United States: A new analysis has found that male astronauts who spent time in deep space are prone to erectile dysfunction. In a study funded by NASA, researchers discovered that cosmic rays from space, along with the lack of gravity, can harm the erectile tissues in men, with effects lasting for decades.
The US researchers noted that they had identified “a new health risk to consider with deep space exploration.” The report called on authorities to monitor the sexual health of astronauts after their return from future deep space missions, noting that certain antioxidants may help to counteract the ill effects by blocking harmful biological processes.
“While the negative impacts of galactic cosmic radiation were long-lasting, functional improvements induced by acutely targeting the redox and nitric oxide pathways in the tissues suggest that the erectile dysfunction may be treatable,” Dr. Justin La Favour, an expert in neurovascular dysfunction at Florida State University and a senior author on the study, commented.
The study comes at a time when there is renewed focus on deep space missions, as NASA and other prominent space agencies prepare for lengthy missions to the moon and more ambitious trips to Mars.
According to Dr. La Favor and his colleagues at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina, the effects of spaceflight on erectile dysfunction have not been explored. “While erectile dysfunction affects more than half of men over the age of 40 and represents an important factor for life satisfaction, the consequences of space travel on erectile function are still obscure,” the authors wrote in the Faseb journal.
Earth is protected from cosmic radiation by its magnetic field and atmosphere. However, the moon, Mars, and the space in between lack an effective barrier. On the ISS, crews are protected by shielding and Earth’s magnetic field, but they receive as much radiation in one week, which is equivalent to a year’s on Earth.
“Collectively, these results suggest that neurovascular function of the erectile tissues may be impaired throughout the remainder of the astronauts’ sexual health span following return to Earth from prolonged deep space exploration,” the authors further remarked.
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