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An ecological comparison study on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on semen quality based on a nationwide loosening of COVID-19 curbs in China at the end of 2022
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  • Guang-hui Zhang,
  • Jingchao Ren,
  • Tingting Zhang,
  • Ke Feng,
  • Shengnan Zhang,
  • Yanqing Xia,
  • Heng Lu,
  • Mingming Liu,
  • Haibin Guo,
  • Jia Cao
Guang-hui Zhang
Army Medical University

Corresponding Author:zhgh221@163.com

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Jingchao Ren
Chongqing Medical University
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Tingting Zhang
Zhengzhou University
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Ke Feng
Henan Provincial People's Hospital
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Shengnan Zhang
Zhengzhou University
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Yanqing Xia
Henan Provincial People's Hospital
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Heng Lu
Army Medical University
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Mingming Liu
PLA Northern Theater Command Center for Disease Control and Prevention
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Haibin Guo
Henan Provincial People's Hospital
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Jia Cao
Army Medical University
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Abstract

Although reports have shown an association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and a reduction in male semen parameters, no population big-data analyses have been verified. This ecological comparative study aimed to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on semen quality. This ecological comparison study was based on the nationwide loosening of COVID-19 curbs in China on 2022-12-07, 1 month after which, an 89% infection rate was reported in Henan Province, China. We compared semen quality and serum hormone levels from 2023-01-07 to 4-30 and 2022-01-07 to 4-30 at the Reproductive Center of Henan Provincial People’s Hospital. Our results indicated a significant decrease in semen volume ( P<0.0001), sperm concentration ( P=0.0004), total sperm count ( P<0.0001), progressive motility ( P<0.0001), and nonprogressive motility ( P<0.0001) after the nationwide loosening of COVID-19 curbs. The effects on semen volume and total sperm count lasted for a long time. An increase in the rate of sperm neck defects was observed ( P<0.0001). Infection also caused hormone disruption in prolactin ( P<0.0001), testosterone ( P=0.0220), sex hormone-binding globulin ( P<0.0001), and free testosterone index ( P=0.0126), and an increase in estrogen ( P<0.0001), osteocalcin ( P<0.0001), and 25-OH-VD ( P<0.0001). The present study revealed that mild COVID-19 appeared to have a detrimental effect on semen parameters.