Comparison of testosterone, FSH, LH and E2 hormone levels in infertility suspected males with COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that has many adverse impacts on many systems including reproduction. The direct effects of COVID-19 on urogenital system are still open to argue. This study aimed to compare testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) hormone levels in COVID-19 infected male individuals with infertility suspicion. METHODS: One hundred five control (healthy) and 105 COVID-19 infected males aged between 20 to 54 years old were enrolled in the study. All patients were either diagnosed with primary or secondary infertility suspicion. The COVID-19 infection was diagnosed via reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction test. Blood samples from patients were analyzed from the control and COVID-19 group to measure serum testosterone, FSH, LH, and E2 levels. Hormone levels were statistically compared between groups with the Independent T test. RESULTS: In control and COVID-19 patients, no significance was determined for FSH and LH hormone values. Testosterone hormone were significantly decreased and E2 level was statistically increased in COVID-19 patients compared to that in the control group (P < .001). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 is a viral disease that affects organ including gonads. COVID-19 infection decreased testosterone levels and increased E2 levels, which leading to disorders in male and female reproductivity.

An examination on composition of spermatozoa obtained from pre-operative and post-operative varicocele patients.

Varicocele is one of the main and surgically repairable causes of male infertility, which arises from dilatation and torsion of the testicular veins in the plexus pampiniformis. In this study, we examined semen samples from 40 patients diagnosed with varicocele between the ages of 15 and 30 years, according to WHO criteria (pre-operatively, and at 3, 6, and 12 months post-operatively). The mean spermatozoa concentration was found to be 45.25 ± 34.83 million/ml pre-operatively, while the mean post-operative concentration was 48.85 ± 35.73 million/ml at three months, 51.72 ± 32.82 million/ml at six months, and 49.63 ± 28.05 million/ml at 12 months (P > 0.05). The mean rate of A + B motile spermatozoa was 35.5 ± 14.71% pre-operatively, 42.65 ± 16.80% at three months, 43 ± 13.52%at six months and 44 ± 14.76 percent at 12 months post-operatively (P < 0.05). The mean Kruger morphology score was 3.15 ± 3.0% pre-operatively, and 3.20 ± 2.83% at three months, 2.97 ± 2.61%at six months and 3.27 ± 2.50%at 12 months post-operatively (P > 0.05). The nucleus, acrosomal cap, mitochondrial structure and microtubules of the tail of the spermatozoa were examined under electron microscopy. The mean DNA fragmentation index (DFI%) of the spermatozoa was 20.57 ± 4.60% pre-operatively, and post-operatively at 17.27 ± 3.65% at three months, 15.5 ± 3.23% at six months and 15.3 ± 3.63% at 12 months (P < 0.001). The findings suggest that despite the increased count and motility, as well as the improved DNA fractures observed post-operatively in the spermatozoa of varicocele patients, the morphology rates remain intact.