A factor not to be ignored in post‐COVID ‐19 erectile dysfunction; psychological effect, a prospective study

Abstract

It was aimed to show the effect of anxiety and depression on erectile dysfunction seen after coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19). Between March and July 2021, the participants completed the International Index of Erectile Function, Beck Depression Inventory and Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 forms at the beginning and after the 1st month of the disease. We investigated the psychological impact of COVID‐19 on the development of erectile dysfunction. The mean age of 156 male patients in the study was 54.74 ± 8.01 years. It was determined that the mean International Index of Erectile Function scores of the patients before COVID‐19 were 73.42 ± 3.43 and decreased to 68.28 ± 12.86 after COVID‐19 ( p < .01). The patients’ erectile function scores were significantly lower after COVID‐19 (29.45 ± 1.23, 27.69 ± 4.33, p < .01, respectively). Their Beck Depression Inventory scores were statistically significantly higher after COVID‐19 (1.69 ± 2.56, 2.22 ± 2.79, p < .01, respectively). Their Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 scores were also statistically significantly higher after COVID‐19 (4.69 ± 1.63 6.56 ± 2.40, p < .01, respectively). A negative correlation was found between the increase in the Beck Depression Inventory score during the pandemic process and the decrease in the International Index of Erectile Function score ( r = −0.356, p = <.001). A negative correlation was also found between the increase in the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 score and the decrease in the International Index of Erectile Function score ( r = −0.200, p = .012). One of the main factors post‐COVID‐19 erectile dysfunction is anxiety and depression due to the disease.

Evaluating male sexual function and reproductive health during Omicron outbreak in China

“…In addition to the investigation of the direct effects on sexual function, there are also a number of studies that have underscored the role of poor mental health issues in this regard 8 . Many studies have also con rmed that the level of depression and the level of sexual dysfunction are directly correlated 9 .…”

Long COVID and risk of erectile dysfunction in recovered patients from mild to moderate COVID-19

“…The present study hypothesizes that COVID-19 patients may experience long-term cardio metabolic, endocrine and neurological complications which affect the normal physiology of erectile function could result in ED 16 . Different studies revealed that LC patients were associated with development of ED 12 , 17 . However, the underlying mechanism for development of ED in LC patients was not fully elucidated.…”

Post-COVID Erectile Dysfunction: The Exercise May Be a Good Considered Complementary Choice

“…Men with COVID-19 were 3.3 times as likely to experience ED ( Katz et al, 2022 ). Endothelial damage/dysfunction has been proposed as the fundamental pathophysiological mechanism of post-COVID-induced ED ( Sevim et al, 2022 ). Endothelial damage/dysfunction results from systemic endotheliitis, cellular death, increased inflammatory cytokines, residual activation of immune system, continuous stimulation of platelet activation and leukocyte adhesion, and decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability ( Ambrosino et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Endothelial damage/dysfunction results from systemic endotheliitis, cellular death, increased inflammatory cytokines, residual activation of immune system, continuous stimulation of platelet activation and leukocyte adhesion, and decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability ( Ambrosino et al, 2021 ). It has been reported that such causes, in addition to other factors such as the severity of the COVID-19 condition, dread of death, and the length of the isolation period, produce anxiety and sadness, increasing the risk of ED ( Sevim et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, Every day, emerging research uncovers COVID-19's extensive effects on many organs across the body. One of these side effects has been identified as erectile dysfunction (ED; Sevim et al, 2022).…”