Semen and viruses: significance during the transmission of infections

Abstract

Introduction: Viral infections may trigger significant public health problems, and semen can be considered a vital transmission route with potential evolutionary advantages. Xie et al. recently published a meta-analysis showing that the susceptibility of semen parameters to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection could lead to marked impairments of male reproductive function. Thus, additional efforts should be made to study the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection and other infections on male reproduction.