Table 6.
The main effects of COVID-19 on the reproductive system.
| Research | Year | Objective | Number of Participants | Material and Method | Results | Conclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Li H. et al. | 2020 | Determination of the influence of SARS-CoV-2 infection on male fertility. | 23 | The study included testicular and epididymal autopsy samples of deceased COVID-19 patients and patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Histopathological examinations were performed on testicular and epididymal samples. Semen parameters and immunological factors were examined in the semen sample. | Autopsy samples from the testes and epididymides showed the presence of interstitial edema, hyperemia, exudate of red blood cells in the testes and epididymides, and thinning of the seminiferous tubules. A reduced concentration of sperm and immunoglobulin factors in semen was observed in comparison with the control group. | Impaired spermatogenesis has been observed in COVID-19 patients, which may be partly explained by an elevated immune response in the testes. In addition, autoimmune orchitis has developed in some COVID-19 patients [18]. |
| Katz J. et al. | 2021 | Investigation of the relationship between erectile dysfunction and COVID-19 patients. | 3098 | The odds ratio for erectile dysfunction in COVID-19 patients with and without a history of comorbidities was calculated using the i2b2 patient registry platform. | COVID-19 patients were 3.3 times more likely to develop erectile dysfunction | COVID-19 and erectile dysfunction are strongly related, even after taking into account known risk factors and demographics [86] |
| Ruan Y. et al. | 2021 | Assessment of the involvement of the genitourinary system in patients with COVID-19 after recovery. | 74 | Men aged 20 to 50 years after infection with SARS-CoV-2 were enrolled. Urine, prostate secretion (EPS), and semen were collected for testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection. Semen quality and hormonal profiles were analyzed. | No viral RNA was detected in the body fluids of the genitourinary system. The tested values were within the normal range. Sperm concentration, total sperm count, and total mobility were all significantly reduced. | There was no evidence of direct involvement of the genitourinary system in men after recovery from COVID-19. Patients with a long time (≥90 days) from recovery had a lower total sperm count [89] |