A GROUP of urologists have come together to urge everyone to get a COVID-19 vaccine, at least to preserve erections.
Penises
are front and center in a new PSA meant to encourage people to get
vaccinated against COVID-19.
The
video begins with men fondly recalling their first erections, then presents a
sobering statistic: men who've had COVID-19 are up to six times more likely to
experience erectile dysfunction.
The
figure comes from a study of 100 men in Italy, which found a
correlation between the viral illness and penis problems. The estimated risk of
ED for men with a history of COVID-19 was actually closer to 5.5 times higher
than normal, and it was a relatively small study.
But
the factoid caught the attention of some creative advertisers who wanted to
shine a light on "schlong COVID," Brian Siedband, co-founder of the
ad agency Quality Meats, said in a press release.
"We
stumbled across this fact and thought, with all the vaccine hesitancy out
there, guys need to hear this," he said. "Especially younger guys who
think they're not at risk [for severe COVID] but might be not thinking about
the long-term effects."
After
pitching the idea to a couple of "traditional organizations," the
team decided to directly enlist urologists to speak on the subject. Soon, more
than 30 doctors had signed on to join Urologists United for
Vaccination Education.
Surviving COVID-19 may have lasting effects on the penis
It
didn't take much convincing to get the urologists involved in the PSA, the
co-founders said in the press release. After all, they're passionate about the
penis and combatting the misinformation around it.
"I
was on board as soon as I heard the idea," said Dr. Larry Levine,
Professor of Urology at Rush University Medical Center. "Given all the
misinformation out there, we'd rather people get facts from us, doctors who've
devoted their lives to studying the penis, than rumors from Nicki Minaj's cousin's
friend in Trinidad."
The
doctors have come up with a few possible theories of how COVID-19 might
contribute to ED, although none of them have been proven yet.
Urologists think erectile dysfunction after COVID may be connected to the
disease's vascular effects. People with severe COVID can experience
inflammation throughout the body, especially in and around the heart,
which could result in blocked blood flow to the penis.
Additionally, the mental impact of long COVID and the pandemic overall can't be underestimated. The sedentary lifestyle and high stress levels associated with the early stages of the pandemic both have the potential to affect sexual function, and some urologists have been seeing more cases of erectile dysfunction since the start of the pandemic. (Andrea Michelson / Insider)
