Dec 9, 2020
HuffPost – We know that the coronavirus can affect many parts of the body, including the brain and lungs.
Is it time to acknowledge impotence might be a symptom too?
As more cases of COVID-19 have appeared, so too have more reports linking erectile dysfunction to the disease.
A study published in July in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation found coronavirus survivors may experience sexual and reproductive health issues like ED following their illness. Doctors and experts also say they’ve seen patients who have struggled with the problem after contracting the virus.
The fact is that COVID-19 is still new to the medical world, and we’re still discovering short-term and long-term effects of the virus. There isn’t enough scientific data to definitively and directly link the coronavirus to erectile dysfunction.
But some experts don’t anticipate ED remaining a rare symptom as time goes on, and believe it will become more common “in anyone who has a severe COVID infection,” said Judson Brandeis, a urologist in California.
Here’s what could be going on with people experiencing erectile dysfunction following COVID-19.
COVID-19 can cause blood flow issues, which could be a factor in erectile dysfunction.
Data has shown that the virus can infect and attack blood vessels. This explains why some people who survived COVID-19 have experienced blood clots, complications with the lungs or kidneys, or oral health issues like tooth loss.
It could also be the reason behind coronavirus-related ED, according to Christopher Kyle, a urologist in Oregon:
“Erectile dysfunction largely stems from issues with blood flow, so it’s no surprise that COVID-related vascular issues may be related to erectile dysfunction.
“Anything that degrades blood vessels or impedes how freely blood flows throughout all parts of the body will almost assuredly have an impact on the ability to achieve an erection.”
More research needs to be conducted on how COVID-19 affects sexual health, but experts believe we’ll see more reports of erectile dysfunction in survivors of the disease … Read more.
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