Niloofar Sadeghi, Zahra Ghorban, Marziyeh Tavalaee, Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani,
Volume 29, Issue 1 (3-2026)
Abstract
Introduction: Despite the conclusion of the coronavirus pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 continues to contribute to inflammatory and infectious diseases. This study, conducted in the third year of the pandemic, aims to investigate the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproductive health, specifically sperm parameters. We compare sperm characteristics and chromatin status in a case of COVID-19 infection at three time points: before infection and one and five months after recovery.
Methods: We studied a 32-year-old male with primary infertility and grade one varicocele. Semen analyses were performed according to WHO guidelines after the patient tested positive for COVID-19 via RT-PCR. Samples were collected before exposure to COVID-19 and at one and five months post-recovery. Sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were assessed using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA), while DNA fragmentation was evaluated using the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA). Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained.
Results: Pre-COVID-19: Sperm concentration: 56 × 10⁶/ml. One-month post-COVID-19: Sperm concentration: 6.4 × 10⁶/ml (moderate oligozoospermia). Five months post-COVID-19: Sperm concentration: 58 × 10⁶/ml. No significant changes in motility or morphology were observed, and DNA fragmentation remained stable.
Conclusions: This case report indicates that COVID-19 temporarily reduces sperm concentration, with levels returning to normal within five months. While SARS-CoV-2 can impact male reproductive health, these effects appear to be non-permanent. Further research with larger sample sizes is necessary to fully understand the implications of COVID-19 on male fertility.
