2020/11/19 by Yu Tian, Liquan Zhou · 81 citations
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Medicine · #2019-20 coronavirus outbreak #Biology #COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction #COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts #COVID-19 and healthcare impacts #Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) #Cytokine storm #Disease #Ecology #Genetics #Human reproduction #Immunology #Infectious disease (medical specialty) #Internal medicine #Male reproductive system #Medicine #Pandemic #Physiology #Reproduction #Semen #Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) #Sperm #Virology
paper · pdf · doi:10.1530/rep-20-0523
published in Reproduction 161(2), R37-R44 (Bioscientifica)
openalex publication_date 2020/11/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Invasion or damage of the male reproductive system is one of the reported outcomes of viral infection. Current studies have documented that SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, can damage the male reproductive system in large part by inflammatory damage caused by a cytokine storm. However, whether SARS-CoV-2 can infect the human testis directly and enter semen is controversial. Other adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproduction are also of concern and require comprehensive evaluation. Here, we analyze the invasiveness of SARS-CoV-2 in the testis and examine reported mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 interferes with male reproduction. Long-term implications of SARS-CoV-2 infection on male reproduction are also discussed. It should be emphasized that although COVID-19 may induce testicular damage, a substantial decrease in male reproductive capacity awaits clinical evidence. We propose that there is an urgent need to track male COVID-19 patients during their recovery. The development of suitable experimental models, including human reproductive organoids, will be valuable to further investigate the viral impact on reproduction for current and future pandemics.