Effects of SARS-CoV-2 and vaccination on male fertility – a review

Abstract The emergence of the second severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in a global pandemic declared by the World Health Organization in 2020. Numerous studies have demonstrated that males are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recent evidence suggests that the presence of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in male gonads may render them particularly vulnerable to the virus. Consequently, it has become imperative to ascertain the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the vaccines on male fertility. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the literature concerning the incidence of morphological and histological changes in the testes, hormonal changes, and semen parameters resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the impact of vaccinations on sperm.