Does SARS-CoV-2 Affect Human Semen? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Klepinowski, T (通讯作者),Pomeranian Med Univ Hosp 1, Dept Neurosurg, PL-71252 Szczecin, Poland.
2023-2
Contradictory results have been reported regarding effects of the SARS-CoV-2 upon human semen. A timely and up-to-date systematic review with meta-analysis appears necessary. This study aimed to deliver pooled prevalence (PP) of SARS-CoV-2 in semen and pooled semen parameters as compared with the uninfected. The relevant databases were scanned by two authors for observational studies reporting analysis of semen in COVID-19 patients. The SARS-CoV-2-infected were assigned to group A (exposed arm), whereas the uninfected to group B (unexposed arm). Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to address the risk of bias. PRISMA guidelines were adopted. In case of homogenous studies, fixed-effects model was followed, whereas for heterogenous studies random-effects model was used. Of 990 studies, 24 were eligible involving 1589 subjects (947 in group A and 642 in group B). The comparability domain was biased the most. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in three studies among 8 individuals producing the PP of 1.76% (95% CI 0.72-3.21). Sperm concentration was reduced significantly (WMD = -16.23 [95% CI -25.56 to -6.89], as well as total sperm in ejaculate (WMD = -34.84 [95% CI - 43.51 to -26.17]) and sperm volume (WMD = - 0.48 [95% CI - 0.59 to - 0.36] in group A as compared with controls. There was a non-significant effect upon progressive motility and leukocyte presence in semen. SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen among the infected individuals is detected infrequently. By this token, sexual transmission through semen is of low probability and little concern for public health. However, significant decrease in sperm volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm in ejaculate has been noted. The current data, though, are limited, and more studies with longer follow-up are needed to evaluate the further impact.
ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
卷号:52|期号:2|页码:669-677
ISSN:0004-0002|收录类别:SSCI
语种
英语
被引频次(WOS)
0
被引频次(其他)
0
180天使用计数
1
2013以来使用计数
1
EISSN
1573-2800
出版年
2023-2
DOI
10.1007/s10508-022-02520-3
学科领域
循证社会科学-综合
关键词
COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Semen Sperm Sexual transmission
WOS学科分类
Psychology, Clinical Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary