Study: COVID-19 infection may reduce fertility in men The viral disease - which has swept the globe, claiming nearly 2.2 million lives - can cause increased sperm cell death, inflammation and so-called oxidative stress, researchers reported Friday in the journal Reproduction. Picture: Pixabay.com 71 days ago PARIS - COVID-19 may damage sperm quality and reduce fertility in men, according to a new study based on experimental evidence. The viral disease - which has swept the globe, claiming nearly 2.2 million lives - can cause increased sperm cell death, inflammation and so-called oxidative stress, researchers reported Friday in the journal Reproduction. "These findings provide the first direct experimental evidence that the male reproductive system could be targeted and damaged by COVID-19," the authors concluded.