Can a COVID-19 vaccination cause erectile dysfunction?

The news about possible erectile dysfunction after vaccination against COVID-19 emerged after singer Nicki Minaj tweeted that a friend of her cousin developed erection problems after vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

After reporting on the side effects during studies and in the millions of men who have received a vaccine, researchers and experts have decided that there is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines would cause erectile dysfunction. Nor do the reports from the COVID vaccine manufacturers including Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca show side effects indicative of erectile dysfunction.

It is true that many men experience erectile dysfunction due to the stress caused by the corona crisis. But there is no link with the vaccine. On the other hand, several studies have shown that infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction. We know from research that the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes inflammation on the inside of blood vessels. This can occur in any blood vessel in the body.

Arteries that supply the sexual organs are small and narrow, so any inflammation of them can disrupt blood flow and hinder sexual response. The chance that men will develop erectile dysfunction due to the disease is therefore much greater than that they will develop erectile dysfunction due to vaccination.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8807200/

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2023-12-11 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025