Sexually transmitted COVID? UM study says ‘it also has the potential to cause male infertility’ – CBS Miami

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A new study from the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami shows that COVID-19 has the potential to cause male infertility and could even be sexually transmitted by asymptomatic men.

“It’s a virus that binds to a receptor found in almost every organ in the body. In fact, the three most important organs in which the receptors are at the highest density are the lungs, kidneys and testes, ”says Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy, director of reproductive urology at the Miller School.

Lead author of the study, Ramasamy, said his team had performed tests and determined that the virus can damage testicular tissue whether or not men show symptoms.

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“We found that the virus may be present inside the testes through biopsies from not only men who died of COVID, but also likely from a man who has recovered from COVID and who was currently asymptomatic at the time. time of biopsy, ”he explains. .

These results mean that the coronavirus could have other damaging results down the line.

“It can eventually affect male fertility and lead to sexual transmission from men to women,” says Ramasamy.

Although the study is preliminary and there is still work to be done, he says it is an important first step.

Dr Ramasamy advises young men who are diagnosed with COVID-19 to speak to their doctor about the potential for fertility and even the possibility of freezing sperm to avoid any future problems after being infected.