Semen can harbor up to 27 different viruses

It was one thing to know that the Zika virus could actually survive in human semen for up to 6 months which is scary enough.  Now a new meta-analysis has discovered up to 26 other viruses can also find a hideout by living in semen having the potential to infect the bloodstream.   These findings suggest that more viruses can live in semen than once previously thought. 

The list of viruses includes some rather heavy hitters to one’s health such as Ebola, HIV, hepatitis B, mumps, Epstein-Barr, chicken pox, and herpes.  Not only that but after looking through 3800 scientific publications, the researchers also found that even the testes can harbor up to at least 11 viruses including influenza, dengue and severe acute respiratory syndrome which also have the potential to show up in semen.

These findings point to the fact that it looks like non-sexually transmitted viruses can live in semen with the possibility of being transmitted sexually.

However, researchers with the study stressed that just because there could be a presence of these 27 viruses in semen does not mean they are all capable of person-to-person transmission.  For instance, many of viruses may be present in semen but that does not mean they are viable. Sex may also not be the most efficient way of transmission for many of these viruses.  For instance, the vast majority of people who have been infected with the Zika virus were done so by being bitten by an infected mosquito rather than through sexual transmission.  Other viruses such as Epstein-Barr which causes mononucleosis are much more likely to be transmitted by person-to-person contact through a sneeze or cough than by sex.  Keep in mind there is no evidence that influenza is transmitted through sex. 

However, these viruses could have other serious consequences such as reducing fertility, increasing risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, and increase the risk of causing mutations in the DNA of sperm which pass along the virus-induced mutation to future generations in a fertilized egg.

A reason why semen is a favorite place of these viruses to congregate is that the viruses have an easy time of getting in there but it is much harder for the immune system to attack and destroy the viruses once in semen.  Since the immune system regards sperm as a foreign substance in a man’s body, sperm could be a target of potential attack.  But protecting sperm from annihilation by the immune system are the testes since the immune system has little access to this area of the body. 

The viruses are smart because they also will take cover from the immune system by hiding in the sanctuary of semen. 

At this time, there is far more research needed to be conducted to fully understand how and whether viruses can be sexually transmitted and exactly how long they remain viable in semen and at what concentrations.  Until then, it is still strongly recommended to take the usual precautions in regards to protection during sex and against viruses.