SARS-CoV-2 infection, male fertility and sperm cryopreservation: a position statement of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) (Società Italiana di Andrologia e Medicina della Sessualità)

G Corona¹, E Baldi², A M Isidori³, D Paoli³, F Pallotti³, L De Santis⁴, F Francavilla⁵, S La Vignera⁶, R Selice⁷, L Caponecchia⁸, R Pivonello⁹, A Ferlin¹⁰, C Foresta⁷, E A Jannini¹¹, A Lenzi³, M Maggi¹², F Lombardo³

Affiliations

¹ Endocrinology Unit, Medical Department, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Largo Nigrisoli 2, 40133, Bologna, Italy. jocorona@libero.it.
² Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
³ Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁴ IVF Unit, Gynaecological-Obstetric Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy.
⁵ Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environment Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
⁶ Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
⁷ Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
⁸ Andrology and Pathophysiology of Reproduction Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy.
⁹ Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Unità di Andrologia e Medicina della Riproduzione e della Sessualità Maschile e Femminile (FERTISEXCARES), Università Federico II di Napoli; Staff of Unesco Chair for Health Education and Sustainable Development, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
¹⁰ Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
¹¹ Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
¹² Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical and Biomedical Sciences ``Mario Serio'', University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

PMID: 32462316
PMCID: PMC7252417
DOI: 10.1007/s40618-020-01290-w

Review

SARS-CoV-2 infection, male fertility and sperm cryopreservation: a position statement of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) (Società Italiana di Andrologia e Medicina della Sessualità)

G Corona et al. J Endocrinol Invest. 2020 Aug.

. 2020 Aug;43(8):1153-1157.

doi: 10.1007/s40618-020-01290-w. Epub 2020 May 27.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Endocrinology Unit, Medical Department, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Largo Nigrisoli 2, 40133, Bologna, Italy. jocorona@libero.it.
² Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
³ Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁴ IVF Unit, Gynaecological-Obstetric Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy.
⁵ Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environment Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
⁶ Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
⁷ Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
⁸ Andrology and Pathophysiology of Reproduction Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy.
⁹ Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Unità di Andrologia e Medicina della Riproduzione e della Sessualità Maschile e Femminile (FERTISEXCARES), Università Federico II di Napoli; Staff of Unesco Chair for Health Education and Sustainable Development, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
¹⁰ Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
¹¹ Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
¹² Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical and Biomedical Sciences ``Mario Serio'', University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

PMID: 32462316
PMCID: PMC7252417
DOI: 10.1007/s40618-020-01290-w

Abstract

Purpose: The recent pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) due to coronavirus (CoV) 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has raised several concerns in reproductive medicine. The aim of this review is to summarize available evidence providing an official position statement of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) METHODS: A comprehensive Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline and Cochrane library search was performed. Due to the limited evidence and the lack of studies, it was not possible to formulate recommendations according to the Oxford 2011 Levels of Evidence criteria.

Results: Several molecular characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 can justify the presence of virus within the testis and possible alterations of spermatogenesis and endocrine function. Orchitis has been reported as a possible complication of SARS-CoV infection, but similar findings have not been reported for SARS-CoV-2. Alternatively, the orchitis could be the result of a vasculitis as COVID-19 has been associated with abnormalities in coagulation and the segmental vascularization of the testis could account for an orchitis-like syndrome. Finally, available data do not support the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in plasma seminal fluid of infected subjects.

Conclusion: Data derived from other SARS-CoV infections suggest that in patients recovered from COVID-19, especially for those in reproductive age, andrological consultation and evaluation of gonadal function including semen analysis should be suggested. Studies in larger cohorts of currently infected subjects are warranted to confirm (or exclude) the presence of risks for male gametes that are destined either for cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen or for assisted reproduction techniques.

Keywords: COVID-19; Male fertility; SARS-CoV-2; Semen cryopreservation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Cited by

Gender susceptibility to COVID-19: a review of the putative role of sex hormones and X chromosome.
Foresta C, Rocca MS, Di Nisio A. Foresta C, et al. J Endocrinol Invest. 2021 May;44(5):951-956. doi: 10.1007/s40618-020-01383-6. Epub 2020 Sep 16. J Endocrinol Invest. 2021. PMID: 32936429 Free PMC article. Review.
Potential Beneficial Effects of Naringin and Naringenin on Long COVID-A Review of the Literature.
Liu S, Zhong M, Wu H, Su W, Wang Y, Li P. Liu S, et al. Microorganisms. 2024 Feb 4;12(2):332. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12020332. Microorganisms. 2024. PMID: 38399736 Free PMC article. Review.
Addressing male sexual and reproductive health in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.
Sansone A, Mollaioli D, Ciocca G, Limoncin E, Colonnello E, Vena W, Jannini EA. Sansone A, et al. J Endocrinol Invest. 2021 Feb;44(2):223-231. doi: 10.1007/s40618-020-01350-1. Epub 2020 Jul 13. J Endocrinol Invest. 2021. PMID: 32661947 Free PMC article. Review.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Male Fertility: Clinical Manifestations and Pathogenic Mechanisms.
Abdel-Moneim A. Abdel-Moneim A. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2021 Apr;86(4):389-396. doi: 10.1134/S0006297921040015. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2021. PMID: 33941061 Free PMC article. Review.
Effects of mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 on semen parameters and sex-related hormone levels in men: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Che BW, Chen P, Yu Y, Li W, Huang T, Zhang WJ, Xu SH, He J, Liu M, Tang KF. Che BW, et al. Asian J Androl. 2023 May-Jun;25(3):382-388. doi: 10.4103/aja202250. Asian J Androl. 2023. PMID: 35946226 Free PMC article.

See all "Cited by" articles

References

1. Ashour HM, Elkhatib WF, Rahman MM, Elshabrawy HA. Insights into the recent 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in light of past human coronavirus outbreaks. Pathog (Basel, Switzerland). 2020;9(3):186. doi: 10.3390/pathogens9030186. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, Cheng L, Zhou X, Ren B. Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice. Int J Oral Sci. 2020;12:9. doi: 10.1038/s41368-020-0075-9. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Cascella M, Rajnik M, Cuomo A, Dulebohn SC, Di Napoli R (2020) Features, evaluation and treatment coronavirus (COVID-19). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554776/ - PubMed
1. CSSE at Johns Hopkins University (2020) Coronavirus resource center. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html. Last Accessed 15/04/2020
1. Italian Ministry of Health (2020) Covid-19, situation report update at 13 April 2020. https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/news/p3_2_1_1_1.jsp?lingua=italiano&me.... Last Accessed 15/04/2020

Publication types

Actions

MeSH terms

Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions

Save citation to file

Email citation

Add to Collections

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search

Create a file for external citation management software

Your RSS Feed

SARS-CoV-2 infection, male fertility and sperm cryopreservation: a position statement of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) (Società Italiana di Andrologia e Medicina della Sessualità)

Affiliations

SARS-CoV-2 infection, male fertility and sperm cryopreservation: a position statement of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) (Società Italiana di Andrologia e Medicina della Sessualità)

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Similar articles

Cited by

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical

Miscellaneous