The new crown pneumonia is raging around the world. A research team led by Professor Yuan Guoyong of the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong has found that the new crown virus infection may cause hypogonadism and decreased fertility in men, and patients will still be affected after recovery.
Yuan Guoyong reminded that when caring for recovered male patients, it is necessary to pay attention to the possibility of hypogonadism (reduced libido) and reduced fertility, and vaccination against the new crown can prevent such complications.
The findings have been accepted for publication in the medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
The Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong pointed out that there were earlier reports that some patients with new coronary pneumonia had testicular pain. .
Sperm count and testosterone drop sharply in hamsters 4 days after diagnosis
In this study, the University of Hong Kong divided the hamsters into two groups. The experimental group was infected with the new coronavirus, while the hamsters in the control group were infected with the influenza virus, and then the changes in the testicles and sex hormones of the two groups of hamsters were compared.
The virus entered the hamster through the nasal cavity to infect the hamster, and the hamster in the new coronavirus infection group developed relatively mild self-healing pneumonia, which could be cured without treatment.
But even though nasal infection of the hamsters resulted in only non-severe pneumonia, the hamsters' sperm counts and serum testosterone levels plummeted within 4 to 7 days.
Yuan Guoyong, Chair Professor of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, HKU.
(file picture)
Testicular shrinkage stopped producing sperm 42 days after diagnosis
Between 42 and 120 days after infection, the testicles of the hamsters shrank, their size and weight decreased, and the levels of sex hormones in the body decreased significantly.
Under the microscope, acute inflammation of the testis, hemorrhage, necrosis of the seminiferous tubules, and cessation of sperm production can be seen.
Inflammation, degeneration and necrosis of testicular tissue persisted from 7 to 120 days after virus infection, and Omicron and Delta variants caused similar damage.
Vaccination can prevent testicular damage
The hamsters in the control group were infected with influenza A virus intranasally, and there was no testicular infection or damage.
At the same time, studies have shown that vaccination can prevent these testicular damage.
Preliminary Diagnosis Help Lazy Bag: At this stage, designated clinics are specially designed for patients who have been diagnosed and have symptoms. Patients without symptoms can call the hotline 1836115 for patients with initial diagnosis.
(Hong Kong 01 Art Drawing)
Diagnosed Buildings | 460 more luxury buildings in Yuen Long, No. 1 Po Shan Road in the mid-levels of the hardest hit, and Harbour View Villas are on the list of epidemics | Kexing donated 10 million yuan of anti-epidemic materials, including testing kits, which arrived in Hong Kong on Monday | Cruise terminal reconstruction of isolation facilities workers Construction started under wind and rain: it will take a month to complete the closure | 94 cases of Boda Building in Bokang Village, 22 people in Jinghe Building, Heche Village, and 22 people tested positive
