It’s not just a nasty incurable STI, herpes can leave men ‘suffering long term impotency’
Men with herpes are more than twice as likely to develop erectile dysfunction compared to men who aren't infected
IT turns out herpes can cause more of a flop in the bedroom than just leaving nasty, red sores all over your privates.
The infection has been linked to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction.
In a recent Taiwanese study, researchers compared two groups of men – one group was infected with the herpes simplex virus (HSV), the other was not.
Over a course of four years researchers tracked their sexual experiences.
They discovered that 1.7 per cent of the men infected with HSV developed erectile dysfunction compared to just 0.7 per cent of men without the virus.
However, the exact reason herpes causes erectile dysfunction was not discovered.
The study noted that past research indicated both herpes and erectile dysfunction are linked to heart disease.
One theory is that inflammation, which has a known link to heart disease, may also contribute to impotence.
In past cases, elevated inflammatory markers have been recorded in patients who struggle to maintain an erection.
As infection can cause inflammation, the two may go hand in hand.
A second theory is that the herpes infection may have a direct impact on the muscle of the penis which has a direct impact on a man’s ability to get an erection.
Thirdly, herpes may cause a build of of fats in arteries surrounding the infected area.
A blockage in the arteries can prevent blood flow to the penis, which is essential in gaining an erection.
There are two types of herpes virus, type one and type two.
Both types are highly contagious and can be passed easily from one person to another by direct contact.
Herpes is a common condition, especially in people from 20 to 24 years old.
In 2013, 32,279 people attended a sexual health clinic in England with an attack of genital herpes for the first time.
It is most commonly passed on through having unprotected sex.
And it is often symptom-less, meaning most people are unaware they have it.
When symptoms do become obvious, an infected person’s genitals will be covered in painful blisters.
The best way to avoid getting herpes is to use a condom every time you have sex.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368