Table 1.
Available literature investigating SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen
| Reference | Study design | Cohort (n) | Control (n) | Virus in semen | Additional findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Cross-sectional cohort study | Patients recovering from COVID-19 (23); Patients with acute stage of COVID-19 infection (15) | – | SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen from 6 patients (4 patients with acute infection and 2 recovering patients) | – |
| 29 | Cross-sectional cohort study | Sexually active men recovered from COVID-19 (43) | – | SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen of one patient | 25% found to be oligo-crypto-azoospermic that was related to COVID-19 severity; 76% found to have increased seminal IL-8 |
| 32 | Cross-sectional cohort study | Patients with acute stage of COVID-19 infection (16) | – | No SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen | – |
| 33 | Cross-sectional case-controlled study | Patients recovering from COVID-19 (74) | Age-matched healthy controls (174) |
No SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen or urine | Significantly reduced sperm concentration, total sperm count, and total motility compared controls |
| 34 | Cross-sectional cohort study | Patients recovering from COVID-19 (34) | – | No SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen | Scrotal discomfort indicative of orchitis in 19% cases |
| 35 | Cross-sectional case-controlled study | COVID-19 pre-treatment (10); COVID-19 post-treatment (10) | Controls (10) | No SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen | Reduced levels of serum FSH, LH and T have been found in COVID-19 group compared to controls; significant reduced sperm morphology in COVID-19 group compared to controls; no significant differences between groups after treatment. |
| 36 | Cross-sectional cohort study | Patients recovering from COVID-19 (13) | – | No SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen | No SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in testes on autopsy of a 67-year-old patient |
| 37 | Cross-sectional case-controlled study | Patients recovering from COVID-19 (16); Patients with acute stage of COVID-19 infection (2) | Patients with no antibodies (14) | No SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen in any group | Moderate infection significantly impaired sperm quality (sperm concentration, progressive motility, total number of complete motility) compared with men recovered from a mild infection and the control group |
| 38 | Cross-sectional cohort study | Men diagnosed with COVID-19 (6) | – | No SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen | – |
| 39 | Cross-sectional cohort study | COVID-19 patients with mild or no symptoms (9) | – | No SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen | – |
| 40 | Cross-sectional cohort study | COVID-19 patients in acute and recovery phase (23) | – | No SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in semen | Total sperm count, total motility, and sperm morphology within normal ranges |
| 41 | Case study | 31-year-old man with mild COVID-19 (1) | – | No SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in semen and urine samples | – |