Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a new public health crisis, threatening almost all aspects of human life. Originating in bats, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted to humans through unknown intermediate hosts, where it is primarily known to cause pneumonia-like complications in the respiratory system. Organ-to-organ transmission has not been ruled out, thereby raising the possibility of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on multiple organ systems. The male reproductive system has been hypothesized to be a potential target of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is supported by some preliminary evidence. This may pose a global threat to male fertility potential, as men are more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection than women, especially those of reproductive age. Preliminary reports have also indicated the possibility of sexual transmission of SARS-CoV-2. It may cause severe complications in infected couples. This review focuses on the pathophysiology of potential SARS-CoV-2 infection in the reproductive organs of males along with their invasion mechanisms. The risks of COVID-19 on male fertility as well as the differences in vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with females have also been highlighted.

Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research Amity University Noida India

Department of Animal Morphology Physiology and Genetics Faculty of AgriSciences Mendel University in Brno Brno Czech Republic

Department of Applied Physics School of Science Aalto University Espoo Finland

Department of Biotechnology School of Engineering and Technology Sharda University Greater Noida UP India

Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics Assam University Silchar India

Department of Microbiology R G Kar Medical College and Hospital Kolkata India

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Silchar Medical College and Hospital Silchar India

Department of Urology and Andrology AIG Hospitals Gachibowli Hyderabad India

Department of Zoology Acharya Prafulla Chandra College New Barrackpore North 24 Parganas West Bengal India

Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra Nitra Slovak Republic

Health Centre Assam University Silchar India

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