Covid ‘can cause erectile dysfunction’ – but there’s NO evidence coronavirus vaccines cause men to be sterile, docs say
DESPITE unbacked rumors that Covid-19 vaccines may cause men to be infertile, doctors say there's no evidence they will.
However, studies show there may be long standing effects from coronavirus that could affect – like erectile dysfunction.
Doctors, health experts, and the FDA all maintain there is zero evidence to show that it does, and are working to disprove those unbacked claims.
Ranjith Ramasamy, MD, Associate Professor and Director of Reproductive Urology; and Daniel Nassau, MD and Andrology Fellow, both at the University of Miami, are to evaluate if Covid cause men to be sterile – but don't anticipate they'll find any evidence it does.
"There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine causes men to be sterile," Ramasamy wrote to The Sun.
The study is expected to have around 60 participants in total.
Researchers are collecting semen samples from men before they receive Covid-19 vaccines.
The FDA spokesperson noted, however, that infections or other inflammatory conditions – like mumps – can have negative effects on male reproductive and fertility.
"[My] Girlfriend and I were having internet sex daily or twice daily before and then I just didn't feel it like at all," he said of the differences he's felt since he was sick.
Longstanding effects on male reproductive health
One recent study published by the Royal Society found that some men who had a fever with
Jannini's study found at the time there was no evidence showing possible testicle damaging from swelling related to Covid-19.
Jannini said Covid does not seem to affect men's reproductive health in the way of fertility as much as it does in the sense of erectile dysfunction.
"The male reproductive function seems not so dramatically affected by both Covid, the therapy of Covid, the vaccination and so on," Jannini told The Sun.
Jannini told The Sun that there are links showing men who have pre-existing conditions or risk factors that cause erectile dysfunction – like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers, or other conditions – are more likely to contract severe illness.
Jannini said cases of erectile dysfunction seem to appear in men who have had severe illness – specifically pneumonia – after contracting Covid.
It's difficult to say if erectile dysfunction is specifically caused by Covid, or if it appears primarily because it's more linked with pre-existing conditions, Jannini said.
Multiple factors – including isolation, emotional distress, loss of relatives and family and friends – can cause trauma and stress in people, the study Jannini worked on that was published in July said.
The study sait it is "unsurprising that sexual desire and frequency have declined in both genders during this pandemic" and said there's "reason to suspect that psychological suffering might exacerbate pre-existing subclinical sexual dysfunctions."
Jannini said in one study he worked on that studied the habits of nearly 7,000 Italians in early months of lockdown last year, "people who remain in having some kind of sexual activity did experience much less levels of anxiety and depression with respect to people not performing sexually."
He emphasized the benefits of sex, and encouraged people to "do as [much] as possible to stay healthy.
Risk vs Reward
When evaluating the possible outcomes of getting a vaccine or and contracting the virus, Ramasamy said the reward of a shot outweighs the risk.
Ramasamy said "it is much more likely that vaccination is safer from a men's health and fertility perspective than an acute infection."
"We encourage all men to get vaccinated when it becomes available to them," he urged.
The FDA spokesperson told The Sun that as the group evaluates whether or not to give a product – like the Covid vaccines – emergency use authorization (EUA), they "assess any known or potential risks and any other known or potential benefits.
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"If the product meets the effectiveness standard and the benefit-risk assessment is favorable, the product is made available during the emergency," the FDA spokesperson said.
Health officials have urged everyone who is able to get the Covid-19 vaccine to help limit virus spread, as US cases continue to climb past 25million, with more than 420,000 deaths.