The Epidemic of COVID-19-Related Erectile Dysfunction: A Scoping Review and Health Care Perspective

Introduction COVID-19 infection is expected to be associated with an increased likelihood of erectile dysfunction (ED). Considering the high transmissibility of COVID-19, ED may be a concerning consequence for a large segment of the population. Aims To (1) summarize existing published evidence for the impact of COVID-19 on the prevalence, severity, treatment, and management of ED; and (2) identify health-related trends in the emerging literature and identify gaps in the existing research literature and make recommendations for future research needs in the area. Methods A scoping literature search was conducted on April 27, 2021. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-ScR) checklist was followed. The literature search was performed in PubMed using the terms: COVID-19, erectile, sexual, and dysfunction. A total of 693 publications were screened for relevance. Studies were appraised for their level of evidence based on study design and the rigor of methodology. Results The evidence that COVID-19 infection causes or impacts ED is compelling. Four topics emerged regarding the nature of the association between COVID-19 and ED: (1) the biological impact of COVID-19 infection on ED; (2) the mental health impact of COVID-19 on ED; (3) the impact of COVID-19 on the management of ED and access to ED treatment; and (4) health disparities and the impact of COVID-19 on ED. Long-term and well-designed studies are needed to clarify the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on ED. The pandemic exposed several vulnerabilities within worldwide healthcare and social systems. Conclusion COVID-19 has a uniquely harmful impact on men's health and erectile function through biological, mental health, and healthcare access mechanisms. As the pandemic wanes, strategies to identify long-term effects and additional health care support may be needed to adequately mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on men's health. Hsieh T-C, Edwards NC, Bhattacharyya SK, et al.The Epidemic of COVID-19-Related Erectile Dysfunction: A Scoping Review and Health Care Perspective. Sex Med Rev 2022;10:286–310.


INTRODUCTION
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the health and wellbeing of people across the world. The uniquely harmful impact of the virus on men's health is becoming more apparent and is more commonly being documented in the published medical literature. 1−3 Men have been shown to have an increased risk of both developing the severe form of COVID-19 and dying from it. 3,4 Biological (sex) and socio-cultural (gender) factors, compounded by socio-economic factors and ethnicity, have had a marked impact on the aftermath of COVID-19. 2,3 Testosterone has been identified as a bivalent risk factor for poor prognosis (high/normal in younger; lower in elderly) in COVID-19. 1 It has been postulated that testosterone may facilitate SARS-CoV-2 entry in human cells and men may develop a blunted immune response against SARS-CoV-2, being exposed to less viral clearance and more viral shedding and systemic spread of the disease. 1 Low levels of serum testosterone observed in men, on the other hand, may predispose them to greater background systemic inflammation, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and immune system dysfunction from COVID-19 infection, hence potentially enhancing the longterm consequences of the virus. 1 Even men who have never contracted COVID-19 have had their lives severely affected by the pandemic both physically and emotionally as it has caused widespread disruption to normal existence, men's social world, preventative health and healthcare access, and the economy. 2 One of the repercussions of COVID-19 is its impact on men's sexual health. COVID-19 infection is expected to be associated with an increased likelihood of erectile dysfunction (ED). Considering the high transmissibility of COVID-19, ED could be a concerning consequence for a large segment of the population. 5 However, to our knowledge, the evidence for the association between COVID-19 and ED has not been collectively gathered, integrated, and appraised. The objectives of this study were to conduct a scoping literature review to: (1) summarize existing published evidence for the impact of COVID-19 on the prevalence, severity, treatment, and management of ED; and (2) identify health-related trends in the emerging literature and identify gaps in the existing research literature and make recommendations for future research needs in the area.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The approach for the literature review was a scoping review given the heterogenous nature of the body of literature describing the relationship between COVID-19 and ED. 6 Scoping reviews are a relatively new approach to evidence synthesis. 7 They can synthesize research evidence and categorize or group existing literature in a given field in terms of its nature, features, and volume. 8 Researchers may conduct scoping reviews instead of traditional reviews when the purpose of the review is to identify knowledge gaps, scope a body of literature, clarify concepts, or to investigate research conduct. 7 Scoping reviews may also be helpful precursors to traditional systematic reviews and can be used to confirm the relevance of inclusion criteria and potential questions. 7 They deliberately cast a wider net to identify topics that are connected but not necessarily completely within the topic of interest in order to help better discern boundaries of relevant literature. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist 9 was followed and adhered to in conducting the scoping literature review.

COVID-19 and Erectile Dysfunction Scoping Review
The literature review used the PubMed search engine and was conducted on April 27, 2021 with the search terms "COVID-19 00 , "erectile", "sexual", and "dysfunction". A total of 693 publications were obtained using the search strategy Studies were included if they provided information about the relationship between COVID-19 and ED or if they discussed patients' experience of care during COVID-19. All studies underwent a title and abstract screening, and potentially relevant citations were checked in a full-text screening. Reference lists of selected articles were also reviewed for additional possible sources of information ( Figure 1). Data extracted included the journal citation, publication year, country of origin, study design, and a summary of the pertinent findings. Studies were appraised for their level of evidence based on study design and the rigor of methodology used, as well as the ability to prevent and/or control for biases to analyze cause and effect.

