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Does Colonoscopy Lead To Erectile Dysfunction?
Question: I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy this Monday and found out that the doctor suspect Barretts disease. I was extremely extremely extremely stressed out about it the whole week but luckily the biopsy is negative today. I was completely knocked out during the procedure. Today I can't have an erection at all. I also didn’t notice I have erection the last several days in the morning because normally I do.
My question is can colonoscopy cause total erectile dysfunction? I had sex with my girlfriend last Saturday, two days before the colonoscopy. Everything was great. I am so scared that I am permanently damaged by the procedure. BTW I just turned 43. There are not much online about these two issues. The impression I got was that erectile dysfunction is not cause by colonoscopy. I asked the doctor who did the procedure and he told me colonoscopy would not cause erectile dysfunction. I also talk to another doctor in the same office and he said he had not seen that in his 40 years. I also ask a cardiologist friend of mine and he also said no. I am super stressed out about this whole thing and I am beyond scared!!!
My question is can colonoscopy cause total erectile dysfunction? I had sex with my girlfriend last Saturday, two days before the colonoscopy. Everything was great. I am so scared that I am permanently damaged by the procedure. BTW I just turned 43. There are not much online about these two issues. The impression I got was that erectile dysfunction is not cause by colonoscopy. I asked the doctor who did the procedure and he told me colonoscopy would not cause erectile dysfunction. I also talk to another doctor in the same office and he said he had not seen that in his 40 years. I also ask a cardiologist friend of mine and he also said no. I am super stressed out about this whole thing and I am beyond scared!!!
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I cannot think of a mechanism by which a colonoscopy would cause long term erectile dysfunction.
I am not clear from what you wrote (" I also didn’t notice I have erection the last several days in the morning because normally I do.") if you mean you are or are not having normal morning erections?
I suspect stress may be playing a large part in why you aren't having erections. The parasympathetic nervous system is involved with the penis filling with blood to cause the erection. But if you are feeling anxious or stressed then very likely the other part of the autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system (the fight or flight part) is activated and that will counter the ability to have an erection. It's kind of like your body doesn't want to be sending blood to your penis when it needs it for more important things such as for the muscles and brain to have enough blood to fight a saber tooth tiger. We are still wired that way when we have stress, even if the danger we feel isn't from a wild animal, but rather from worry over other things.
Even though you got good news today, it may take awhile for your body to recover from the stress.
I hope this information helps. Give it a few days, and try to focus on other things, and I think normal function will return soon.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I cannot think of a mechanism by which a colonoscopy would cause long term erectile dysfunction.
I am not clear from what you wrote (" I also didn’t notice I have erection the last several days in the morning because normally I do.") if you mean you are or are not having normal morning erections?
I suspect stress may be playing a large part in why you aren't having erections. The parasympathetic nervous system is involved with the penis filling with blood to cause the erection. But if you are feeling anxious or stressed then very likely the other part of the autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system (the fight or flight part) is activated and that will counter the ability to have an erection. It's kind of like your body doesn't want to be sending blood to your penis when it needs it for more important things such as for the muscles and brain to have enough blood to fight a saber tooth tiger. We are still wired that way when we have stress, even if the danger we feel isn't from a wild animal, but rather from worry over other things.
Even though you got good news today, it may take awhile for your body to recover from the stress.
I hope this information helps. Give it a few days, and try to focus on other things, and I think normal function will return soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doctor,
I really really apreciate your quick reply. I am just worried that somehow during the procedure, the flexible scope injured the prostate or the nerves in the anus. Hence causing erectile dysfunction. The impression I got from the doctors I talked to and the information online is that colonosocpy does not cause erections problems. The GI doctor did tell me that some men can get erection and ejacuation during the colonosocpy because prostate is somehow being stimualated. He said it will not cause permanent erectile dysfunction as he never seen it during the 40 years of practice.
Over the past 5 days I was petrfied about the possiblity of having Barrett's Esophagus diseases. I cried and feeling anxious, depressed and hopeless about this whole situation. Several nights I did not get any slept at all. Once I got the good news then my mind switched to what if somehow I got injured during the procedure and have erection problems.
Normall I get morning erections regularly but the last few days I didn't noticed any morning/night erections. I tried to masturbate(to test if I can) but I can't have an erection. Last night I did have erection a couple of times but it was not as hard as before. My mind is still so fixated on not have erectin.
Have you seen or even heard of erection problems after colonoscopy? I am still terrified of this.
Thank again doctor!!!
I really really apreciate your quick reply. I am just worried that somehow during the procedure, the flexible scope injured the prostate or the nerves in the anus. Hence causing erectile dysfunction. The impression I got from the doctors I talked to and the information online is that colonosocpy does not cause erections problems. The GI doctor did tell me that some men can get erection and ejacuation during the colonosocpy because prostate is somehow being stimualated. He said it will not cause permanent erectile dysfunction as he never seen it during the 40 years of practice.
Over the past 5 days I was petrfied about the possiblity of having Barrett's Esophagus diseases. I cried and feeling anxious, depressed and hopeless about this whole situation. Several nights I did not get any slept at all. Once I got the good news then my mind switched to what if somehow I got injured during the procedure and have erection problems.
Normall I get morning erections regularly but the last few days I didn't noticed any morning/night erections. I tried to masturbate(to test if I can) but I can't have an erection. Last night I did have erection a couple of times but it was not as hard as before. My mind is still so fixated on not have erectin.
Have you seen or even heard of erection problems after colonoscopy? I am still terrified of this.
Thank again doctor!!!
Brief Answer:
Give it a few days
Detailed Answer:
Hi -
No, I've never had any patients who've had a colonoscopy have subsequent erectile problems from it.
If you were able to have erections a couple of times last night, even if they weren't as hard, that is a sign that there wasn't injury. Had there been some kind of injury to the nerves or prostate that could impair having erections, then you would not have had erections a couple of times last night.
Given how much stress you've been under, not having hard erections right now are understandable. I really think if you can focus your mind on something else for a few days, your previous level of function will return. Try, if possible, to occupy yourself with some activity that consumes not only your time and energy but your mind too (does the attic or garage need cleaning? would the dog like to go to the dog park?).
Give it a few days
Detailed Answer:
Hi -
No, I've never had any patients who've had a colonoscopy have subsequent erectile problems from it.
If you were able to have erections a couple of times last night, even if they weren't as hard, that is a sign that there wasn't injury. Had there been some kind of injury to the nerves or prostate that could impair having erections, then you would not have had erections a couple of times last night.
Given how much stress you've been under, not having hard erections right now are understandable. I really think if you can focus your mind on something else for a few days, your previous level of function will return. Try, if possible, to occupy yourself with some activity that consumes not only your time and energy but your mind too (does the attic or garage need cleaning? would the dog like to go to the dog park?).
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doctor,
Thank you so much for your advice and hopefully things will be okay in a few days!
Thank you so much for your advice and hopefully things will be okay in a few days!
Brief Answer:
Your welcome!
Detailed Answer:
I think you will feel better soon!
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Your welcome!
Detailed Answer:
I think you will feel better soon!
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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