Comparison of spermiograms of men presenting due to infertility before
and during the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract
Background: Following the rapid global spread of the novel coronavirus
SARS-CoV-2, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic
on March 11, 2020. Over the intervening year, there has been interest in
the impact of both SARS-CoV-2 infection and pandemic-induced social
restrictions on male reproductive health. This study aimed to evaluate
the spermiogram values of men who presented to a urology clinic due to
infertility during the pandemic and compare the results with those in
the previous two years. Materials and Methods: Patients who presented to
the urology outpatient clinic of Medical Park Antalya Hospital Complex
for the first time due to infertility were included. The patients’ age,
semen volume, and spermiogram results were recorded. The patients were
divided by presentation date into pre-pandemic group 1 (March 2018 -
February 2019), pre-pandemic group 2 (March 2019 - February 2020), and
the pandemic group (March 2020 - February 2021) for comparison. Results:
A total of 594 patients were included in the study. There was no
significant difference between the three groups in terms of the number
of patients who presented (207, 190, and 197 patients, respectively;
p=0.691). The mean age was 36.6±7.2 in pre-pandemic group 1, 35.5±7.1 in
pre-pandemic group 2, and 33.1±6.3 in the pandemic group. Patients who
presented during the pandemic were significantly younger
(p<0.001). There was no difference in semen volume among the
groups (p=0.910). Analysis of spermiogram results revealed no
significant differences in normospermia and pathological spermiogram
rates by year (p=0.222). Conclusion : In the first year of the COVID-19
pandemic, there was no significant difference in the number of men who
presented for infertility or in their spermiogram results compared to
2018 and 2019. However, it is noteworthy that the patients were
significantly younger during the pandemic than in the previous two
years.