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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Horm Metab Res 2022; 54(08): 549-555
DOI: 10.1055/a-1891-6621
Review

COVID-19 Infections in Gonads: Consequences on Fertility?

Nicole Bechmann 
1   Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Umberto Maccio
2   Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Reham Kotb
3   Department of Environmental and Public Health, College of Health Science, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
,
Rania Al Dweik
3   Department of Environmental and Public Health, College of Health Science, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
,
Michele Cherfane
3   Department of Environmental and Public Health, College of Health Science, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
,
Holger Moch
2   Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Stefan R. Bornstein
4   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
5   Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course Science and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
,
Zsuzsanna Varga
2   Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Abstract

COVID-19 may influence human fertility and sexuality in several ways. Different cell types in gonads show a constitutive expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2), which provide potential entry pathways for SARS-CoV-2. In addition to the biological effects of a COVID-19 infection on the gonads, the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on mental health issues and sexual behavior may affect reproduction. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the influence of COVID-19 on the gonads and discusses possible consequences on human fertility. In this context, the close interaction between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in response to COVID-19-related stress is discussed. Some women noticed changes in their menstrual cycle during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could be due to psychological stress, for example. In addition, occasional cases of reduced oocyte quality and ovarian function are described after COVID-19 infection. In men, COVID-19 may cause a short-term decrease in fertility by damaging testicular tissue and/or impairing spermatogenesis. Moreover, decreased ratio testosterone/LH and FSH/LH in COVID-19 compared to aged-matched healthy men has been reported. Available data do not suggest any effect of the available SARS-CoV-2 vaccines on fertility. The effects of long COVID on human fertility have been reported and include cases with premature ovarian failure and oligomenorrhoea in women and erectile dysfunction in men. Despite the increasing knowledge about the effects of COVID-19 infections on human gonads and fertility, the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot yet be assessed in this context.

Key words

hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis - menstruation - ovarian - sexual dysfunction - spermatogenesis - testis


Publication History

Received: 14 March 2022

Accepted after revision: 12 May 2022

Article published online:
19 July 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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