COVID-19 may cause men to become impotent, according to scientists looking at the long-term effects of the virus. Researchers at Miami University scanned the penis tissue of two recovered Covid patients, aged 65 and 71, who were struggling to get erections. They found the virus was still lingering six months after they’d been ill.
Endothelial dysfunction is a term that refers to impaired functioning of the lining of blood vessels.
Ranjith Ramasamy, study author and associate professor and director at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Reproductive Urology Program, said Covid can cause this problem in many organs, including the penis.
He continued: “Our research shows that COVID-19 can cause widespread endothelial dysfunction in organ systems beyond the lungs and kidneys.
“The underlying endothelial dysfunction that happens because of COVID-19 can enter the endothelial cells and affect many organs, including the penis.
“In our pilot study, we found that men who previously did not complain of erectile dysfunction developed pretty severe erectile dysfunction after the onset of COVID-19 infection.”
The penile tissue from the two men with a history of COVID-19 infection was taken when they underwent penile prosthesis surgery.
The tissue was compared against samples from two other men who also had erectile dysfunction but had not been infected with the virus.
The researchers found Covid was in the penile tissue of both men who had been infected, but not in the men with no history of the virus.
The men had been infected six and eight months before the study.
Dr Ramasamy added: “This suggests that men who develop COVID-19 infection should be aware that erectile dysfunction (ED) could be an adverse effect of the virus, and they should go to a physician if they develop ED symptoms.”
A medical student working on the study, Eliyahu Kresch, warned: “These latest findings are yet another reason that we should all do our best to avoid Covid.
“We recommend vaccination and to try to stay safe in general.”