A new study on the effects of COVID-19 shows that it reduced fertility in men.
According to AFP, experimental evidence published in the Reproduction Journal showed that the sperm quality for some of the men infected with the virus was low.
Cell sperm death, inflammation and oxidation stress are among the things that the study found to compromises the quality of the sperms.
“These findings provide the first direct experimental evidence that the male reproductive system could be targeted and damaged by Covid-19,” the authors stated.
The virus inhibits the full production of reproductive hormones according to previous studies.
Two German researchers, Behzad Hajizadeh Maleki and Bakhtyar Tartibian from Justus-Liebig-University in their research discovered sperms from men 84 men with COVID-19 had high levels of oxidative stress.
Compared to 105 healthy men, the results from the 84 men showed a huge chemical imbalance.
“These effects on sperm cells are associated with lower sperm quality and reduced fertility potential,” said Maleki in a statement.
He added “Although these effects tended to improve over time, they remained significantly and abnormally higher in the Covid-19 patients.”
Experts have since said that thought he research has raised a red flag, there should be no alarm in men until this is further researched.
Alison Campbell, director of embryology of the CARE Fertility Group in Britain said there is no need for men to panic.
Campbell said there is no conclusive research showing any long-term effect on men’s fertility caused by COVID-19.
A reproductive medicine specialist at the University of Sheffield, Allan Pacey said it was questionable how data from the study was interpreted.
Across the world, there are more than 100 million cases that have been reported with 2.2 million deaths recorded.
COVID-is a viral disease affecting the respiratory system, kidneys, heart and intestines.
