Kolkata, Aug 17 (UNI) COVID-19 affects sexual health and fertility directly (by eliminating the distance between individuals and saliva exchange and also affecting the reproductive system) or indirectly (refusing the sexual intercourse and reducing fertility) and has consequences for couples and society said Dr Naresh Purohit, Visiting Professor at the Kolkata based West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS), School of Public Health.
Speaking to UNl here on Monday Executive Member of the Indian Society of Sexual Medicine, Dr Purohit after addressing a webinar on Covid and Reproductive Health organised by the North Bengal Medical College, Jalpaiguri averred that COVID-19 causes severe physiologic and psychological stress, which leads to lower testosterone levels and increased release of stress hormones. While testosterone levels should return to normal after the illness subsides, loss of testosterone might lead to fibrosis of the penile tissue, which is a more difficult and less reversible condition to treat.
Dr Purohit pointed that there is also evidence to suggest that the coronavirus has an impact on the testicles. The virus enters cells with the help of a protein that is prevalent in the testicles. The testicles are where the majority of testosterone is made in men, and so COVID-19 may cause decreased testosterone levels in the body.