The 2025 COVID wave and male fertility: What we're still learning…

Life may feel mostly back to normal – offices are busy again, children are back to school, travel is steady, masks are off, and the news cycle has mostly moved on. But COVID-19 hasn’t fully exited the picture. With the current wave, cases are steadily climbing in parts of India and beyond, and while the urgency has eased, new questions are still unfolding. Some of them are quieter, more long-term. One of those? Male infertility.

Fertility after COVID: A shift in the conversation

During the early waves of COVID-19, the emphasis was understandably on critical care and survival. But now, in 2025, with vaccines in place and the world far more prepared, we’re seeing a different kind of concern emerge—not urgent, but steady and personal. People are beginning to ask: What has the virus left behind?

With this current wave, there’s no widespread panic, but a quieter reckoning. And for some men trying to conceive, that concern has turned toward reproductive health. At our fertility centres, we’re seeing more men bring up questions around sperm health, especially after a recent COVID infection.

They’re not alarmed, but they are curious. And science is starting to offer answers. Emerging research is beginning to unpack how COVID-19 affects the male reproductive system—temporarily in most cases, but significantly enough to merit a conversation. This isn’t about fear. It’s about awareness. It’s about giving people the space to ask what was once overlooked.Fertility may not be in the headlines anymore, but for many couples, it’s very much top of mind.



The testes connection: What we know

COVID-19 enters the body through ACE2 receptors. These are found in the lungs, as well as in the testicles. That alone raised early concerns. Could the virus interfere with sperm development?
We still don’t have all the answers, but research so far shows that in some men, especially those with moderate to severe illness, there are noticeable changes: lower sperm counts, reduced motility, and altered morphology. Sometimes all three. While similar changes can happen after any illness involving fever or inflammation, COVID-19 just happens to affect many systems at once, and on a large scale.

There’s also growing evidence that inflammation and oxidative stress from the infection may alter the environment in which sperm form. Hormonal shifts could be playing a part too. These aren’t necessarily long-term issues, but they do affect the body’s rhythm, at least for a while.

Does it all bounce back?

In many cases, yes. Most men recover their baseline sperm health within a few months. But that window can feel long when time is precious, especially for couples already facing fertility challenges. There’s also no universal timeline. Everyone’s recovery looks a little different.

That’s part of the complexity: the virus behaves differently from one person to the next. So does the recovery.

What you can do if you’re concerned

If COVID is in your recent medical history and conception isn’t happening as expected, you’re not overthinking it.
• Semen testing is straightforward and can uncover key fertility indicators. It’s non-invasive and might be the quickest way to know whether your system is still recalibrating or if something else is at play.
• It's also worth checking in with a doctor. Not because you should be alarmed, but because informed decisions tend to be better ones.
• While science looks at viral effects, the basics still count. What you eat, how you sleep, and how you manage stress are things that continue to shape hormone balance and sperm quality.
• Avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, and reducing heat exposure around the groin are all practical ways to support recovery.

Fertility conversations are evolving

Male fertility has long stayed in the background and has often been pushed to the woman’s corner due to factors such as societal stigma, fear, lack of awareness, etc. But that’s changing. More men are booking evaluations, asking questions, and showing up alongside their partners.

Whether COVID-19 has a short or long-term impact on male fertility, one thing’s clear - being informed makes a difference. It’s personal, it’s emotional, and it’s almost never linear—but fertility is something both partners can face and take charge of, together.

And awareness can offer something many couples need most - peace of mind.

(By Dr. Lavanya, Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Sarjapur, Bengaluru)