tissue. It has suppressive effects on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis (Fijak et al. 2018).

Brain alterations

Altered levels of gonadotropins and testosterone in male COVID-19 subjects might be due to the dysregulation of hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular (HPT) axis (Tian and Zhou 2021). Nevertheless, SARS-CoV-2-mediated dysregulation of the HPT axis remains unclear (Pal and Banerjee 2020). While there is an association between impaired HPT axis and Leydig cell dysfunction, increasing evidence shows that hypothalamus abnormalities can be responsible for the dysregulated secretion of testes-derived sex steroid hormones (Selvaraj et al. 2021). Hypothalamic lesions in patients with COVID-19 have been recorded (Pascual-Goñi et al. 2020), increasing the risk of HPT axis dysfunction. In addition, high expression of ACE2 in the hypothalamus makes this region a hub for SARS-CoV-2 infection (Nampoothiri et al. 2020). Moreover, dysregulation of the HPT axis can be a psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Fear and stress in patients with COVID-19 can induce several mental problems, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and sleep disturbances (Koçak et al. 2021). Recently, it was reported that survivors of COVID-19 showed anxiety disorder (19.15%) and psychotic disorders (2.77%) 6 months after recovery (Taquet et al. 2021). Stressors have been identified as potential risk factors of male infertility, as they negatively affect semen parameters (Taquet et al. 2021). The psychological stress is regulated by the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. PVN secrets corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and controls hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis (Nargund 2015). CRH stimulates the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion from the anterior pituitary gland (Kalantaridou et al. 2010). ACTH directly affects the secretion of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex, the final mediator of the HPA axis (Habib et al. 2001). Increased activity HPA axis due to stressors has a direct inhibitory effect on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion mediated through glucocorticoids, resulting in sex hormone reductions and sperm abnormalities (Kirby et al. 2009). Therefore, the mental and pathological impacts of COVID-19 on hypothalamus should be highly considered in patients or recovered cases with abnormal gonadotropin hormone levels.

Medical therapy

Immunomodulatory therapies may provoke potential long-term effects on male fertility and are a matter of concern. It has been shown that chronic use and high dose of corticosteroids can inhibit the HPT axis (low testosterone levels) and induce erectile dysfunction. Chronic administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can affect sperm quality by reducing sperm motility, vitality, count, and morphology. These effects are reversible and dose-dependent (Mendonça et al. 2000). Moreover, the treatment of COVID-19 patients with anti-viral drugs (e.g., ribavirin) reduces testosterone levels, induces oxidative stress, impairs seminiferous epithelium, and causes the formation of abnormal sperms (Almasry et al. 2017; Narayana et al. 2005).

Conclusions

Based on current knowledge, the male reproductive system involvement in critically ill patients needs to be considered by the health care system. Because of limited evidence on the testis infection by SARS-COV-2 in asymptomatic patients or during incubation, people need to be protected in their sexual contact. Management strategies and providing sperm donation programs are necessary during the COVID-19 disease course. Also, some protective approaches, such as using antioxidants, can be prescribed to reduce the oxidative stress-induced injuries in testicular tissue in patients with fever and multiorgan dysfunction. Further studies are required to manage the reproductive health parameters and HPT axis abnormalities related to secondary mental and pathological complications in the positive individuals during and after the recovery from COVID-19.

Author contributions

DA conceived of the presented idea. AA, and DA equally participated in drafting the article. AA and DA participated in revising it critically for important intellectual content. AA gave final approval of the version to be submitted and any revised version.

Funding

No funding to declare.

Declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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