Probable Effects of COVID-19 Vaccination on Semen Parameters: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Assessment of the long-term effect of inactivated Sinopharm coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine on semen analysis. Material and Methods: It is an observational cross-sectional study at Al-Kasr Al-Ainy hospital. A sample size of 128 men was included. Semen samples were collected after at least 1 year of the 2nd dose of the vaccine from 64 men who had a previously normal semen analysis (prior to the vaccination) and 64 samples of unvaccinated men. Results: There was no difference between the 2 groups in semen liquefaction time, semen volume, total sperm motility, sperm immotility, sperm morphology, semen pH, and semen viscosity. There was a statistically significant higher mean value of sperm concentration, total sperm count, and percentage of progressively motile sperm in the unvaccinated group, as well as a statistically significant higher mean value of non-progressively motile sperm percentage in the vaccinated group, all of which are clinically insignificant as both groups results fall within normal World Health Organization values. Conclusion: The results suggest the relative safety of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine by Sinopharm. The vaccine did not have a clinically significant effect among the vaccinated men. There was no residual effect on male fertility; thus, the concerns raised about the vaccine's impact on male fertility have no condemning evidence.