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Coronavirus And a shocking claim is being made about sperm, in which it is being said that if a man has COVID-19, then this virus will remain present in his sperm for several months after recovery. In such a situation, it is also advisable to take a break from having children. Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil have shown that SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, can remain in the sperm of a recovered patient for up to 90 days after discharge from the hospital and up to 110 days after the initial infection.
Do not have children immediately after recovering from Covid
This can lead to poor semen quality. The findings, published in the journal Andrology, suggest that men planning to have children should go into a “quarantine” period after recovering from COVID-19. Although SARS-CoV-2 has been rarely detected in sperm by standard PCR tests, the USP study used real-time PCR and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to detect viral RNA in semen and sperm donated by 13 men aged 21 to 50 who had recovered from mild, moderate, or severe COVID-19.
The virus is present in the sperm of most patients
Notably, the virus was detected in the sperm of 9 out of 13 patients (69.2%) by 90 days after hospital discharge, including 8 out of 11 mild to severe cases. 2 other patients showed ultra-structural gamete damage similar to that seen in COVID-19 patients, indicating that 11 out of 13 sperm contained the virus. The study also revealed a novel finding, sperm produced 'extracellular traps' based on nuclear DNA to neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen, known as a suicidal ETosis-like response.
These findings highlight a new role for sperm in reproduction, as they were previously known to co-determine fertilization, embryonic development and certain chronic diseases. “Physicians and regulators should urgently consider the potential implications of our findings regarding the use of sperm in assisted reproduction,” said study author George Hallak, MD, a professor at USP's Medical School.
'Wait 6 months to breed'
Professor Hallak advocates postponing natural conception and artificial insemination for at least six months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, even in mild cases of COVID-19. This recommendation is based on the study findings and the potential risks associated with using virus-containing or poor quality sperm in reproductive procedures such as ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection). As the long-term effects of COVID-19 on male reproductive functions continue to be investigated, this study highlights the importance of exercising caution and considering the potential implications for artificial insemination techniques and future fertility.