Psychological status of infertile men during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in China: a cross-sectional investigation

The neurological decline and psychological factors caused by coronavirus disease 2019 may be predictors of erectile dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, it has had a serious impact on people's physical and mental health. However, in our clinical work, we have found that the erectile function of coronavirus disease 2019 patients with neurological decline was often seriously affected.

OBJECTIVES

To further explore the relationship between erectile dysfunction and neurological dysfunction caused by coronavirus disease 2019.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a survey from August 2022 to February 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and the Third People's Hospital of Linyi City. A total of 251 subjects with a history of coronavirus disease 2019 infection were included. Symptoms and changes in erectile function after the coronavirus disease 2019 infection were collected and assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 scale and several targeted questions.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that in patients infected with novel coronavirus, the proportion of erectile dysfunction was higher in those with neurological manifestations such as olfactory and taste impairment or psychological symptoms such as anxiety.

DISCUSSION

We found that neurological decline and psychological factors were independent and significant risk factors for erectile dysfunction caused by coronavirus disease 2019.

CONCLUSION

Patients with neurological damage or psychiatric symptoms are more likely to have erectile dysfunction, suggesting that the 2019 novel coronavirus may affect erectile function by damaging nerves. This provides a new insight into the mechanism of erectile dysfunction.

Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infertile patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The present study aimed to examine the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infertile patients. We adopted a comparison design and searched articles published from 1 September 2016 to 31 December 2019 as the control group, while articles published from 1 January 2020 to 31 April 2023 were treated as the pandemic group. Specifically, Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, PsycArticle, CNKI and PsycINFO were searched to identify potential eligible records. Risk of bias was assessed, and random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the prevalence of specific mental health problems. Forty studies with a total of 19,480 participants were included in the analysis. The pooled prevalence of anxiety in the pandemic group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The depression and stress prevalence in the pandemic group was higher than that in the control group, yet did not reach statistical significance. A subgroup analysis revealed region differences with developed countries exhibiting higher rates of anxiety and depression in the pandemic group, but the result was the opposite in the control group. Physiological factors, psychological factors and social factors correlated with infertile patients' mental health were identified. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on infertile patients' mental health, emphasizing the importance of ways to mitigate the risks during the pandemic.