Covid19, Infertility, Male
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aims to better understand the effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), on male fertility.
Detailed description
After being informed about the study and potential risks, all patients giving written informed consent will produce a sperm sample by masturbation. Patients will also complete a questionnaire relating to their state of health. Six month following the first sperm sample, patients will produce another sperm sample by masturbation. These sperm parameters will be compared with the ones from a sperm analysis performed less than 2 years before the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTSperm analysis
Routine sperm analysis including analysis of sperm concentration, motility, vitality and morphology. Sperm DNA integrity will also be assessed.
Sponsors
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
Fertilys
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Inclusion criteria
* All men aged 18 to 45 having a sperm analysis done at the Fertilys fertility center in the last 2 years who have not contracted COVID-19, agreeing to participate in the study and having signed the consent form to participate in the study. * All men aged 18 to 45 having a sperm analysis done at the Fertilys fertility center in the last 2 years) who have contracted COVID-19 within the last 6 months, agreeing to participating in the study and having signed the consent form to participate in the study. * All men aged 18 to 45 years with a sperm concentration ≥ 15 million/mL, progressive motility ≥ 20% and a percentage of normal forms ≥ 2%.
Exclusion criteria
* Men aged under 18 and over 45. * Men who cannot produce a sperm sample by antegrade ejaculation. * Men whose sperm concentration is \<15 million/mL, progressive motility \<20% and a percentage of normal forms \<2%, determined following the production of a reference sperm sample, carried out before March 2020, i.e. before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in sperm parameters quality | Pre-infection, on the day of recruitment and six month later | Sperm concentration and motility will be assessed using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Sperm vitality and morphology will be evaluated using eosine-nigrosine and Romanowsky staining techniques, respectively. DNA fragmentation and sperm chromatin decondensation will be measured using the Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and aniline blue assays, respectively. These sperm parameters will be compared before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection and between the different time frames. |
| Viral RNA in seminal plasma | Pre-infection, on the day of recruitment and six month later | The number of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies and viral particles / mL of seminal plasma will be assessed |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed