COVID-19 INFECTION AND TEMPORAL RECOVERY OF TESTOSTERONE AND LH IN MALES
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Keywords
COVID-19, Testosterone, Luteinizing Hormone, Male Reproductive Health
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a global pandemic in 2019 with primary respiratory involvement. Altered angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor expression has been linked to extrapulmonary effects, including disturbances in male reproductive hormones.
Objectives: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on male reproductive hormones during early and late recovery phases.
Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, from September 2023 to November 2023. After ethical approval and informed consent, 90 males were enrolled and divided into three equal groups: Group A (healthy controls), Group B (recovered from COVID-19 within the last four months), and Group C (recovered from COVID-19 approximately one year earlier). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. The Shapiro–Wilk test assessed normality, while Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests were applied. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: COVID-19-infected individuals had significantly lower serum testosterone levels, particularly in the four-month post-COVID group (Group B: 4.48 ± 2.56) compared with the one-year post-COVID group (Group C: 5.17 ± 2.78) and controls (Group A: 6.57 ± 1.50). Luteinizing hormone levels were significantly elevated in the four-month post-COVID group (8.03 ± 3.42) compared with the control group (3.99 ± 1.05) and the one-year post-COVID group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Recent COVID-19 infection is associated with transient disruption of testosterone biosynthesis accompanied by elevated luteinizing hormone levels. Hormonal recovery is evident over time, with near-normal testosterone and LH levels observed at one year post-infection, indicating that COVID-19-related male reproductive endocrine dysfunction is largely reversible.
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Sana Javed
MBBS, M.Phil. Demonstrator, Department of Physiology, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medical College, Mirpur AJ&K
Saghir Ahmad Jafri
PhD, Professor, Department of Physiology, NUR International University, Lahore, Pakistan
Ayyaz Ahmed
MBBS, M.Phil, MCPS, Professor, Department of Physiology, Mohi-ud-Din Islamic Medical College, Mirpur AJ&K
Misbah Aslam
MBBS, M. Phil. Senior Lecturer, Department of Physiology, CMH Kharian Medical College, Kharian, Pakistan
Umer Javed
MBBS, Medical Officer, Department of Adult Psychiatry, Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, Shrewsbury Shropshire, SY2 6LG
Ayesha shafqat
MBBS, M.Phil, Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, HBS Medical and Dental College, Islamabad, Pakistan
Rabea Nasir
MBBS, M.Phil, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, M. Islam Medical & Dental College, Gujranwala, Pakistan
Abrar Hussain Azad
MBBS, MPH, PhD, Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Mohi-ud-Din Islamic Medical College, Mirpur AJ&K
