Sadly, ‘Covid Dick’ Is Real

It appears we are able to add sexual dysfunction to the lengthy record of sudden and ugly results of the coronavirus. Thankfully, this doesn’t seem like a typical incidence, and there are some potential treatments that these bothered can strive.

This week, the Slate-run intercourse recommendation podcast How to Do It mentioned the harrowing story of an nameless letter author who was affected by what’s come to be often called “covid dick.” The author, who recognized as a heterosexual man in his 30s, mentioned that he had gotten very sick and was hospitalized from covid-19 final July. After he was discharged, he started experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED). Though his signs did enhance after seeing a physician, the person reportedly was left with a obtrusive reminder of his ordeal. Describing himself as above common in penis dimension earlier than covid-19, he mentioned that his penis had now shrunk about 1.5 inches and that he had “become decidedly less than average.”

The podcast hosts, to their credit score, additionally interviewed a pair of urologists who rightly famous that there’s a transparent path of proof linking covid-19 to erectile or sexual dysfunction. A examine this previous November, as an illustration, found that males with covid-19 had been about thrice as more likely to develop a brand new case of ED than those that didn’t catch covid-19. Some analysis has instructed that the danger could also be practically six times increased, but different estimates are smaller, suggesting round a 20% elevated danger. A small percentage of individuals with lengthy covid, together with girls, have additionally reported sexual dysfunction as certainly one of their signs. And typically, ED can certainly result in shrinkage, particularly if it’s brought on by bodily injury and scarring that causes the penis to cease changing into frequently erect.

There are a couple of theories as to how covid-19 could cause ED. The an infection can presumably attain penile tissue and immediately damage to the encircling blood vessels. It may additionally be because of the oblique results of an infection on the immune system, which can set off damaging irritation. (An over-reacting immune system and blood vessel injury are additionally the prime suspects behind “covid toes.”) And the expertise of hospitalization in extreme circumstances can take a toll on the physique, penis included. The danger of ED from blood vessel injury might be better in individuals who already produce other related well being circumstances that may have an effect on circulation, equivalent to kind 2 diabetes. Many circumstances of ED will also be chalked as much as stress and anxiousness, and covid survivors are sadly at increased danger of experiencing that as nicely.

That mentioned, age is by far the biggest danger issue for ED, with as a lot as 70% of males experiencing some degree of it by their 70s. And whereas we don’t appear to have strong information on the precise prevalence of covid-related ED, it doesn’t seem to have an effect on an enormous proportion of males. The November examine, as an illustration, discovered that barely lower than 5% of males within the pattern had been identified with ED after covid-19.

As the Slate hosts observe, there are available therapies for ED, such because the drug sildenafil (Viagra). And even a shrunken penis will be handled or prevented via what one urologist refers to as “penile rehab,” which might contain stretching workout routines and/or penis-pumping units. So not all hope is misplaced in case you’re fearful concerning the dreaded covid dick. And for the report, there’s no evidence presently of a hyperlink between ED and getting vaccinated for covid-19.