Coronavirus disease 2019-imposed multifaceted effect on male sexual function: An online screening study

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV- 2) is a highly infectious viral disease. Cytokine storm, electrolytes imbalances, thromboembolism are the commonest signs and symptoms of the COVID-19 pandemic and are related to mitochondrial dysfunction. SARS-CoV-2 virus can affect testis directly through the ACE2, which is present on the cell surface of various testicular cells, and indirectly through the cytokine storm causing hypogonadism. COVID-19 infection may induce impairment of male sexual activity up to sexual dysfunction.
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on male sexual function (SF) in an Egyptian
governorate "Kalyobia Governorate" using an online questionnaire.
Patients and Methods: Participants included 420 married men.The protocol entails asking all patients attending the
dermatology or andrology outpatient clinics to join the study through receiving an online link with identification number as a message using WhatsApp.
Results: The widely-spread COVID-19 pandemic seriously affected male sexual function through varied organic affections
or mood changes in a depressive direction. Vascular derangement was the most frequent (49.5%) organic effect of COVID-19 disease that necessitated surgical intervention in 13% of patients with ED. Genitourinary infections and hyperprolactinemia were problems inducing ED through ejaculatory problems or loss of desire in 6.7% and 4.9%, respectively. Depression was defined in 31.6% and could be a cause or a result of ED and required psychological intervention.