Coronavirus effect: Study links lower sex drive with long COVID; identifies vulnerable groups

As the duration of the pandemic continues to grow with constant spikes and fall in the number of cases amid rising new variants of COVID-19, the understanding of long COVID – long-term effects from COVID infection – also keeps on expanding. Earlier, the most common symptoms in the weeks and months after a COVID infection were known to mostly include loss of smell and shortness of breath. Fatigue, rashes, and brain fog have also been lately recognized as signs of post-COVID. Now, researchers have confirmed that long COVID encompasses an ‘extremely broad range of symptoms, which have been reported by sufferers for more than two years. They have also identified several groups based on factors such as sex, health issues, ethnicity, etc., which are more vulnerable to developing long COVID. According to the peer-reviewed analysis of health records from 2.4 million people across England, a reduced sex drive – which includes difficulties ejaculating and diminished libido, hallucinations, and hair loss are also among a wider set of long COVID symptoms. This variety of symptoms also includes the less well-known side effects such as amnesia, and an inability to perform familiar movements or commands. The research was published in Nature Medicine.

Source: Shreya Karuna De / News Mania Desk 

Photo: Internet