Male reproductive function before and after the adjustment of the COVID-19 prevention policy:a multicenter study in China

At the end of 2022,the adjustment of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic control policy in China resulted in alarge-scale increase in public infection.To compare the fertility parameters of male patients before and after the adjustments ofthe COVID-19 pandemic control policy in China,we collected data on patients’medical histories and laboratory examinations ontheir first visits between June 2022 and March 2023 in five different hospitals.Data were divided into five groups according tothe timeline of the policy adjustment.The data we collected from male patients included semen quality and serum reproductivehormone levels,and intergroup comparisons were made using the Mann–Whitney U and Chi-square tests.In total,16784 casesunderwent regular semen analysis,11180 had sperm morphology assessments,and 7200 had reproductive hormone analyses.Thedata showed declining trends in semen volume,sperm motility,and the progressive sperm motility rate after the policy adjustment.Subgroup comparison revealed an initial decrease and gradual recovery in progressive motility rate.Sperm morphology analysisshowed increased neck and tail abnormalities after the policy adjustment.No significant change in hormone levels was observed.Following the adjustment of the COVID-19 prevention policy in China,a decline in sperm motility and morphology was observed.This trend may gradually recover over 2 months.After the policy adjustment,reproductive hormone levels were relatively stablethroughout,except for an increase in luteinizing hormone(LH).These changes in semen parameters suggest that the policyadjustment had a short-to medium-term impact on male reproductive function.