WHO Warns That Infertility Rates Are Rising With 17.5 Percent Of Individuals Globally Infertile! COVID-19 At Play?
Infertility - WHO - COVID-19 - SARS-CoV-2 Apr 04, 2023 1 year, 7 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 22 hours, 2 minutes ago
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently reported that one in six people worldwide, or approximately 17.5% of the adult population, are affected by infertility. This alarming statistic has prompted the UN health agency to call for cheaper and more accessible fertility treatments.
https://www.who.int/news/item/04-04-2023-1-in-6-people-globally-affected-by-infertility
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, researchers are discovering that theSARS-CoV-2 virus might have lasting impacts on fertility and sexual function, sparking concerns that COVID-19 could be playing a role in the global infertility crisis.
(Please refer to list of references at the end of the article)
The WHO warned that
infertility does not discriminate and affects individuals across high-, middle-, and low-income countries. The WHO has called for a significant increase in access to affordable, high-quality fertility care, as well as greater emphasis on fertility research and policies. For those affected, infertility can lead to significant distress, stigma, financial hardship, and impacts on mental and psychosocial well-being.
Despite the magnitude of the issue, solutions for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infertility, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), remain underfunded and inaccessible to many due to high costs, social stigma, and limited availability. The WHO emphasizes that better policies and public financing can significantly improve access to treatment and protect poorer households from falling into poverty as a result.
Recent studies have shown that COVID-19's impact on men's health might extend beyond the lungs, heart, and kidneys, with implications for fertility and sexual function.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-study-identifies-human-proteins-targeted-by-covid-19-induced-autoantibodies-and-also-alarmingly-discovers-male-fertility-is-greatly-at-risk
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/coronavirus-news-could-covid-19-create-a-whole-generation-of-virally-castrated-eunuchs-study-confirms-male-fertility-is-at-risk
The virus has been found to remain inside the testes long after initial infection in asymptomatic men and can decrease sperm count for up to 3 to 6 months.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-brazilian-and-american-study-discovers-that-the-testes-of-males-could-be-viral-sanctuaries-for-the-sars-cov-2-virus
-shrink-human-males-risk-being-eunuchs">https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-hong-study-shockingly-shows-sars-cov-2-infection-causes-male-hamsters-testicles-to-shrink-human-males-risk-being-eunuchs
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/bad-news-belgium-study-finds-that-males-who-had-covid-19-will-have-low-sperm-and-motility-levels-for-months-good-news-they-will-not-turn-into-drag-que
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-columbia-university-study-confirms-presence-of-sars-cov-2-virus-in-human-semen-along-with-infected-males-having-low-sperm-count
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-male-infertility-research-shows-that-sars-cov-2-coronavirus-may-indirectly-cause-testicular-damage-in-male-covid-19-patients-and-also-orchiti
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/sars-cov-2-news-ultrasound-diagnostic-imaging-shows-that-sars-cov-2-causes-acute-testicular-infection-in-a-high-proportion-of-male-covid-19-patients
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-news!-latest-research-published-by-chinese-scientists-say-coronavirus-might-render-certain-male-patients-infertile
Additionally, the virus can affect blood vessels and be present in the penis up to 7 to 9 months after initial infection, leading to erectile dysfunction.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-covid-19-news-turkish-study-finds-sars-cov-2-virus-in-penile-tissues-of-men-who-recovered-from-covid-19-implications-for-erectile-dysfunction
Although the current evidence on COVID-19's impact on male reproductive health is not yet conclusive, some studies have found an inverse association between the virus and spermatogenesis, suggesting a potential mechanism of how COVID-19 could cause infertility. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of how the virus affects male fertility and the correlation of testis infection with the clinical course of COVID-19.
The possible connection between COVID-19 infection, endothelial damage, and erectile dysfunction should be further evaluated in larger studies and viewed cautiously. While sexual activity during the pandemic has shown conflicting trends, there has been a significant increase in the number of patients diagnosed with male reproductive or sexual health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period.
Studies are also showing that SARS-CoV-2 can also affect women’s health. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been shown to invade organs with high angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression, including the ovary, vagina, uterus, and placenta. Therefore, it can be opined that SARS-CoV-2 infection can adversely affect female fertility.
(Please refer to list of references at the end of the article)
One study has suggested that SARS-CoV-2 could affect female fertility through molecular mimicry!
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-new-study-suggests-that-sars-cov-2-infections-can-affect-fertility-in-females-through-molecular-mimicry-and-other-ways
As researchers continue to investigate the potential impact of COVID-19 on sexual health and fertility, healthcare professionals should encourage patients to get vaccinated and consider shared decision-making when planning fertility treatment. Further research on the link between COVID-19 and infertility, as well as the development of affordable and accessible fertility treatments, will be crucial in addressing the global infertility crisis.
References:
COVID-19 and male infertility: An overview of the disease
https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/Fulltext/2022/07080/COVID_19_and_male_infertility__An_overview_of_the.14.aspx
SARS-CoV-2 effect on male infertility and its possible pathophysiological mechanisms
https://discoveriesjournals.org/discoveries/D.2021.02.RA-AMA.DOI
The Possible Role of SARS-CoV-2 in Male Fertility: A Narrative Review
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-396X/3/3/46
Coronavirus: A possible cause of reduced male fertility
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/andr.12907
SARS-CoV-2 and Male Infertility: Possible Multifaceted Pathology
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43032-020-00261-z
SARS-CoV-2 and male infertility: from short- to long-term impacts
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40618-023-02055-x
SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the Male Reproductive System: A Brief Review
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/2/586
The Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Female Fertility: A Review of the Literature
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/2/984
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SAR-CoV-2 Induced Infertility Issues, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
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