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The pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 has raised many questions regarding the impact of the virus on the human body. The possibility of sexual transmission of the virus is of major interest, especially to those offering assisted reproductive technology (ART) services and donor sperm banks. Recent findings reveal that angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2), which is found in testicular tissue, plays a role in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. A novel study conducted by Cryos International - USA based in Orlando, Florida, aimed to investigate if coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) could be detected in human semen and thereby sexually transmitted.

Cryos scientist looking at sperm in a microscope

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Prior studies have conducted similar investigations, but the results have been inconclusive. The studies have been limited with only a few included patients in various stages of infection, with most in the recovery phase of the illness. A study by Holtmann et al. looked at 18 patients who had recovered from SARSCoV-2 infection and found no evidence of viral RNA (ribonucleic acid) in their semen (1). Materials and methods
This novel study was conducted as a cohort study and included eighteen (18) men with a median age of 32 (range, 24-57) who tested positive for COVID-19 by rt-PCR analysis and provided a semen sample. The study group demonstrated symptoms of COVID-19 ranging from asymptomatic to moderate and none required hospitalization. The time from virus detection to semen collection ranged from 1 to 28 days (median 6 days). Viral RNA was extracted from the collected sperm samples and real-time PCR was performed in triplicates. A dilution series of SARS-CoV-2-gene transcript RNA served as a positive control. Samples&rsquo; values were compared to those of positive control in order to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Results and discussion
Results from RT-PCR assays for all samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2. These results are supported by Kayaaslan et al. who found no evidence of viral RNA 16 in the semen of patients with acute SARSCoV-2 infections (2).
One weakness of our study is that no severely infected men participated. Given our small sample size, further studies are needed to determine conclusively if SARS-CoV-2 can be present in semen, particularly in men with severe symptoms from COVID-19.
The primary route of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity is widely accepted to be respiratory, however, virus RNA has been detected in blood, urine, and stool specimens. Extensive research continues to elucidate the locations of the SARS-CoV-2 in the human body and its modes of transmission.
Based on these preliminary results and consistency with prior findings, that no SARS-CoV-2 was detected in sperm, we suggest SARS-CoV-2 is not present in semen during the acute or convalescent phase of COVID-19 and cannot be transmitted by sperm. However, the study underlines, that other modes of transmission are present during intercourse. Therefore, it is not safe to say that COVID-19 cannot be transmitted during intercourse in general.
<a class="button button--blue" href="https://www.cryosinternational.com/content/en-gb/sysglobalassets/cryos-denmark/shared-dk/press/pressemeddelelser-eng/cryos_cohort_study_of_men_infected_with_covid-19.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">See the full study</a>
In the webinar below, the Cryos scientific team represented by Anne-Bine Skytte, Saghar Kasiri, and Corey Burke summarize the COVID-19 study and its findings.

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Literature

<h2>Literature</h2>
1) Holtmann N, Edimiris P, Andree M, Doehmen C, Baston-Buest D, Adams O, et al. Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in human semen &ndash; a cohort study. Fertnstert. 2020;114(2):P233&ndash;8.
2) Kyaaaslan B, Korukluoglu G, Hasanoglu I, Kalem A, Eser F, Akinci E, et al. Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in semen of patients in the acute stage of COVID-19 infection. Urol Int. 2020;104(9-10):678&ndash;83.

COVID-19 detection in sperm

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A cohort study of men infected with COVID-19

In 2020, during the pandemic, Cryos investigated if COVID-19 virus can be passed on between sexual partners. Reassuringly, the Cryos study shows that the infection cannot be transmitted through semen.