Presence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in Semen: Impact on Fertility Preservation in Male Oncological Patients ?

Overview

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the French Agency of Biomedicine has recommended maintaining fertility preservation for patients requiring immediate oncological treatments exhibiting gonadotoxic effects. However, no study has examined the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sperm from cancer patients. This study aims therefore to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2, specifically in the seminal fluid and the spermatozoa fractions of cancer patient semen. The investigators will determine if the virus presence in sperm is associated with its presence in the nasal swabs, COVID symptoms, specific serological profiles and particular oncological pathologies/treatments.

To perform this, all patient undergoing oncological fertility preservation will be evaluated for COVID-19 symptomatology (fever, cough, headache, myalgia, diarrhea, anosmia, pharyngodynia). In addition, a nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 research by RT- qPCR will be performed on the day of semen collection. On the same day, serological tests will be carried out, and 30 to 50 days after, according to HAS specifications with methods validated by the National Reference Center. Seminal fluid and spermatozoa will be separated by density gradient centrifugation for a posteriori molecular analysis of SARS-CoV-2 presence. Will thus be measured, within the same ejaculate, the concordance between the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the seminal fluid and in the sperm cells fraction. The investigators will also determine if the virus presence in the sperm is related with : * (i) the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the nasal swab; * (ii) patient symptomatology; * (iii) a specific serological profile; * (iv) a particular oncological pathology and / or treatment. The investigators may also find out if the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 in semen affects sperm quality. This study will be the first one examining the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen from cancer patients. This will guarantee the safety of fertility preservation procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.