Surprising findings of scientists. COVID-19 can affect male sex organs

After studying mammals infected with the coronavirus, American scientists made an unexpected discovery. The virus has spread in monkeys to the entire male sexual organ — including penis, testes and prostate. The research team believes this is strong evidence that SARS-CoV-2 directly infects cells in this area, causing sperm counts to decline, decreased fertility and even erectile dysfunction.

1. Researchers in Chicago tested king macaques (a species of monkeys in the subfamily of vervets) infected with coronavirus
2. Body scans of monkeys showed that the virus had attacked various organs, including cells in the male reproductive system
3. The research still needs to be confirmed in order to be able to finally draw conclusions about the effects of the virus on the human reproductive system
4. However, it is known that a significant percentage of men who have had COVID-19 infection have had an alteration in sperm motility.
5. Check your health. Just answer these questions
6. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

«The results indicate that testicular pain, erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, decreased sperm count and quality, and decreased fertility associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection are a direct consequence of infection of the male reproductive system cells and not indirect mechanisms such as fever and inflammation» — said lead author Thomas Hope, professor of cellular and development biology at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

Previously, it was thought that testicular pain reported by sick men was the result of indirect damage through the body’s immune response to the infection. Now scientists found that the virus was actively infecting cells in the penis and testes.

Read: They visit urologists with a “covid penis”. What do the doctors say?

Scans revealed a large number of infected cells

The analyzes were performed on the basis of macaque body scans. Imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT), applied at different time points during SARS-CoV-2 infection, showed a strong signal in the reproductive organs of all three tested animals.

The scans revealed a large number of infected cells throughout the penile, testicular, prostate and epididymal vascular system that stores and transports sperm. These signals were later confirmed by tissue analysis. In consecutive monkeys infected with the Delta variant, signals were observed in the lungs, heart, prostate and testes. One macaque had severe testicular problems just two weeks after infection.

The rest of the article is available under the video.

Millions of men can have sexual health problems

Studies on monkeys are yet to conclude whether male reproductive problems are due to COVID-19, but one study found changes in sperm motility in 60% of male respondents. convalescents.

“Even if it is only a small percentage of those infected, there are millions of men who may suffer from negative effects on their sexual health and fertility” — said prof. Hope.

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