RESULTS
A total of 60 studies were selected for inclusion in the scoping review. Table 1 presents the characteristics of the included studies and a summary of their findings. Twenty-three studies (38.3%) were from the US, 10 were from Italy (16.7%), 6 were from China (10.0%), 5 were from Turkey (8.3%), 4 were from India (6.7%), 2 each were from Canada, Greece, and Brazil (3.3%), and 1 each were from Japan, Iran, the UK, the Netherlands, Egypt, Finland, and Portugal (1.7%) (note that one study was from the US and Iran). Twenty-five studies were narrative/literature reviews (41.7%), 12 were patient surveys (20.0%), 11 (18.3%) were expert commentaries/editorials, three were retrospective database evaluations (5.0%), two were urologist surveys (3.3.%), two were systematic reviews/meta-analyses (3.3%), and one each was a prospective cohort study, a retrospective chart review, a case series, a case report, and laboratory/pre-clinical research (1.7%).
Many of the studies identified in the literature review examined how COVID-19 may affect ED prevalence and severity either directly or indirectly through the extensive impact of the virus on men's genitourinary, cardiovascular, and nervous systems (n = 26; 43.3%). Another large grouping of studies addressed the mental and psychosocial aspects of COVID-19 and ED (n = 28; 46.7%). Twenty-two studies (36.7%) described how COVID-19 had affected patients' access to ED care and changes in ED management since the pandemic. Disparities in care and the effect of ED and COVID-19 on vulnerable populations was addressed in 18 studies (30.0%). The studies that contributed to each of these four groupings are also noted in Table 1.

DISCUSSION
Four topics emerged regarding the association between COVID-19 and ED: (1) the biological impact of COVID-19 infection on ED; (2) the mental health impact of COVID-19 on ED; (3) the impact of COVID-19 on the management of ED and access to ED treatment; and (4) health disparities and the impact of COVID-19 on ED. Table 1 outlines the topics covered by each of the included studies and Figure 2 illustrates the interactions of the four emergent topics. The following summaries highlight the most significant findings that were revealed for each of the four topics.

Topic 1: Biological Impact of COVID-19 Infection on ED
Evidence that COVID-19 may biologically impact ED both in regard to the prevalence of ED (ie, the number of men with ED) and the severity of ED in men with existing ED is beginning to emerge. A retrospective chart review of 12 outpatient urology clinics across Turkey investigated whether there have been variations in the presentations of male patients with sexual and reproductive health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. 10 Andrological problems (ie, ED, premature ejaculation, Peyronie's disease, and priapism, varicocele, infertility, primary/ secondary hypogonadism, anejaculation, spermatocele, and undescended testicles) were detected in 721 of 4,955 male patients included in the study. Study findings showed that there was a significant increase in overall andrological diagnosis in these patients during the pandemic period compared with the pre-pandemic period (n = 293 [17%] vs n = 428 [13.2%], P < .001, respectively) ( Figure 3). The number of patients diagnosed with ED during the pandemic was significantly higher during COVID-19 compared to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period (n = 150 [8.7%] vs n = 214 [6.6%], P = .008) (Figure 3). 10 The authors hypothesized that possible reasons for more frequent presentation to the outpatient urology clinics with ED may include relationship strain due to the "Stay Home" policies, job losses and economic problems, and increased anxiety and depression. Limitations of this study include its retrospective design, lack of randomization, differences in patient baseline characteristics between the comparison groups, and potential confounding from unknown and/or unmeasured variables.
An Italian online survey study by Sansone and colleagues (2021) compared the prevalence of ED among men with (n = 75) and without (n = 25) COVID-19 using 3:1 propensity score matching. 11 Study findings showed that the prevalence of ED as measured with the Sexual Health Inventory for Men was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group (28.0% vs 9.3%; P = .027). Logistic regression models confirmed a significant effect of COVID-19 on the development of ED, independently of other variables affecting erectile function, such as psychological status, age, and body mass index (BMI). Age, BMI, and psychological health scores failed to reach statistical significance; however, history of COVID-19 was highly significant, resulting in a 5.66 odds ratio (95% confidence interval: 1.50−24.01) of having ED.
The physiology relevant for penile erection may be affected by COVID-19 through vasculogenic, neurogenic, and endocrine mechanisms. A literature review of the possible mechanisms involved in the development of ED in COVID-19 survivors by  Greece Narrative Review Endothelial dysfunction is a pathological entity that multiply affects the health status ED is recognized as a condition that is strongly interrelated with endothelial dysfunction, being a vascular event itself x Fu et al 2020 14 China High level of ACE2 expression in testis, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal system indicated that SARS-CoV-2 might not only attack the lungs, but also affect other organs, particularly the testes, thus it may severely damage male sexual development for younger male and lead to infertility in an adult male, if he contracted COVID-19 x Zhang et al 2020 15 Canada Narrative Review The finding that SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV use the ACE2 receptor for cell entry has important implications for understanding SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility and pathogenesis SARS-CoV and likely SARS-CoV-2 lead to downregulation of the ACE2 receptor, but not ACE, through binding of the spike protein with ACE2. leading to viral entry and replication, as well as severe lung injury  The presence of ACE2 on almost all testicular cells and the report of a significant impact of previous SARS coronavirus on testes suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is highly likely to affect testicular tissue, semen parameters and male fertility   Finland Narrative Review COVID-19 affects sexual function with implications on overall health Increased awareness of health-care providers on sexual health implications related to the COVID-19 is needed Telemedicine has an imperative role in allowing continued support at times of lockdown and preventing worsening of the sexual, mental, and physical health after the pandemic.
x x x Riley et al 2020 30

