Chinese researchers have found traces of the virus in the semen of patients who are infected or in remission. Further studies will be needed to determine if the virus is sexually transmitted.
- Traces of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been found in semen
- But the cases are too few to deduce that the virus can be transmitted sexually.
Studies carried out to date show that Sars-Cov-2 is mainly transmitted by droplet projections. Scientists have found traces of the virus in saliva, stool and urine. In China, a research team discovered it in semen. They publish the conclusions of their work in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Covid-19 detected in semen
The study was carried out with semen samples from 38 men, passed by the hospital of Shangqiu in the province of Henan, in the North-East of the country. All tested positive for Covid-19: some were still affected and the others were in remission. The semen of six of them was positive for coronavirus. Of these men, two were in remission, while the other four were still suffering from the disease.
Limits to these conclusions
The researchers point out that the results of their study are limited for two reasons: the small sample size and the lack of patient follow-up. The results do not make it possible to know if the virus could have been transmitted during sexual intercourse, nor how long it remained in the semen. The research team suggests further research on this topic to determine if Covid-19 is sexually transmitted.
the Los Angeles Times points out that these results contrast with those of another study also made in China. The semen of 34 men who tested positive had been analyzed, the researchers had found no trace of the virus in their semen. The tests were carried out between eight days and a month after the diagnosis of the disease.
Caution remains in order!
If the transmission of the virus by sexual fluids remains undetermined today, having sexual intercourse increases the risk of contamination insofar as the Covid-19 is present in the saliva. A simple kiss can infect you. If your partner is infected, it is better to be abstinent!
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