American Men Nervously Rushing To Freeze Sperm Over Fear Of COVID-19

Since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, there have been multiple reports about COVID-19 infection leading to other diseases and leaving negative effects on the patients’ health. And whether male fertility is compromised is also one of the most controversial issues. Concerns about this have recently fueled the demand for sperm collection in the United States.

According to Daily Beast, sales of at-home sperm collection company CryoChoice have increased by 20% in the past few weeks. Another company, Legacy, has also seen its order volume increased by 10 times than usual. There's also a start-up company, Dadi, that has tripled its business, and its 5-year sperm storage package is nearly sold out.

Under normal procedures, it is best for customers to come to the clinic to collect and freeze their sperm directly to ensure the quality of sperm. But in the context of an epidemic, the only way to collect sperm is by doing it at home. Sperm-collecting companies like Dadi will send at-home sperm collection kits to customers. Those kits allow men to collect their sperm at home and then ship those back to clinics for cryogenic preservation. The cost for the whole process is about $100 or more, which is equivalent to around Rs. 7,600.

For most Americans who are unemployed and have no savings, it is a significant expense. But in return, they have one less thing to worry about for their future.

Dadi’s CEO Tom Smith said that he thought there would be a significant decline in business when Americans went into austerity mode and he never thought it would happen in the opposite direction.

So far, there is no evidence that the new coronavirus can have a lasting effect on fertility, whether in men or women. No virus samples were detected in semen or vaginal fluid. However, from late February to mid-March, many rumors surfaced after a theory put forward by Chinese doctors - based on speculation rather than evidence - that the coronavirus could affect the testes and can therefore affect male fertility. Another study published in late March showed that prolonged stress in the context of the widespread Covid-19 epidemic could have an adverse effect on the sperm of men and children in the future. A number of other rumors also spread on the Internet, about other types of coronaviruses including SARS, which can cause testicular inflammation.

Meanwhile, many fertility experts have acknowledged in public reports that serious illnesses and high fevers can negatively affect sperm. However, they say they are still in the process of learning about this new coronavirus, so it is impossible to say with any certainty about its short-term or long-term effects. Some experts say there is no need to worry that high temperatures will inhibit sperm production, as this condition is completely reversible and everything will return to normal after 3 months.

And when most American men are worried, many companies have implicitly introduced the concept of biological clocks in the male reproductive system. That is, after 35 years of age, the quality of male sperm will decrease significantly every 8 months and it has exacerbated this panic.

Reproductive urologist Alex Tatem also said that in most of his recent consultations, patients sought his advice on whether the new coronavirus will affect their fertility.

“When the world around you is going crazy,” added Tatem, “just the idea that you can grasp something—have control over any of your life—that [may be] worth the couple hundred dollars it costs to bank some sperm.”

And of course, not only men worry. An obstetrician in New York City has found that the number of calls he receives about egg freezing has increased by 25% since the end of February. Unlike sperm collection that can be done at home, after the clinics are closed, very few companies offer this service.

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