According to a study led by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, even a mild or moderate COVID-19 illness could change the level of proteins that are related to the male reproductive function which may impair fertility. The study was published in the ‘ACS Omega’ journal.
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For the study, researchers analysed semen samples of 10 healthy men and 17 men who had recently recovered from COVID-19. None of them, who ranged in age from 20 to 45, had a prior history of infertility.
The team found that the recovered men had significantly reduced sperm count and motility than those who were not affected by COVID-19. Although SARS-CoV-2 mainly affects the respiratory system, the virus also damages other tissues, the study authors concluded.
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