Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in semen of 36 males with symptomatic,asymptomatic,and convalescent infection during the first and second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)receptor,angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2),has been identified in the human testis,but the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through sexual intercourse still needs to be defined.The goal of our study was to determine if SARS-CoV-2 is detectable in the semen of patients suffering or recovering from coronavirus disease-19(COVID-19),still testing positive at nasopharyngeal swabs but showing mild or no symptoms at the time of sampling.Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen was performed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and nested PCR targeting open reading frame(ORF)1ab.Medical history of the enrolled patients was taken,including COVID-19-correlated symptoms,both at the time of diagnosis and at the time of interview.Results of real-time RT-PCR and nested PCR in semen showed no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the 36 patients suffering or recovering from COVID-19 but still positive in a nasopharyngeal swab,from over 116 patients enrolled in the study.SARS-CoV-2 detection and persistence in semen would have an impact on both clinical practice and public health strategies,but our results would suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is not present in the semen of men recovering from COVID-19.