COVID may affect fertility by reducing men's sperm counts, study finds

Couples hoping to become pregnant have another reason to take precautions against COVID-19 – the virus might reduce sperm counts, making it harder to conceive a baby, according to a new study.

The peer-reviewed study, published on Monday in the Fertility and Sterility journal, took samples from 120 men in Belgium averaging about 35-years-old. Research found that sperm count was reduced in 37% of men tested less than one month after COVID-19 infection.

One to two months after infection, sperm counts were reduced in 29% of men tested, and 6% of men showed reduced sperm counts two months past infection.

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"The estimated recovery time is three months, but further follow-up studies are under way to confirm this and to determine if permanent damage occurred in a minority of men," researchers said.

The severity of the COVID-19 infection didn't effect the patients' sperm count as researchers added that they "found no differences" in the sperm quality of those who were hospitalized with the virus and those who had milder symptoms.

As to why COVID-19 can affect sperm counts, the study showed that higher amounts of COVID-19 antibodies in a patients' blood serum correlated to a reduced sperm function.

"Couples with a desire for pregnancy should be warned that sperm quality after COVID-19 infection can be suboptimal," the researchers concluded.

Follow Gabriela Miranda on Twitter: @itsgabbymiranda

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will having COVID affect fertility? Virus linked to low sperm count