The coronavirus can cover not only the lungs, but also the testicles. The coronavirus can cause deterioration in sperm, a dip in testosterone, known as the male hormone, and many problems from sexual dysfunction to infertility. “Especially if it is severe in the lungs, it definitely affects the testicles” said Assoc. Dr. Faruk Ozgor, “A study conducted in an IVF center in India showed that if patients have had severe COVID-related lung infection, they also have a more severe testicular disease. Almost 80 percent of the patients had deterioration in sperm parameters. In addition, 40 percent of these patients had sperm deterioration. It has become permanent. In other words, infertility has become permanent in these patients.” he said.
DELAYED AT LEAST 6 MONTHS
Health Sciences University Haseki Sultangazi Training and Research Hospital, Urology Clinic Education Officer Assoc. Dr. Faruk Özgör touched upon the many risks posed by the Kovid infection, especially in young men, from infertility to sexual dysfunction, and said that they have recently begun to see many patients in their own clinics in this way, and gave important warnings. Assoc. Dr. Özgör said, “We have encountered similar patients in our own clinic. Especially in couples who come to our IVF center with female infertility; We see that all sperm parameters are deteriorated after Kovid, in men whose sperm parameters were completely normal before Kovid. We have to postpone it because, firstly, we do not know whether the coronavirus has a mutagenic (genetic damage) effect, we do not know what effect it will have on the embryo. Secondly, we need to wait for the sperm parameters of the patients to return to normal before the IVF treatment. If there is no improvement, we will have to plan a new infertility treatment for them, considering that it is not only a female-caused, but also a male-induced infertility factor.
“40 PERCENT OF THE PATIENTS HAVE PERMANENT INfertility”
Assoc. Dr. Özgör continued his words as follows: “ACE-2 receptors are also found in the testicles. For this reason, the virus can settle in the testes in the same way as it can settle in the lungs. This part is very important, because ACE-2 receptors, especially in young men (20-30 years old). This shows us that severe disease in the lungs can also cause testicular damage and thus infertility in young men. “If the patient has had severe lung infection due to severe testicular disease, he has a more severe testicular disease. Almost 80 percent of the patients had deterioration in sperm parameters. Also, in 40 percent of these patients, sperm deterioration became permanent. In other words, infertility was permanent in these patients.”
Stating that another effect of Kovid is that it disrupts the hormone level in men, Assoc. Dr. Özgör emphasized that this also causes many metabolic deteriorations, not only in terms of sexual function. It also negatively affects cognitive functions, bone and muscle mass. So we expect to encounter not only the short-term, but also the long-term effects of Kovid.”
“THESTISTS HAVE A CYTOKINE STORM”
Stating that there are several mechanisms about how Kovid affects the testicles, Assoc. Dr. Özgör gave the following information:
“One of them is testicular involvement with ACE-2 receptors, and an immune reaction occurs there and body defense cells come to the testis. The oxidative stress created by these is also harmful to the cells. On the other hand, as in the lungs, a cytokine storm (overload of the immune system) Response) in the testicles. This can again cause testicular damage. Studies conducted to date have shown that if a patient has a Kovid infection, sperm parameters deteriorate immediately after infection. However, sperm parameters do not return to normal levels for at least 3-4 months. Taking supportive treatments, especially a diet rich in selenium and zinc, can accelerate the healing process.
Emphasizing that vaccines do not carry any risk of infertility in men, Assoc. Dr. Faruk Özgör, on the contrary, said that having the disease causes this danger more and concluded his words as follows:
“Today, all the studies show that vaccines do not cause any pathology in the male genital tract, do not cause any problems with sperm. On the contrary, thanks to the vaccine, people are not sick or have a mild illness, which protects the sperm. If we want to survive, we must get vaccinated. This will protect our lungs, as well as protect the hormone and sperm production in the testicles. Especially if young men think that I will get through Kovid lightly and not get vaccinated, it may cause them to encounter problems such as infertility in the future. This is why young or old Anyway, everyone should not neglect their vaccinations.”
Source: DHA