Gateway Reporter

• Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults or 11% of the adult population. 
• There are many symptoms associated with chronic sinusitis, including erectile dysfunction. 
• To address erectile dysfunction associated with sinusitis, it is essential for the patient to effectively treat their sinusitis.

One relatively surprising possible symptom of chronic sinusitis is an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. According to Dr. Stephen Bane of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, sinusitis can certainly affect someone’s sex life.  

“There's a significant portion of men who have sinusitis who also have erectile dysfunction,” Dr. Bane told the Gateway Reporter.

Erectile dysfunction, which the National Institutes of Health defines as “the inability to attain and maintain an erection of sufficient quality to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse,” affects approximately 5% of men in the United States, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). A study using data from more than one million people from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) found that chronic rhinosinusitis is associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. According to the report, treating rhinosinusitis surgically significantly decreased erectile dysfunction in patients.

Yahoo Sports reported that men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are as much as 50% more likely to experience erectile dysfunction compared to men who do not suffer from sinusitis, citing a report from Kaohsiung University in Taiwan. The study found that when sinusitis inflames the lining of the sinuses, it causes the blood vessels in men's genitals to restrict blood flow. 

While some people might turn to medication to try to alleviate their sinus symptoms, medications such as Sudafed or other cold medications can also cause erectile dysfunction, according to Men's Journal.

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a mix of physical and psychological issues, according to the Mayo Clinic. Often there are underlying issues associated with erectile dysfunction, and those can be helped by seeing a doctor. 

According to Capitol Breathe Free's website, Dr. Stephen Bane trained in general surgery at NYU and Bellevue Hospitals in New York. He has been practicing in Woodbridge and has been on staff at Potomac Hospital/Sentara Northern VA Medical Center since 1997. He has served as Chairman of the OR Committee, ENT Section Chief, and Medical Executive Committee, and is currently the Chairman of the Surgical Department. Dr. Bane was recognized as one of Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top Doctors in 2020.