DOH looks into COVID-19’s impact on male fertility

The Department of Health (DOH) is looking into reports that COVID-19 can damage the testes and have an impact on male fertility, as well as finding an appropriate explanation for the latest discovery on the effect of the disease.

“Ito po ay ating pinagaaralan. Actually nakita natin 'yang artikulo na 'yan... ito naman po ay ibinigay na natin sa mga eksperto para bigyan tayo ng appropriate na pagpapaliwanag kung papaano ito,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeiere said during the Laging Handa briefing.

“Maglalabas tayo ng pagpapaliwanag sa isang linggo,” Vergeire added.

Evidence of testes damage from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been accumulating in a series of small autopsy studies, suggesting that the new coronavirus could have an impact on male fertility.

Researchers from the University of Miami in Florida compared testes tissues from six men who died of COVID-19 and three who died of other causes.

Three of the COVID-19 patients had testes damage that would impair their ability to produce sperm.

A Chinese research team made similar observations earlier this year and also found that some COVID-19 patients' immune systems "attacked" the testes, causing severe inflammation, or orchitis.

A separate Chinese team found "significant damage" to the basic cellular tissue of the testicles in 12 men who died of COVID-19.

Vergeire, however, advised the public not to be alarmed by such findings as these still needs further study.

“Ito pong mga ganitong binibigay kailangan pagaralan muna natin, ‘wag muna nating paniwalaan. We should have adequate and further evidence para dito bago tayo makapagsabi at makapag-rekomenda sa ating mga kababayan,” Vergeire said. — DVM, GMA News