COVID-19 can cause erectile dysfunction, according to a study at the University of Miami

Most people infected with COVID-19 rebound quickly, but some people experience new, recurrent, or ongoing health problems weeks after infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I will.

These health problems include fatigue, headaches, and loss of smell and taste. Some men also experience erectile dysfunction, and researchers at the University of Miami conclude that it is another long-term result of COVID-19 infection.

“After being infected with COVID-19, I started seeing men complaining of erectile dysfunction,” says Dr. Ranjit Lamasami, a urologist at the University of Miami. “Several men had to wear artificial limbs.”

Lamasami, one of the authors of a recently published study World Journal of Men’s HealthAccording to researchers, during surgery performed 7-9 months after the initial infection, researchers obtained tissue for testing and discovered that the virus was still present in the penile tissue throughout the time. ..

“The COVID virus is present in the endothelial cells that supply blood to the penis,” explains Lamasami. “We believe that the virus affects blood flow to the penis and causes erectile dysfunction.”

Lamasami says published studies show that COVID-19 can cause dysfunction of endothelial cells in the lungs, heart, kidneys, and other important organs. But that goes beyond that. The study also found that men who had no history of contributing to ED and had never previously suffered from this problem developed symptoms after being infected with COVID-19.

“There are some pretty serious cases,” he says.

For this study, Lamasami and other researchers collected penis tissue from two men with a history of COVID-19 infection 7-9 months ago and from two men with no history of the virus. Collected the organization. One man with a history of COVID required hospitalization and the other had a mild case.

“Both men had’normal erectile function’without medication before COVID infection,” the study says.

Patients in this study ranged from 65 to 71 years old and were all Latino Americans, but Lamasami says she saw a 40-year-old patient suffering from erectile dysfunction after COVID.

Viral particles were previously found in COVID-positive male tissues and not in men with no history of COVID. The study concludes that the virus is present in the penis “long after the initial infection” and damages endothelial cells.

“Erectile function requires vascular integrity, and COVID-19-related endothelial damage affects the flow of blood vessels in the penis and is likely to cause impaired erectile function,” the researchers found. did.

That’s why men take care of themselves and take the necessary precautions to prevent them from becoming infected with COVID-19, says Lamasami. Especially because he believes that erectile dysfunction as a result of the coronavirus can be permanent.

“In addition, men should try vaccination,” adds Lamasami.

Lamasami states that it is important for men to be aware of the signs of ED after COVID and to seek help from a doctor to discuss treatment options.

“They should attribute this to a temporary or blockade,” says Lamasami. “There may be a real organic cause. They shouldn’t think it’s gone naturally.”