Inconclusive Study Found Coronavirus in Semen of Chinese Patients. Can COVID-19 Be Transmitted Sexually?

On May 7, 2020, a groundbreaking study published in JAMA Network discovered that a few male patients carried the new coronavirus in their sperm, sparking a heated discussion about whether SARS-CoV-2 might be transferred sexually.


This research comprised 38 patients being treated at Shangqiu Municipal Hospital in Henan province for severe COVID-19 illness. 15 patients provided sperm samples during the acute period, and 23 provided samples immediately after recovery. In the semen samples, SARS-CoV-2 was found in 4 of 15 acute phase patients and 2 of 23 recovered patients.

The limited sample size and short follow-up period are two of the study's weaknesses. As a result, more research is needed to learn more about the virus's shedding, survival duration, and concentration in semen.

References

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/07/covid-19-found-in-semen-of-infected-men-say-chinese-doctors

https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-found-in-semen-of-young-men-with-covid-19-138059

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2765654?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=050720

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