Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Male Sexual Behaviors and Erection Quality

Abstract

Objective: COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect peoples’ lives throughout the world. It has been demonstrated that restrictions due to lifestyle changes affect peoples’ mental and sexual health. This study aimed to examine changes in male sexual behaviors and erectile status in early and late periods of lockdown and isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: A total of 206 volunteer males with active sexual lives were enrolled in the study. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) was adopted to assess sexual function and erection and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was adopted to assess mental status during the pandemic. Results: Erection, sexual desire, sexual intercourse and/or masturbation frequency and sexual pleasure increased significantly during the first month of the lockdown and isolation in Turkey, April 2020 (p<0.001), and it declined in May with the prolongation of the process (p<0.001). Levels of depression have increased significantly during the pandemic as well. Conclusion: This is the first study to examine male sexual behaviors and erection status separately in April and May, in the early period when lockdowns and isolation started due to the pandemic and in the late period with the prolongation of the process, however further research is needed.

Keywords

• Covid-19
• Erection Quality
• Men
• Depression
• Sexual behaviors

COVID-19 Pandemisinin Erkek Cinsel Davranışlarına Ve Erkek Kalitesine Etkisi

Abstract

Amaç: COVID-19 salgını tüm dünyada insanların yaşamlarını etkilemeye devam etmektedir. Yaşam tarzlarındaki değişikliklerden kaynaklanan kısıtlamaların insanların ruh sağlığı ve cinsel sağlığını etkilediği gösterilmiştir. Bu çalışma COVID-19 pandemi sürecinde evden çıkma yasağı ve izolasyon uygulamasının erken ve geç dönemlerinde erkek cinsel davranışları ve ereksiyon durumlarındaki değişiklikleri ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya aktif cinsel hayatı olan 206 gönüllü erkek katılmıştır. Pandemi sırasında cinsel işlev ve ereksiyonu değerlendirmek için Uluslararası Erektil İşlev Formu (IIEF-15) ve ruh halini değerlendirmek için Beck Depresyon Envanteri (BDE) uygulandı. Bulgular: Türkiye’de evde kısıtlamaların ve izolasyonun ilk ayı olan 2020 Nisan ayında ereksiyon, cinsel istek durumu, cinsel ilişki ve/veya mastürbasyon sıklığı ve zevk alma durumunun anlamlı olarak arttığı (p<0,001), sürecin uzamasıyla mayıs ayında düştüğü (p<0,001) saptanmıştır. Pandemi sürecinde depresyon derecelerinin de anlamlı olarak arttığı saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Katılımcıların nisan ayında bu durumu izne çıkma olarak değerlendirdiği ve evde olma rahatlığı ile cinsel davranış ve ereksiyona pozitif bir katkı sağladığı görülürken, sürecin uzaması ile kişilerin gelir durumlarında azalma, kaygı ve depresyon artışı ile mayıs ayında ereksiyon ve cinsel davranışlarda anlamlı bir düşme saptanmıştır.

Keywords

• Covid-19
• Ereksiyon Kalitesi
• Erkekler
• Depresyon
• Cinsel davranışlar

References

1. 1. World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland. WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard. Accessed Jun 29, 2020. https://covid19.who.int/
2. 2. T.C.Sağlık Bakanlığı. Accessed 28 June, 2020. https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/
3. 3. Panzeri M, Ferrucci R, Cozza A, Fontanesi L. Changes in Sexuality and Quality of Couple Relationship During the COVID-19 Lockdown. Front Psychol. 2020;11:565823. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.565823
4. 4. Ko NY, Lu WH, Chen YL, Li DJ, Chang YP, Wu CF, et al. Changes in Sex Life among People in Taiwan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Risk Perception, General Anxiety, and Demographic Characteristics. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165822
5. 5. Torales J, O’Higgins M, Castaldelli-Maia JM, Ventriglio A. The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2020;66(4):317-20. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020915212
6. 6. McIntyre RS, Lee Y. Preventing suicide in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. World Psychiatry. 2020;19(2):250-1. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20767
7. 7. Turban JL, Keuroghlian AS, Mayer KH. Sexual Health in the SARS-CoV-2 Era. Ann Intern Med. 2020;173(5):387-9. https://doi.org/10.7326/m20-2004
8. 8. Culha MG, Demir O, Sahin O, Altunrende F. Sexual attitudes of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak. Int J Impot Res. 2021;33(1):102-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-020-00381-9

9. 9. Yuksel B, Ozgor F. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on female sexual behavior. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2020;150(1):98-102. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13193
10. 10. Ibarra FP, Mehrad M, Di Mauro M, Godoy MFP, Cruz EG, Nilforoushzadeh MA, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual behavior of the population. The vision of the east and the west. Int Braz J Urol. 2020;46(suppl.1):104-12. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1677-5538.Ibju.2020.S116
11. 11. Karagöz MA, Gül A, Borg C, Erihan İ B, Uslu M, Ezer M, et al. Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on sexuality: a cross-sectional study among couples in Turkey. Int J Impot Res. 2020:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-020-00378-4
12. 12. Chew QH, Wei KC, Vasoo S, Chua HC, Sim K. Narrative synthesis of psychological and coping responses towards emerging infectious disease outbreaks in the general population: practical considerations for the COVID-19 pandemic. Singapore Med J. 2020;61(7):350-6. https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2020046
13. 13. Rosen RC, Riley A, Wagner G, Osterloh IH, Kirkpatrick J, Mishra A. The international index of erectile function (IIEF): a multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction. Urology. 1997;49(6):822-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0090-4295(97)00238-0
14. 14. Akkus E, Kadioglu A, Esen A, Doran S, Ergen A, Anafarta K, et al. Prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction in Turkey: a population-based study. Eur Urol. 2002;41(3):298-304. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0302-2838(02)00027-1
15. 15. Beck AT, Steer RA. Internal consistencies of the original and revised Beck Depression Inventory. J Clin Psychol. 1984;40(6):1365-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-4679(198411)40:6<1365::aid-jclp2270400615>3.0.co;2-d
16. 16. Jacob L, Smith L, Butler L, Barnett Y, Grabovac I, McDermott D, et al. Challenges in the Practice of Sexual Medicine in the Time of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom. J Sex Med. 2020;17(7):1229-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.05.001
17. 17. Cocci A, Giunti D, Tonioni C, Cacciamani G, Tellini R, Polloni G, et al. Love at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic: preliminary results of an online survey conducted during the quarantine in Italy. Int J Impot Res. 2020;32(5):556-7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-020-0305-x
18. 18. Brody S, Costa RM. Satisfaction (sexual, life, relationship, and mental health) is associated directly with penile-vaginal intercourse, but inversely with other sexual behavior frequencies. J Sex Med. 2009;6(7):1947-54. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01303.x
19. 19. Li G, Tang D, Song B, Wang C, Qunshan S, Xu C, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Partner Relationships and Sexual and Reproductive Health: Cross-Sectional, Online Survey Study. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(8):e20961. https://doi.org/10.2196/20961
20. 20. Dwulit AD, Rzymski P. The Potential Associations of Pornography Use with Sexual Dysfunctions: An Integrative Literature Review of Observational Studies. J Clin Med. 2019;8(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8070914
21. 21. Mollaioli D, Sansone A, Ciocca G, Limoncin E, Colonnello E, Di Lorenzo G, et al. Benefits of Sexual Activity on Psychological, Relational, and Sexual Health During the COVID-19 Breakout. J Sex Med. 2021;18(1):35-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.10.008