Impact Of COVID-19 On Sexual Function

Abstract

Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic affected the people lives worldwide. The infection with COVID-19, social distancing, curfew and limitations leading to changes in lifestyles resulted in multiple systemic and psychological problems in individual’s health. Although there are numerous data in term of effects of (COVID-19) infection on the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems, few studies are available regarding its influence on men’s sexual function. The aim of this study is to detect the impact of COVID-19 on the sexual performance of COVID-19 recovered men. A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2021 and March 2022 in Erbil and Duhok cities (Kurdistan region of Iraq). One hundred male patients recovered from COVID-19 infection enrolled in the study. International Index of Erectile Function-15 scoring was assessed twice; one before and the second one at least two months after recovery from COVID -19 infection. The mean IIEF-15 score was lower for participants after COVID-19 infection (66.9 ±8.39) when compared to pre COVID-19 period (70.95±1.14) (p< .001). By comparing their scores of pre with post Covid-19, significant decrement were found in the scores of (erectile function, orgasmic function, intercourse satisfaction and overall satisfaction) (p< .001, p < .001, p < .001, p < .001, respectively), only the reduction in desire domain was statistically insignificant (p = .01). The results indicate that COVID-19 infection has a significant effect on men sexual performance on short term.