Scientists from Italy have recently analyzed the effect of the mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine on the semen quality of adult men. No significant difference in sperm quality and seminal plasma parameters (oxidative stress, inflammation, and electrolyte level) has been observed after vaccination. The study has been published in the journal Andrology.
Background
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a deadly member of the human Betacoronavirus family. The virus is known to induce a wide variety of symptoms in infected persons, ranging from mild respiratory symptoms to severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, and death. Apart from infecting the respiratory tract, the virus can potentially impair the functions of other organs, including the heart, liver, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, and brain.
A handful of studies have indicated that people infected with SARS-CoV-2 may develop testicular abnormalities, including structural alteration in testicular cells, loss of integrity of the basement membrane and seminiferous tubules, and infiltration of proinflammatory mediators. However, no comprehensive data is currently available to understand the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on reproductive functions.
In the current study, the scientists have assessed the effects of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) on human semen.
Study design
The study was conducted on a total of 47 adult men who had received the two-dose regimen of Pfizer vaccine between February and July 2021. The semen samples were collected from the participants before the administration of the first vaccine dose and 70 days after the second dose.
All semen samples were analyzed to measure sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. In addition, the concentrations of reactive oxygen metabolites, electrolytes, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were determined using seminal plasma samples.
Important observations
Among all enrolled participants, 10% reported smoking moderately, and 38% reported consuming alcohol socially. None of the participants reported systemic side effects, such as fever, allergy, or lymph node swelling.
No significant changes in semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were observed among participants after COVID-19 vaccination compared to before vaccination.
A separate set of experiments was conducted on male participants who presented with low sperm count or reduced sperm motility. In these participants, no significant differences in sperm parameters were observed after vaccination. However, the sperm parameters showed an improving trend in these participants.
Alike sperm parameters, no significant changes in electrolytes (calcium, chlorine, potassium, magnesium, and sodium), reactive oxygen metabolites, and IL-6 levels were observed among participants after vaccination.
Furthermore, no significant correlations were observed between tested sperm parameters and electrolytes and reactive oxygen metabolites, and IL-6.
Study significance
The study findings reveal that the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer) does not have any negative impact on sperm quality. Moreover, the vaccine does not alter the levels of electrolytes (an indicator of good cell membrane activity), reactive oxygen metabolites (an indication of oxidative stress), and IL-6 (an indicator of inflammation).
Overall, the study highlights that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for use among men. However, the study includes only a small number of men with poor sperm quality who are highly susceptible to deteriorating sperm parameters. Moreover, since the study participants belong to a specific population, the findings cannot be generalized to the global population.
News
Breakthrough for long Covid patients who lost sense of smell
A breakthrough nasal surgery has restored the sense of smell for a dozen long Covid patients. Experts at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust successfully employed a technique typically used for correcting blocked nasal passages, [...]
Scientists Invent Plastic That Can Dissolve In Seawater In Just A Few Hours
Plastic waste and pollution in the sea have been among the most serious environmental problems for decades, causing immense damage to marine life and ecosystems. However, a breakthrough discovery may offer a game-changing solution. [...]
Muscles from the 3D printer
Swiss researchers have developed a method for printing artificial muscles out of silicone. In the future, these could be used on both humans and robots. Swiss researchers have succeeded in printing artificial muscles out [...]
Beneficial genetic changes observed in regular blood donors
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified genetic changes in blood stem cells from frequent blood donors that support the production of new, non-cancerous cells. Understanding the differences in the mutations that accumulate [...]
Shocking Amounts of Microplastics in the Brain – It Could Be Increasing Our Risk of Dementia
The brain has higher concentrations of plastic particles compared to other organs, with increased levels found in dementia patients. In a comprehensive commentary published in Brain Medicine, researchers highlight alarming new evidence of microplastic accumulation [...]
Baffling Scientists for Centuries: New Study Unravels Mystery of Static Electricity
ISTA physicists demonstrate that contact electrification depends on the contact history of materials. For centuries, static electricity has intrigued and perplexed scientists. Now, researchers from the Waitukaitis group at the Institute of Science and [...]
Tumor “Stickiness” – Scientists Develop Potential New Way To Predict Cancer’s Spread
UC San Diego researchers have developed a device that predicts breast cancer aggressiveness by measuring tumor cell adhesion. Weakly adherent cells indicate a higher risk of metastasis, especially in early-stage DCIS. This innovation could [...]
Scientists Just Watched Atoms Move for the First Time Using AI
Scientists have developed a groundbreaking AI-driven technique that reveals the hidden movements of nanoparticles, essential in materials science, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. By integrating artificial intelligence with electron microscopy, researchers can now visualize atomic-level changes that were [...]
Scientists Sound Alarm: “Safe” Antibiotic Has Led to an Almost Untreatable Superbug
A recent study reveals that an antibiotic used for liver disease patients may increase their risk of contracting a dangerous superbug. An international team of researchers has discovered that rifaximin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic [...]
Scientists Discover Natural Compound That Stops Cancer Progression
A discovery led by OHSU was made possible by years of study conducted by University of Portland undergraduates. Scientists have discovered a natural compound that can halt a key process involved in the progression [...]
Scientists Just Discovered an RNA That Repairs DNA Damage – And It’s a Game-Changer
Our DNA is constantly under threat — from cell division errors to external factors like sunlight and smoking. Fortunately, cells have intricate repair mechanisms to counteract this damage. Scientists have uncovered a surprising role played by [...]
What Scientists Just Discovered About COVID-19’s Hidden Death Toll
COVID-19 didn’t just claim lives directly—it reshaped mortality patterns worldwide. A major international study found that life expectancy plummeted across most of the 24 analyzed countries, with additional deaths from cardiovascular disease, substance abuse, and mental [...]
Self-Propelled Nanoparticles Improve Immunotherapy for Non-Invasive Bladder Cancer
A study led by Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) in South Korea details the creation of urea-powered nanomotors that enhance immunotherapy for bladder cancer. The nanomotors [...]
Scientists Develop New System That Produces Drinking Water From Thin Air
UT Austin researchers have developed a biodegradable, biomass-based hydrogel that efficiently extracts drinkable water from the air, offering a scalable, sustainable solution for water access in off-grid communities, emergency relief, and agriculture. Discarded food [...]
AI Unveils Hidden Nanoparticles – A Breakthrough in Early Disease Detection
Deep Nanometry (DNM) is an innovative technique combining high-speed optical detection with AI-driven noise reduction, allowing researchers to find rare nanoparticles like extracellular vesicles (EVs). Since EVs play a role in disease detection, DNM [...]
Inhalable nanoparticles could help treat chronic lung disease
Nanoparticles designed to release antibiotics deep inside the lungs reduced inflammation and improved lung function in mice with symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease By Grace Wade Delivering medication to the lungs with inhalable nanoparticles [...]
