Can COVID-19 cause erectile dysfunction?

We are well aware of the most common symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, shortness of breath, fatigue and loss of smell or taste. According to the latest research, the complications of Covid-19 can cause erectile dysfunction.

Some studies confirm that there is a connection between coronavirus and erectile dysfunction. A July 2020 study published in the Journal of Endocrinological Research examined the impact of COVID-19 on men's sexual and reproductive health and found an association between coronavirus and ED patients. Research shows that erectile dysfunction is an excellent biomarker of overall physical and mental health.

What is the connection between corona infection and erectile dysfunction?

It is still unclear how the corona infection affects men's sexual health. However, the experts claim that the erectile dysfunction after Covid-19 can be caused by various factors.

Inflammation can be one such factor. For many people, the damage to bodies caused by COVID-19 disease is not due to the virus itself, but to the body's response to the virus. The corona infection causes what is known as “hyperinflammation”, which can lead to the formation of small blood clots and inflammation in the endothelium. This disrupts blood flow, and blood flow is of paramount importance when it comes to erections.

COVID-19 can also have a pre-existing heart condition such as B. affect heart inflammation or arrhythmia. In addition, many medications used to treat heart disease, such as beta-blockers, can cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect.

Mental health during the corona pandemic and its impact on erectile dysfunction

During isolation, 7,000 Italian subjects who did not have COVID-19 were screened for depression and anxiety. The findings, published in October 2020 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, showed that very "full and satisfying sexual activity" served as both a preventive and curative measure for mental health problems during isolation. Thus, sexual activity is closely linked to mental health.

Proper thinking is an important part of being sexually active and achieving an erection. Stress, anxiety and depression have always been possible causes of erectile dysfunction. Due to the pandemic, their number is increasing, leading to an increase in cases of erectile dysfunction.

Poor general health can be a cause of erectile dysfunction post COVID-19

Because erectile dysfunction is usually a symptom of an underlying health problem, men with poor health are at increased risk of developing ED and complications of COVID-19. In these patients, the coronavirus is usually severe and can lead to such complications as impotence.

Does COVID-19 affect the penis and testicles?

Erectile dysfunction is a complex physiological and psychological disorder. Every man with such a problem should have a good nervous system, hormonal balance, adequate blood flow and the desire for a normal erection. The coronavirus patients often suffer from severe physiological and psychological stress, which can lead to decreased testosterone levels and increased stress hormone production.

In most patients, the coronavirus manifests itself as a respiratory disease with coughing, shortness of breath and shortness of breath. The seriously ill often have difficulties getting enough oxygen into the bloodstream. And when that happens, erection problems can appear, since oxygen is of great importance in creating an erection.

There is a consensus among researchers that long-term complications from COVID-19 can lead to Peyronie's disease.

There is also evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has a negative impact on the testicles. SARS-CoV-2 enters cells with the help of a protein called ACE2, and ACE2 then becomes dominant in the testicles. Since most of the testosterone in men is produced in the testicles, COVID-19 can lead to testosterone deficiency.

This is important for two reasons. First, low testosterone alone can serve erectile dysfunction. Second, testosterone is able to reduce inflammation in the body. If there is a testosterone deficiency, then the inflammation will not be reduced.

More clinical trials needed

While a number of factors may explain why COVID-19 can cause erectile dysfunction, experts argue that many more clinical trials are needed.

The drugs like Sildenafil (Viagra) have been used in clinical trials in China to mitigate the lung damage caused by COVID-19. Therefore, it's worth doing more research to see if the men who took sildenafil were less likely to suffer from ED than men who didn't take it.

Of course, if you suffer from erectile dysfunction, this does not mean that you have or have had COVID-19. In fact, erectile dysfunction is more common than people think. According to statistics, four to six million men in Britain are affected. If you or your partner have problems in bed, then you or he should see a doctor first.