BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has triggered a global public health crisis of unprecedented proportions. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is a highly effective strategy for preventing infections and severe COVID-19 outcomes. Although several studies have concluded that COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to affect fertility, concerns have arisen regarding adverse events, including the potential impact on fertility, which is accentuated by limited and inconsistent evidence. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to provide a recent assessment of the literature on the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on male sperm quality. The possible impact of COVID-19 vaccines on fertility potential was also examined to draw a clearer picture and evaluate the effects of COVID-19 on male reproductive health. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane were searched from their inception to October 2023. Eligible studies included articles reporting SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and human semen quality and fertility, as well as the impact of vaccination on ART treatment outcomes. The quality of cohort and cross-sectional studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the quality assessment criteria recommended by the Quality evaluation criteria recommended by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, respectively. The system review follows PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: The initial literature search yielded 4691 records by searching five peer reviewed databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane). Finally, 24 relevant studies were selected for our study. There were evident research inequalities at the regional level, with the United States and Western European contributing 38% (9/24) of the studies, Middle Eastern countries similarly contributing 38% (9/24), China accounting for 21% (5/24), and Africa and South America accounting for none. Nonetheless, the overall quality of the included studies was generally good. Our results demonstrated that serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are extremely rare, and men experience few problems with sperm parameters or reproductive potential after vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the studies published so far, the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for male reproductive health. Obviously, vaccination is a wise option than suffering from serious adverse symptoms of virus infection. These evidences may help reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccination coverage, particularly among reproductive-age couples. As new controlled trials and prospective cohort studies with larger sample sizes emerge, the possibility of a negative effect of the vaccine on sperm quality must be further clarified.
- Adults
- COVID-19
- Safety
