Recent molecular biology findings have shown that for the penetration of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus into host cells, a key role is played by protease serine 2, the activity of which is dependent on androgens. The important role of androgens is also evidenced by clinical observations that men in some age categories are infected by this novel coronavirus up to two times more frequently than women. In addition, men with androgenic alopecia tend to have more serious clinical courses, while men with androgen deprivation as a result of prostate cancer treatments tend to have milder courses. This is in line with the fact that preadolescent children are only rarely sickened with serious forms of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Even though these observations may be explained by other factors, many authors have hypothesized that lowered androgen levels and blocking their activity using anti-androgen medication may moderate the course of the viral infection in intermediately- to critically-affected cases. Clearly, it would be important for androgen deprivation to block not just gonadal androgens, but also adrenal androgens. On the other hand, low androgen levels are considered to be a risk factor for the course of SARS-CoV-2 infections, either because low androgen levels have a general effect on anaboliccatabolic equilibrium and energy metabolism, or because of the ability of testosterone to modify the immune system. It is not yet clear if infection with this novel coronavirus might induce hypogonadism, leading to undesirable side effects on male fertility.
The present article introduces a new operationalization of preference theory in the Czech Republic; and tests if fertility differs in terms of life-style preferences using data from a survey of men and women in post-reproductive period (aged 40 +) of the life cycle. This study has three main parts. First, it introduces and discusses a new operationalization of life-style preferences that can be applied for both men and women. Secondly, this paper presents the distribution of life-style preferences among males and females in the Czech population. In the final part, the authors test whether this new typology is a good predictor of Czech fertility levels, and highlight the differences in fertility between men and women by lifestyle preferences., Beatrice Chromková Manea a Ladislav Rabušic., and Obsahuje bibliografii