The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to more than 160 million infections and 3.5 million deaths globally. Men are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, having more severe disease with higher mortality rates than women. Androgens have been implicated as the underlying cause for more severe disease, as the androgen receptor has been noted to upregulate the cell surface receptors that mediate viral cell entry and infection. Unfortunately, despite testosterone’s potential role in COVID-19 prognosis, androgen deprivation therapy is neither protective nor a treatment for COVID-19. Interestingly, the male reproductive organs have been found to be vulnerable in moderate to severe illness, leading to reports of erectile dysfunction and orchitis. COVID-19 viral particles have been identified in penile and testis tissue, both in live patients who recovered from COVID-19 and post mortem in men who succumbed to the disease. Although sexual transmission remains unlikely in recovered men, moderate to severe COVID-19 infection can lead to germ cell and Leydig cell depletion, leading to decreased spermatogenesis and male hypogonadism. The objective of this review is to describe the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproductive health. There are still many unanswered questions as to the specific underlying mechanisms by which COVID-19 impacts male reproductive organs and the long-term sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproductive health.

中文翻译：

---

SARS-CoV-2 病毒对男性生殖健康的影响

由新型严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 引起的 2019 年冠状病毒 (COVID-19) 大流行已导致全球超过 1.6 亿人感染和 350 万人死亡。男性受到 COVID-19 的影响尤为严重，其疾病更严重，死亡率高于女性。雄激素被认为是导致更严重疾病的根本原因，因为雄激素受体已被发现上调介导病毒细胞进入和感染的细胞表面受体。不幸的是，尽管睾酮在 COVID-19 预后中具有潜在作用，但雄激素剥夺疗法既不能保护也不能治疗 COVID-19。有趣的是，男性生殖器官被发现在中度至重度疾病中很脆弱，导致勃起功能障碍和睾丸炎的报道。在从 COVID-19 康复的活体患者和死于该病的男性的死后，阴茎和睾丸组织中都发现了 COVID-19 病毒颗粒。尽管在康复的男性中性传播仍然不太可能，但中度至重度 COVID-19 感染可导致生殖细胞和间质细胞耗竭，从而导致精子发生减少和男性性腺功能减退。本综述的目的是描述 SARS-CoV-2 对男性生殖健康的影响。关于 COVID-19 影响男性生殖器官的具体潜在机制以及 SARS-CoV-2 对男性生殖健康的长期后遗症，仍有许多悬而未决的问题。尽管在康复的男性中性传播仍然不太可能，但中度至重度 COVID-19 感染可导致生殖细胞和间质细胞耗竭，从而导致精子发生减少和男性性腺功能减退。本综述的目的是描述 SARS-CoV-2 对男性生殖健康的影响。关于 COVID-19 影响男性生殖器官的具体潜在机制以及 SARS-CoV-2 对男性生殖健康的长期后遗症，仍有许多悬而未决的问题。尽管在康复的男性中性传播仍然不太可能，但中度至重度 COVID-19 感染可导致生殖细胞和间质细胞耗竭，从而导致精子发生减少和男性性腺功能减退。本综述的目的是描述 SARS-CoV-2 对男性生殖健康的影响。关于 COVID-19 影响男性生殖器官的具体潜在机制以及 SARS-CoV-2 对男性生殖健康的长期后遗症，仍有许多悬而未决的问题。