A new study suggests that the COVID-19 virus has the potential to impair male fertility.
Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that researchers at the University of Hong Kong published these results in a paper published in the international scientific journal ‘Clinical Infectious Disease’ the day before.
The research team led by Professor Yun Kwong-yung, who is known as an authority on infectious disease research in Hong Kong, observed the testicles and hormonal changes of hamsters infected with Corona 19 and concluded that the Corona 19 virus might impair male reproductive function.
▲ Golden Syrian Hamster
Wikipedia
The hamsters tested showed a sharp decrease in sperm count and testosterone, a male hormone, following 4 to 7 days of infection with COVID-19, and the size and weight of the testicles also decreased, the research team explained.
In addition, rapid inflammation of the testicles, hemorrhage, and tissue necrosis of the spermatogenic organs were observed.
Inflammation and tissue necrosis of the testicular tissue persisted for 7 to 120 days following infection.
The infected hamsters showed symptoms of pneumonia, but they were mild and recovered without treatment.
▲ Hong Kong’s authority on infectious disease research, Professor Yun Kwong-yung, University of Hong Kong
AP Yonhap News
The researchers found that COVID-19 omicron mutations and delta mutations had similar effects on male reproductive function decline.
He also said that there is a study that reported pain in the testicles in COVID-19 patients.
Reporter Shin Jin-ho