Contrary to myth The COVID-19 vaccine circulating on social media will not cause erectile dysfunction and male infertility.

The real situation: SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19, and there are risks to both diseases.

So far, there have been few studies on how viruses or vaccines affect the male reproductive system. But recent investigations by doctors and researchers at the University of Miami have provided new clues to these problems.

team, Including me, Has been found to have potentially far-reaching effects on men of all ages-including young and middle-aged men who want children.

What the team found

I am the director of Genitourinary Surgery Project At the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami.Me and my colleague Analyze autopsy tissue Testicles of six men who died of COVID-19 infection.

Result: COVID-19 virus appeared in one of the men’s tissues; reduction in sperm count appeared in three.

Another patient—the one who survived COVID-19—underwent a testicular biopsy approximately three months after the initial COVID-19 infection recovered.Biopsy display The coronavirus is still in his testicles.

Our team also found that COVID-19 can affect the penis. Penile tissue analysis Research from two men who received penile implants showed that the virus was present seven to nine months after they were diagnosed with COVID-19. Both experienced severe erectile dysfunction, possibly due to an infection that reduced blood supply to the penis.

It is worth noting that one of the men had only mild COVID-19 symptoms. The other has been hospitalized. This shows that even those with relatively mild viral infections will experience severe erectile dysfunction after recovery.

These findings are not entirely surprising.After all, scientists know Other viruses invade the testis And affect the production of sperm and fertility.

An example: Researchers studied the testicular tissues of 6 patients who died of the SARS-CoV virus in 2006 Found that they all have extensive cell destruction, Almost no sperm.

this is Also know mumps and Zika virus Can enter the testicles and cause inflammation. As many as 20% of men infected with these viruses cause impaired sperm production.

A new study on vaccine safety

Additional research by my team Brought gratifying news. A study of 45 men showed that Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines appear to be safe for the male reproductive system.

Therefore, this is another reason for vaccination-to maintain male fertility and sexual function.

Admittedly, this study is only the first step on how COVID-19 affects male sexual health; the sample is small. Research should continue.

Nevertheless, for men who suffer from COVID-19 and then experience testicular pain, it is reasonable to think that the virus has invaded the testicular tissue. The result may be erectile dysfunction. These people should see a urologist.

I also believe that this study provides urgent public health information about the COVID-19 vaccine to the United States.

for Millions of unvaccinated American men, You may need to think again about the consequences of this very aggressive virus when it finds you.

One of the reasons for vaccine hesitation Is the opinion of many people COVID-19 injections may affect male fertility. Our research shows just the opposite. There is no evidence that the vaccine will damage the male reproductive system. But it is okay to ignore the vaccine and get COVID-19 well.

Ranjis Ramassami, Associate Professor of Urology, University of Miami

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