Should we worry that the COVID-19 could be transmitted with the semen?

Ali Adel dawood

ALjameaa 342st., Mosul, Iraq.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: aad@uomosul.edu.iq

ABSTRACT:

It has become known that COVID-19 is transmitted human-to-human through respiratory droplets by coughing or sneezing. It can also occur through contact with surfaces in the immediate vicinity, or with objects used by a person with COVID-19. The best way to protect from the COVID-19 is to stay home to decrease the risk of transmission. Even if the exhibition no symptoms, the human may still be a carrier of the coronavirus. The CDC reported that it is unknown whether the virus can spread through vomit, urine, and breast milk.

KEYWORDS: COVID-19, Semen, Transmission, CDC.

INTRODUCTION:

Other China study reported that several male patients with the severe coronavirus infections developed pain in their groins, more specifically, their testicles, the entity orchitis, or inflamed testicles due to viral infections.

Later, A study was held on Shangqiu Municipal Hospital in Henan province, China involved 38 patients undergoing treatment for severe COVID-19 disease. Fifteen of them provided a semen sample during the acute phase of their illness and 23 shortly after recovering. Four samples out of the 15 patients with acute disease and two out of the 23 recovering patients, viral RNA was found in the semen samples. In this study, the researchers did not follow up with the participants to determine the duration of the viral load in their semen and whether the men had spread it to their sexual partners. The problem is there were some technical difficulties in detecting the virus in the testing semen. Besides, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the sperm did not show whether it is active and capable of causing infection. Furthermore, the text doesn't explain how much viral load was present in the sperm, nor did it examine whether the virus can be transmitted through sexual activity.

Although It's important to understand that the virus was found in a small sample size of semen in this study, this does not necessarily mean that the virus itself is transmitted sexually.

The risk of COVID-19 transmission is well established through saliva and aerosolized particles while the role is questionable through the fecal-oral route. The lack of detailed information about viral shedding, and concentration in semen as potential limitations. Until now, there is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted sexually, so the care, abstinence, or a condom may be part of prevention efforts in the future. Body secretions not mere semen and vaginal secretion have a potential role in sexual acts. But considering the negative impact in the human mind, an uncertain period of abstinence can cause. So the psychological support should be available to every individual and customized advice should be given considering the contexts around the particular life.

Fortunately, there is no evidence to indicate that SARS-CoV-2 could be found in vaginal fluid but having sex, including intimate touching and kissing, may put anyone at risk of catching or spreading the virus.

The only scenario could be whether sexual transmission of SARS-CoV-2 persisted in the testicles for extended periods, or if the COVID-19 survivors might sexually transmit the virus after their recovery. In the meantime, it would be considered for people recovering from COVID-19 to use a condom until further research is done to clarify how long the infectious virus stays in semen.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

The author sends thank to the university of Mosul for approved this work.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

This paper is without any conflict of interest.

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Received on 02.10.2020 Revised on 21.10.2020

Asian J. Pharm. Res. 2020; 10(4):319-320.

DOI: 10.5958/2231-5691.2020.00054.4