Erectile dysfunction is the inability to get a sustainable erection for sex and can also be a sensitive issue for men. Studies show that COVID-19 affects men’s ability to an erection. But is erectile dysfunction permanent for COVID-19 patients?
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition where a man is not able to get or keep an erection. There are instances where a man is unable to achieve an erection. But if it is more than 50% of the time, this needs to be checked with a medical professional. There are varying reasons as to how ED affects a man and can also be a symptom of another illness.
What are the Causes of Erectile Dysfunction?
Is erectile dysfunction permanent? Unfortunately in some cases, it can be permanent. There are a lot of causes for ED and can be characterized with the following. It is also possible that the ED is caused by a combination of the different causes.
- Medication – It affects the nervous system, blood circulation, urine flow, and hormones can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction to occur.
- Substance abuse – Substances such as alcohol and drugs can alter the function of nerves and can cause damage to blood vessels, these can increase the chances of erectile dysfunction being permanent.
- Psychological factors – There are psychological conditions that hinder a man from a fully functional erection. This may be caused by problems related to relationships, work, or finances. Anxiety and depression can cause the body to change and is also present in other illnesses.
- Physical condition – Vascular and neurological conditions like injury, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and stroke can affect how the penis functions. If the body is unable to send blood and nerve impulses to the male reproductive organ, this may cause erectile dysfunction.
COVID-19 and Erectile Dysfunction
One study shows that 2 COVID-19 patients have developed erectile dysfunction after they have been infected by the virus. The lining of the blood vessels in their organs has been affected by the virus, which makes it hard for them to maintain an erection.
Another study has observed that from their sample, the percent of people who experience ED is higher for those who experienced COVID-19 compared to those who don’t have the virus. They have considered age, weight, and patient’s medical condition when doing the study and were already included in the results.
Researchers also pointed out several factors which make ED more visible with COVID-19. The virus affects how blood moves inside the body, which can lead to issues with erection. The pandemic and the disease have left most people feeling stressed and anxious about what is happening. This can lead to further deterioration of health that can manifest through erectile dysfunction and other illnesses.
Is erectile dysfunction permanent because of the pandemic? Maybe, maybe not. It hasn’t been long since the virus has become prevalent and studied, so it needs further study and validation.
Key Takeaway
Erectile dysfunction may be one of the effects that the COVID-19 virus has on the body but we need to investigate further to make it conclusive.
Given the possible causes of erectile dysfunction, it can be a combination plus the virus itself. There are a lot of questions on how COVID-19 affects the human body. Is erectile dysfunction permanent for COVID-19 patients? Can the body go back to normal after recuperating from the disease? More studies need to be done to know more about the disease. But for now, what is important is for us to be healthy and get vaccinated to prevent the disease from hitting us.
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