Covid-19 infection could damage testicles, harm sex drive in men, University of Hong Kong study shows
- Findings by Professor Yuen Kwok-yung and his HKU team show sharp drop in sperm count and serum testosterone of infected hamsters four to seven days after infection
- Inflammation, degeneration and death of testicular tissue persisted seven to 120 days after infection, study shows
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have found that the coronavirus could damage testicles, lower sex drive and affect fertility in men.
The findings, released on Sunday by Professor Yuen Kwok-yung and his team from HKU, were based on a study of testicular and hormonal changes in hamsters infected with the virus.
The infected hamsters suffered from a sharp drop in sperm count and serum testosterone, a male sex hormone, four to seven days after infection.
The rodents also developed chronic asymmetric testicular atrophy, a decrease in the size and weight of the testicles.
Acute testicular inflammation, haemorrhage, and death of tissue in the sperm cell-producing seminiferous tubules and disruption of spermatogenesis, a process of sperm cell development, were also detected.
The inflammation, degeneration and death of testicular tissue persisted seven to 120 days after infection.
