(Observer Network News) Comprehensive Radio Television Hong Kong, Sing Tao Daily and other media reported on February 20 that the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong found that the new crown virus may cause hypogonadism and fertility decline in male patients, and patients will still be affected after recovery. The findings have been accepted for publication in the medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Screenshot of the RTHK report
Research by a team from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) found that hamsters, even if infected with moderate amounts of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), experience acute testicular injury, chronic testicle atrophy and decreased testosterone in serum. Previously, according to studies, some patients with new crown pneumonia had testicular pain, and an autopsy for male deceased people with new crown pneumonia also showed symptoms of testicularitis.
The research article published in Clinical Medicine titles: Testicular injury caused by intranasal infection of novel coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be prevented by vaccination. Pictured from the official website of the University of Hong Kong
In the HKU study, the hamsters were divided into two groups, the experimental group was infected with the new crown virus, compared to the control group of hamsters infected with influenza virus, and then compared the two groups of hamsters testicular and sex hormone changes. In a study by the team from the Department of Microbiology of HKU, two groups of hamsters infected with the new coronavirus and influenza A virus were compared, and one of the hamsters infected with the new coronavirus had a mild self-healing pneumonia, which could be cured, but the sperm count and testosterone in the serum of the hamsters decreased sharply within 4 to 7 days. After 42 to 120 days of infection, the hamster's testicles shrink, their size and weight decrease, while the levels of sex hormones in the body decrease significantly.
Under the microscope, acute inflammation, bleeding, hyperferrosperheter necrosis and cessation of sperm production can be seen in the testicles. For 7 to 120 days after infection with the virus, inflammation, degeneration and necrosis of the testicular tissue persisted.
Picture of testicular atrophy 120 days after hamster infection with the new coronavirus. Pictured from the official website of the University of Hong Kong
Control hamsters infected with influenza A virus intranasally did not develop testicular infection or injury.
Comparing the testicle and sex hormone changes in the two groups of hamsters, the results showed that the new crown virus infection may cause hypogonadism and fertility decline in men, and the patients will still be affected after recovery.
The Aomi Kerong and Delta variant viruses can cause similar damage.
Yuen Kwok-yong, chair professor in the Department of Microbiology at HKU, who led the study, said that when caring for male patients recovering from the new crown virus, it is necessary to pay attention to the possibility of decreased libido and fertility, and vaccination with the new crown can prevent this complication.