Can Covid-19 Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Learning more about the potential lasting effects of the coronavirus
Most people are now aware of the signs and symptoms of Covid-19. Coughing, runny nose, high fever, fatigue and weakness are all common symptoms among the nearly 40 million people around the globe who’ve been infected by the novel coronavirus. We’re also learning more about some of the potential lasting and long term effects of these infections.
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warn that patients who’ve recovered from Covid-19 may experience a wide-range of health issues in the following months. Serious issues like respiratory problems, chest pain, and heart damage have all been reported by those who feel ill but survived.
Heart damage due to inflammation may also play a role in another lasting effect that impacts men specifically: erectile dysfunction. A recent article published in the Nature Public Health Emergency Collection raised the flag about this unexpected potential lasting effect.
The article’s authors suggest that due to the cardiovascular and pulmonary damage Covid-19 can cause, the normal pathways in the body that need to be activated in order for men to achieve and maintain an erection could be impaired.
Though many disparate parts and systems of the body need to be in sync for an erection to occur, poor circulation is arguably one of the most important components. If the heart — as well as veins and arteries — cannot function the way they should due to inflammation or other damage, it stands to reason that erectile function could be impacted as well.
There are two demographic factors that also contribute to the worry that ED could become a serious long term health issue for Covid-patients. Erectile dysfunction is most common among older men, with some data suggesting around half of all men aged 50 and older will experience the condition. And just like ED, Covid affects older individuals at higher rates in terms of overall infections and severity. What’s more, Covid appears to have a more detrimental impact on men than it does on women.
But it’s not just the physical effects of the global pandemic that might lead to an increase in men experiencing erectile dysfunction. The type of existential dread that many are feeling as a result of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, the stress of uncertain employment and financial burdens, and the anxiety of catching a potentially deadly illness are all fertile ground for the psychological conditions for erectile dysfunction.
Mental aspects of being able to achieve and maintain an erection can be just as important as physical ones. So while the potential for long term inflammatory effects on the heart and lungs may lead to poor circulation which can lead to ED, the mental anguish of suffering through Covid-19 (as a patient or not) might also play an important role. And the two in tandem can be an incredibly difficult hurdle to overcome.
Pandemic or no, treating erectile dysfunction and restoring men’s sexual health should be a priority for everyone. A healthy sex life is important to overall wellbeing, with physical and emotion connection being the strong foundation of a healthy social life. Of course, both of those connections can be hard to come by with a global pandemic casting a long, dark shadow.
The important thing for men who find themselves having difficulty getting and keeping an erection hard enough for sex is to not feel shame, but rather to get medical help. Go see your family doctor if you feel comfortable and are able. If not, there are online alternatives that can set you up with an appointment with a licensed physician who will understand your symptoms and present you with options.
Living through this current moment can feel overwhelming at the best of times. The prospect of catching the novel coronavirus and then potentially suffering lasting effects can be almost unbearable. But there is hope. We’re learning more each and every day about Covid-19 and how to treat it. With some luck, we’ll have a reliable vaccine within the next 12 months. And in a few years, we’ll all look back at how we got through this time together.
