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RE: Effects of Covid-19 on male reproductive system

To the editor,

We would like to share ideas on the report “Effects of Covid-19 on male reproductive system (11. Groner MF, de Carvalho RC, Camillo J, Ferreira PRA, Fraietta R. Effects of Covid-19 on male reproductive system. Int Braz J Urol. 2021;47:185-90.). Groner et al. concluded that “As demonstrated in other viral diseases, involvement of the male reproductive system is a possibility and it may reveal a new route of transmission and/or repercussions on its functions” (11. Groner MF, de Carvalho RC, Camillo J, Ferreira PRA, Fraietta R. Effects of Covid-19 on male reproductive system. Int Braz J Urol. 2021;47:185-90.). The impact of the new coronavirus on the reproductive system is an interesting issue. There might be 2 possible ways, direct or direct attacks of the reproductive system. Whether the SARS CoV2 virus can cross the cellular barrier to affect male reproductive cell is interesting. For female, it is approved that the virus cannot cross the barrier or pass the placenta to cause vertical transmission because the pathogen is too large to penetrate thorough cellular barrier (22. Sriwijitalai W, Wiwanitkit V. Comparative nanostructure consideration on novel coronavirus and possibility of transplacental transmission. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020;223:955.). This might be the same phenomenon explaining no observation of the new virus existence in semen. There is also no evidence that the virus can be transmitted via sexual contact (33. Wiwanitkit V. Atypical modes of COVID-19 transmission: how likely are they? Epidemiol Health. 2020;42:e2020059).

Regarding the possible indirect pathological process, the effect of high fever and alteration of endocrinological function has to be further studied. Nevertheless, since the virus infection usually has a short period of illness, there should not be much impact. It still requires a long- term follow-up on an infected patient. The evaluation of fertility in post-COVID-19 phase is interesting.

The Authors

REFERENCES

  • 1
    Groner MF, de Carvalho RC, Camillo J, Ferreira PRA, Fraietta R. Effects of Covid-19 on male reproductive system. Int Braz J Urol. 2021;47:185-90.
  • 2
    Sriwijitalai W, Wiwanitkit V. Comparative nanostructure consideration on novel coronavirus and possibility of transplacental transmission. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020;223:955.
  • 3
    Wiwanitkit V. Atypical modes of COVID-19 transmission: how likely are they? Epidemiol Health. 2020;42:e2020059

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    29 Mar 2021
  • Date of issue
    May-Jun 2021

History

  • Received
    19 Dec 2020
  • Accepted
    21 Dec 2020
  • Published
    20 Jan 2021
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