Ramasamy, one of the authors of a study recently published in the
World Journal of Men's Health, says that during surgery, which took place seven to nine months after the initial infection, researchers obtained tissue for testing and found that the virus is still present in penile tissue after all that time.
"The COVID virus is present in the endothelial cells, which supply blood to the penis," Ramasamy explains. "We think the virus is affecting blood flow to the penis, causing erectile dysfunction."
Ramasamy says the published study shows that COVID-19 can cause dysfunction of endothelial cells in the lungs, heart, kidneys, and other vital organs. But it goes beyond that. The research also found that men who had no medical history that would contribute to ED and who never previously suffered from the issue developed the condition after infection with COVID-19.