As if there wasn’t enough negative news about the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is giving guys something new to potentially worry about: erectile dysfunction (ED).
Recent research suggests a potentially strong link between COVID-19 infection and erectile issues. In fact, contracting COVID-19 could increase the risk of developing ED by almost six times. That data comes from a March 2021 study led by Dr. Emmanuele A. Jannini in Italy.
He and his colleagues aptly titled their study, “Mask Up to Keep It Up.”
Some medical professionals say it’s too early to jump to conclusions, noting the overlap between risk factors for ED and contracting COVID-19 (obesity, old age, heart disease, smoking, etc.) But the correlation between COVID-19 and ED is still catching the attention of doctors across the globe.
"It was a highly preliminary study,” remarked Dr. John Mulhall, a urologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. “However, it raises enough questions such that further large, more long-term analyses are required to define causation.”
So how exactly could a virus cause big problems for guys’ sexual health?