Is the diagnosis of COVID-19 causing male genitalia to shrink? American study confirms: The risk of erectile dysfunction is 20% higher
Recently, it was reported in the United States that a man’s penis was shortened by “3.8 centimeters” after being infected with the epidemic. After a doctor’s evaluation, it was determined that it would never return to its previous length. The news triggered an uproar from all walks of life. In fact, there are only sporadic cases of penis atrophy caused by COVID-19. Instead of worrying about the length of the “little brother” due to the diagnosis, men should pay more attention to the problem of “not ejaculating” after being infected with the epidemic. Previous research published in “Sexual Medicine” has confirmed that infection with the new coronavirus may indeed lead to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction.
Diagnosis increases risk of erectile dysfunction by 20%, study points to endothelial cell failure as key
A research team from the University of Miami in the United States conducted a retrospective analysis through past databases and multinational electronic medical records, and included 11,083,653 patients with erectile dysfunction as observation subjects, of which 246,990 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. The study excluded people with a history of hypertension, diabetes, or obesity to reduce variability during the experiment.
After cross-comparison of data, it was found that the risk of sexual dysfunction among people diagnosed with COVID-19 was 20% higher than that of healthy people; 28% of the subjects suffered from erectile dysfunction; and patients with erectile dysfunction were infected with COVID-19. The probability is 5 times higher than that of normal men. The results are consistent with previous retrospective studies showing that men infected with the new coronavirus are associated with a higher risk of sexual dysfunction.
Kevin Y. Chu, MD of the University of Miami and study author, pointed out that current academic circles speculate that the impact of the new coronavirus on male reproductive organs is mostly caused by the obstruction and contraction of capillaries caused by the inability of “endothelial cells” in the body, resulting in insufficiency of male reproductive glands (such as testicles). . In addition, COVID-19 can easily lead to systemic inflammation, and high inflammatory cytokines may also be related to male sexual dysfunction.
Men suffering from serious illness may be “immortal”? Virus can survive in penis for ‘8 months’
Research also authored by the University of Miami also revealed a fact that may make men anxious: the new coronavirus may survive in the endothelial cells of the penis for up to “8 months.” Study author Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy removed a portion of endothelial tissue from the penis of a critically ill hospitalized patient and found that the virus was still active after eight months of observation.
Dr. Ramasamy said that the severe patient’s vascular tissue showed signs of degeneration, and vascular degeneration meant a higher risk of sexual dysfunction. After being diagnosed with COVID-19, the patient’s penile endothelial cells were attacked by the virus, which prevented his penis from being completely filled with blood for 8 months. After evaluation, researchers believe there may be permanent damage to penile tissue.
Dr. Ramasamy pointed out that previous studies have shown that the new coronavirus not only causes damage to penile tissue, but also the endothelial tissue of the lungs, heart, kidneys and other organs may be disabled due to the new coronavirus. Therefore, if you have cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease or chronic kidney disease, you may be more likely to develop severe disease after being infected with the epidemic, and the mortality rate may even increase as a result.
“Erectile dysfunction is indeed a big problem for men; however, if you have cardiovascular disease or chronic disease, you need to be more vigilant about the new coronavirus epidemic. Getting vaccinated as soon as possible to gain protection and avoid gathering in groups may be the way to avoid diagnosis once and for all.” Ramasamy Dr. said.
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