LA Harbor News

• Men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are at an increased risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction.

• Taking cold medication to treat sinusitis can also contribute to erectile dysfunction.

• A surgical treatment option can resolve both sinusitis and its side effects. 

Chronic sinusitis affects millions of men and women across the country, and some side effects are more drastic than others, with one possibility being erectile dysfunction in men.

Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says that there are certain side effects of chronic sinusitis that can negatively impact patients’ sex lives.

“This has also been proven through many academic papers. Decrease in sex drive and libido is linked to chronic sinusitis indirectly,” Hershcovitch told LA Harbor News. “Those with chronic sinusitis often are having headaches, nasal obstruction, decreased oxygenation to their body. This leads to increased cortisol levels and decreased libido and decreased sex drive. Consequently, as a as an aside, one of the things that can actually help temporarily improve nasal congestion -- only temporarily, unfortunately, it's not a long-term cure -- is having sex. Having sex actually temporarily and transiently improves nasal congestion."

Yahoo! Sports reported that men suffering from from chronic sinusitis are up to 50% more likely to be impotent compared to men who do not suffer from chronic sinusitis. This was based on a report from Kaohsiung University in Taiwan. When sinusitis inflames the lining of the sinuses, it causes the blood vessels in men’s genitals to restrict blood flow.

Erectile dysfunction affects about 5% of men across the U.S., according to Scientific Reports: Nature Research. The definition of erectile dysfunction is “the inability to attain and maintain an erection of sufficient quality to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse.” A study looking at data from more than 1 million people from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database found that chronic sinusitis is associated with increased risk of erectile dysfunction. However, treating the sinusitis decreased erectile dysfunction in patients, according to the study.

Medications like Sudafed and other types of cold medications can cause erectile dysfunction as well, according to Men’s Journal.

People who suffer from chronic sinusitis have several surgical treatment options, including endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty, WebMD reported.

Endoscopy is a procedure where doctors insert thin, flexible instruments called endoscopes into the nose. One instrument has a small camera lens attached that sends images back to a screen, allowing the doctor to see where the blockage is. This helps them guide other instruments to remove polyps, scar tissue and other blockages.

Doctors don't actually cut into the skin during endoscopy, making recovery relatively fast and easy. This common procedure is normally performed with a local anesthetic, keeping the patient awake while numbing the area.

Balloon sinuplasty is a good option for patients as well, according to WebMD. A doctor puts a tube into the patient’s nose with a small balloon attached. It is then guided into the area and inflated. The balloon clears the passageway so that the sinuses can be drained and alleviate congestion.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.