Question: I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy on Monday and found out that the doctor suspected Barretts disease. I was extremely extremely extremely stressed out about it but luckily the biopsy is negative yesterday. 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.

I was completely sedated during the procedure. Now I can't have an erection while masturbation. My question is can colonoscopy cause total erectile dysfunction???
I don’t think they put a catheter in my penis during the colonoscopy. I had sex with my girlfriend last Saturday, two days before the colonoscopy. Everything was fine. I just turned 43. Normally I get morning erections regularly but 3 to 4 days after the procedure I didn't noticed any morning/night erections. I tried to masturbate (to test if I can) but I can't have an erection. Finally LAST NIGHT I did have erections couple of times but it was not as hard as before. My mind is still so fixated on not have erection.

I am so scared that I am permanently damaged by the procedure. There are not much online about this 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 it's not the colonoscopy. I also talk to another doctor in the same office and he said he had not seen that in his 40 years. The GI doctor did tell me that some men can get erection and ejacuation during the colonosocpy because prostate is somehow being stimualated. I also ask a cardiologist friend of mine and he also said no. I am just afraid the procedure some how damage the prostate and the nerves in the anus and cause erectile dysfunction. Have you seen or even heard of permanent erection problems after colonoscopy? I am still terrified of this.

Dear Doctor,

Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate it. You don't think that somehow the prostate or nerves were somehow injured because of the colonoscopy? Yes, I was extremely petrified over the last week.


Thank you again!

Dear Doctor,

Thank you for your clarifications. I read online that people who had prostate surgery/prostate biospy would likely to have some erectile dysfunction atleast temporarily after the procedure. If prostate has no role to play in the erection process why is this happening?

In my case, I feel more relax after your comment that there is 0% chance of injury to the prostate during colonoscopy! I am a PhD statistcian and this statement makes me feel more at ease. What about the nerves damage around the anus and rectum?


Thank you so much for your answers and I will try to relax.

Dear Doctor,

Thank you so much for your help! I really appreciate it.