There is a widespread belief among social media users that vaccination can cause impotence and even male infertility. We decided to check whether their fears were justified.

One of the first to report a similar effect was Trinidadian rap artist Nicki Minaj. On Twitter she wrotethat her cousin’s friend got vaccinated and became impotent: his testicles became swollen, and the bride canceled the wedding just a couple of weeks before the celebration. About the same side effects report social network users. And homeopaths note, that their clients have no sperm in their semen, and attribute this to vaccination.

Impotence, or erectile dysfunction, - pathology, in which the volume of the man’s penis, its hardness and straightness are insufficient for sexual intercourse. It leads to the absence or significant decline in the quality of sexual life, which, in turn, leads to psycho-emotional disorders and a general decrease in the quality of life. According to WHO, every tenth man suffers from erectile dysfunction to one degree or another. American scientists lead even more serious figures: 52% of men aged 40 to 70 years. To the main causes of erectile dysfunction include: diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, hormonal disorders, injuries, hypothermia or burns in the pelvic area, and Also leading a sedentary lifestyle, excess body weight, exposure to radiation, chemicals and certain medications.

There are no studies in reputable medical journals confirming a link between vaccinations and the development of erectile dysfunction. There is a consensus of opinion on this matter American, And Russian scientists. In the journal "Problems of Reproduction" came out article “Vaccination against COVID-19 and men’s reproductive health.” Authors reportthat “vaccination with Sputnik V had no effect on total testosterone levels and sperm quality indicators.”

Moreover, the statement about the absence of sperm in the sperm of vaccinated refuted clinical research. In volunteers from 18 to 50 years old, the sperm count was analyzed before and after the vaccine. After grafting, there were even slightly more sperm in the seminal fluid, and they also showed greater mobility. It is worth noting that the story about the sterility of sperm after vaccination was spread by homeopaths, not normal doctors, without indicating at what time after vaccination the analysis was carried out, and also without reporting the number of sperm in their clients before vaccination. As for Nicki Minaj's tweet, social network users believe The possible cause of her cousin's friend's swollen testicles is some kind of sexually transmitted disease.

It is worth noting that, in theory, impotence can still advance after vaccination, however, the cause of such impotence will not be somatic (bodily) factors, but psychological. Psychological impotence can occur due to mental disorders, stress, depression, severe traumatic situations, and also as a result of self-hypnosis. Thus, if before vaccination the patient is convinced in advance that he will have problems with erection after vaccination, then theoretically this can really happen. It is worth understanding that in this way you can “tune” the body to impotence after official marriage, the election of a new president, or the end of military service. However, there will be no real connection with the event; the connection will only be in the head of the person tuning in. To date, no cases of psychological impotence after vaccination have been described in medical or psychological journals.

At the same time, the first studies confirming that a previous coronavirus infection can cause erectile dysfunction have already been published. In samples of penile tissue taken from those who had recovered from coronavirus infection, who had serious problems with erection and were preparing for penile prosthesis, there were discovered signs of vascular dysfunction and even viral RNA. The article notes that severe erectile dysfunction was observed even in cases of mild coronavirus infection, that is, without hospitalization.

Also, coronavirus infection can lead to priapism - a prolonged pathological erection that occurs in this case due to microembolism, that is, blockage of small blood vessels with small blood clots. Priapism developed against the background of a cytokine storm, doctors drained the cavernous bodies of the penis, releasing excess blood. Described at least two such cases, one patient passed away.

It is worth noting that we have previously figured it outwhether vaccination can cause female infertility. Scientific data also refute such suspicions.

Thus, vaccination itself cannot cause impotence. The only option in which, in theory, a vaccinated person can develop erectile dysfunction is to prepare oneself psychologically for further problems with potency so much that the setting itself will trigger psychological impotence, which will most likely have to be treated by a psychotherapist. In other cases, the vaccine does not lead to either impotence or male infertility. But the coronavirus infection itself is much more dangerous. It can also cause severe erectile dysfunction and lead to a pathological painful erection - priapism, which may require surgical intervention to get rid of.