Doctors suspect that coronavirus and erectile dysfunction are related. So if you have a penis, all the more reason to get vaccinated.
But how can this happen? The coronavirus infection is known to damage blood vessels, including vessels that pump blood to the penis.
This is not a totally verified fact though. However, evidence is slowly suggesting that it could be possible. U.S Researchers analysed two penile tissue samples under an electron microscope in which coronavirus particles were present.
These samples were from two former COVID patients who after six and eight months of having the infection, became impotent. Not a fun side effect at all.
The study also revealed that the blood vessel damage in these two patients differed from damaged blood vessels of two other men with erectile dysfunction with no coronavirus history.
No mask, no vaccine, no erection. Any questions? https://t.co/jpce4EhgXk
— The Dave (@gravyczar) May 23, 2021
“We found that the virus affects the blood vessels that supply the penis, causing erectile dysfunction,” said senior researcher Dr Ranjith Ramasamy, director of the reproductive urology program at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.
“We found that the virus affects the blood vessels that supply the penis, causing erectile dysfunction. The blood vessels themselves malfunction and are not able to provide enough blood to enter the penis for an erection,” said Dr Ranjith Ramasamy, the director of the reproductive urology program at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.
This comparatively reflects organ damage of the lungs, kidneys and brain that has been evident in COVID-19 patients, according to Dr Ramasamy. He continued to state:
“We think the penis also could be affected in a similar way. We don’t think this is a temporary effect. We think this could be permanent.”
Permanent?! Huge yikes!
The two men who previously had healthy erectile function, but now have erectile dysfunction after recovering from COVID-19 (not a great consolation prize in my opinion), are undergoing prosthesis surgery.
One of the affected men spent two weeks in hospital in critical condition when he was infected with coronavirus.
Aside from this, he did not suffer from any other chronic health issues. Except for the penis thing, obviously.
And yes I would consider it a chronic health issue.
The other man, however, was not in a severe state like his counterpart in terms of how badly he was suffering, with the virus when he was infected but had high blood pressure and clogged arteries prior to testing positive for coronavirus.
Yet, they still both ended in the same place with COVID-19 particles in their penile tissue, and both have evidence of endothelial dysfunction.
Almost like erectile dysfunction, endothelial dysfunction is a coronary heart disease in which the linings of small blood vessels don’t function properly and fail to provide adequate blood supply to different parts of the body, not just the penis.
“I think this is probably not something men are discussing right now with all of the things that are going on. I’m fairly certain in the next six months to one year we will probably get a better sense of the true prevalence of erectile dysfunction among COVID-positive men,” Dr Ramasamy stated.
Well it’s not quite “Covid makes your dick fall off” but close enough to provide motivation to get vaccinated for those men whose world is centered around the proper functioning of their wedding tackle. Please spread far and wide. https://t.co/570UJ8w0hT
— gnf585v (@gnf585v) May 23, 2021
Dr Ramasamy is not wrong, there are barely any men talking about this.
But again, not many people, in general, are talking about this as this is an extremely recent discovery. There are few tweets out there by some men, generally pointing in the same direction of, “is this enough reason to get vaccinated,” while sharing an article link about it.
If two men can suffer COVID consequences after 6-8 months of recovery, it is absolutely imperative to spread this information as there is every possibility out of our billions of people in the world who could be suffering the same symptoms as these two men.
From a PR point of view, these two erectile dysfunction cases are definitely are good ‘push’ for people with penises to receive vaccinations.
Having said all this, Dr Ash Tewari who is the chair of urology at the Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai, New York City has also cautioned something else to importantly keep in mind – men shouldn’t panic until more research has been done.
She very helpfully added: “One or two patients don’t make a fact, but this is worth investigating from our standpoint. COVID is an endothelial dysfunction. The small arteries of the heart can get impacted in the same way that the penile blood vessels can get impacted.”
Complimentary to this information, Dr Ramasamy urged former COVID-19 patients with preexisting erectile dysfunction to see medical help. And the simplest and best advice,
“Don’t get COVID. Get vaccinated, so you don’t get COVID.”
You can get COVID more than twice, but can you only get permanent erectile dysfunction once.
