A comparative study of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on semen quality based on a nationwide relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in China at the end of 2022.

IF 1.9 3区 医学 Q4 ANDROLOGY
Translational andrology and urology Pub Date : 2025-03-30 Epub Date: 2025-03-26 DOI:10.21037/tau-24-562
Shengnan Zhang, Tingting Zhang, Jingchao Ren, Ke Feng, Yanqing Xia, Heng Lu, Mingming Liu, Haibin Guo, Guangcai Duan, Guanghui Zhang, Jia Cao
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Abstract

Background: An association between the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and a reduction in male semen parameters has been described, but no large-scale population analyses have been conducted. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on semen quality. Based on a large-scale ecological comparative study, our study analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on semen quality after the national liberalization of restrictions in China at the end of 2022, aiming to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on semen quality, and provide a basis for the study of the impact of subsequent epidemics on male reproduction as well as clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: It is a population-based cross-sectional study. This comparative study was based on the nationwide loosening of COVID-19 curbs in China on December 7, 2022, 1 month after which, an 89% infection rate was reported in Henan Province, China. We compared semen quality and serum hormone levels from January 7, 2023 to April 30, 2023 and January 7, 2022 to April 30, 2022 at the Reproductive Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital.

Results: Our results indicated a significant decrease in semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, progressive sperm motility rate, and non-progressive sperm motility rate following the nationwide relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. The effects on the semen volume and total sperm count persisted over time. Additionally, an increase in the incidence of sperm neck defects has been reported. Infection also led to hormonal disruptions, including alterations in prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and the free testosterone index (FTI) along with an increase in osteocalcin and 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH-VD).

Conclusions: The present study revealed that mild COVID-19 appears to have a detrimental effect on semen quality.

基于2022年底全国放开限制的COVID-19大流行对精液质量影响的比较研究
背景:已经描述了冠状病毒病2019 (COVID-19)与男性精液参数减少之间的关联,但尚未进行大规模的人群分析。本研究旨在探讨COVID-19大流行对精液质量的影响。本研究基于大规模生态对比研究,分析2022年底中国放开生育限制后新冠肺炎大流行对精液质量的影响,旨在探讨新冠肺炎大流行对精液质量的影响,为后续疫情对男性生殖及临床诊疗的影响研究提供依据。方法:这是一项基于人群的横断面研究。本次对比研究以2022年12月7日全国范围内放松防控措施为背景,1个月后,中国河南省报告的新冠肺炎感染率为89%。我们比较了2023年1月7日至2023年4月30日和2022年1月7日至2022年4月30日在河南省人民医院生殖中心的精液质量和血清激素水平。结果:我们的研究结果表明,在全国范围内放宽COVID-19限制后,精液量、精子浓度、精子总数、精子进行性运动率和非进行性精子运动率显著下降。对精液量和精子总数的影响会持续一段时间。此外,精子颈部缺陷的发生率也有所增加。感染还导致激素紊乱,包括催乳素(PRL)、睾酮(T)、性激素结合球蛋白(SHBG)和游离睾酮指数(FTI)的改变,以及骨钙素和25-羟基维生素D (25-OH-VD)的增加。结论:本研究表明,轻度COVID-19似乎对精液质量有不利影响。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
4.10
自引率
5.00%
发文量
80
期刊介绍: ranslational Andrology and Urology (Print ISSN 2223-4683; Online ISSN 2223-4691; Transl Androl Urol; TAU) is an open access, peer-reviewed, bi-monthly journal (quarterly published from Mar.2012 - Dec. 2014). The main focus of the journal is to describe new findings in the field of translational research of Andrology and Urology, provides current and practical information on basic research and clinical investigations of Andrology and Urology. Specific areas of interest include, but not limited to, molecular study, pathology, biology and technical advances related to andrology and urology. Topics cover range from evaluation, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, prognosis, rehabilitation and future challenges to urology and andrology. Contributions pertinent to urology and andrology are also included from related fields such as public health, basic sciences, education, sociology, and nursing.
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