Does COVID-19 cause testicular damage? A cross-sectional study comparing hormonal parameters

K. Karkin, G. Gürlen

Health Sciences University, Adana City Training and Research Hospital Urology Clinic, Adana, Turkey. kadir_karkin@msn.com

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• Infectious Diseases
• Urology

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to predict the potential testicular damage of COVID-19 by comparing the hormones FSH, LH, and TT before COVID-19 with values measured after COVID-19.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 348 patients – who were followed up in our urology clinic for varicocele, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction and infertility, had FSH, LH and TT levels measured one year before COVID-19 and were positive for COVID-19 after a Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests – were included in the study. Presence of pneumonia compatible with COVID-19, hospitalization in the intensive care unit and FSH, LH and TT values before and after COVID-19 were recorded, along with lung computed tomography (CT).

RESULTS: The post-COVID-19 LH value (9.72±3.27 mIU/mL) of the patients was significantly higher than the pre-COVID-19 LH value (5.72±2.50 mIU/mL) (p<0.001). The post-COVID-19 TT (253.85±88.03 ng/dl) value was significantly lower than the pre-COVID-19 TT value (351.08±106.19 ng/dl) (p<.001). In addition, while there was a mean decrease of 127.8 ng/dl in TT level in patients with pneumonia, a decrease of 39.03 ng/dl was observed in patients without pneumonia (p<.001).

CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 may cause an increase in serum LH levels while decreasing TT levels. Additionally, those with COVID-19 pneumonia may experience a greater decrease in serum TT levels than those with COVID-19 without pneumonia.

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