USA Expert Commentary
The strain that the outbreak imposes on health systems will undoubtedly impact the sexual and reproductive health of individuals living in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, sexual and reproductive health will also be affected by societal responses to the pandemic, such as local or national lockdowns that force health services to shut down if they are not deemed essential, as well as the consequences of physical distancing, travel restrictions and economic slowdowns White 2020 2 UK Narrative Review Men's vulnerability to COVID-19 demonstrates the biological and socio-cultural factors at play and we are all affected The emotional impact of the lockdown and the longer term emerging recession coupled with the complex grieving many will be experiencing will result in high mental health burden and increased rates of suicide in men There will be consequences of people being unable, or unwilling, to seek medical help Loss of school will mean for many of the most vulnerable the loss of critical services and a safe and nurturing environment increasing the risk of depression, self-harm, attempted suicide India Narrative Review Long-term psychosocial and occupational outcomes of health-care workers dealing with SARS patients showed a rise in ED, premature ejaculation (PME), lack of sexual satisfaction in partners, and heightened performance anxiety. This contributed to the burnout, work stress, absenteeism, substance abuse, and depressive disorders.     The global health community has tools to engage men and promote healthy masculinities, drawing on two decades of programs and research.
To improve, we must gather evidence on both biological and social differences in men, including age and race, and tailor health strategies, accordingly. A strategic focus on gender in the COVID-19 response will be critical for mitigating the impacts of the pandemic, as well as for ensuring uptake of future treatments and vaccines.
x x x Tonyali et al 2020 48 Turkey Narrative Review All elective surgeries for benign urological conditions such as urinary tract stone disease that not caused complicated obstruction, benign prostate enlargement, infertility, incontinence and genitourinary prolapse, ED, undescended testis, vesico-ureteral reflux should be postponed till the lasting of Covid-19 outbreak x Cocci 2020 49 Italy Expert Commentary Patients with Peyronie's disease, requesting a penile implant, and anyone who needs treatment for erectile dysfunction will not be able to access treatment. We are not in a position to currently criticize these historical moments, but certainly, as health managers, we also have a duty to think about these patients.  The modest decline for most common long-term therapies after peak could represent reduced contact with prescribing clinicians, restricted access to pharmacies, pharmacist rationing, loss of insurance from unemployment, or replete supplies from early stockpiling. Steep declines for amoxicillin and azithromycin appeared out of proportion to expected seasonal declines and could represent fewer outpatient prescriptions for upper respiratory tract infection symptoms.   Black race is independently associated with arterial endothelial dysfunction. Racial differences in CVD risk may be related, in part, to race-related differences in endothelial dysfunction.
x (continued) Sansone and colleagues (2021) found that endothelial dysfunction, subclinical hypogonadism, and impaired pulmonary hemodynamics all contribute to the potential onset of ED. 65 Vascular integrity is necessary for erectile function. Accumulating evidence suggests that SARS-COV-2 damages the vascular endothelium, 12 the layer of specialized cells lining the inner surfaces of blood vessels and spaces like the surface of the sinusoids of tissues like the corpus cavernosum of the penis. 13 The endothelium expresses the protein angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), through which SARS-COV-2 can access host cells. 14,15 The vascular endothelium regulates the vascular tone, coagulation, metabolism, and permeability of the vessels. 13 Endothelial dysfunction results in abnormal regulation of blood pressure, response to inflammation, impairment of the sensitive balance between the vasoconstricting and vasodilating agents and stimuli, and coagulation disorders. 13,16 Vascular damage associated with COVID-19 is likely to affect the fragile vascular bed of the penis, potentially resulting in impaired erectile function. 5 The recognized relationship between vascular health and ED 22 suggests an important knowledge gap that could be addressed with translational research to elucidate the penile vascular effects of COVID-19 and their relationship to ED.
ED that manifests during COVID-19 may be a signal for underlying cardiovascular disease and may provide opportunities for earlier assessment of vascular dysfunction. ED, as a surrogate marker of cardiovascular and/or pulmonary health, could become extremely valuable as a quick and inexpensive first-line assessment of the pulmonary and cardiovascular complications for COVID-19 survivors. 65 The study by Sansone and colleagues (2021) also measured the likelihood of having a self-reported history of COVID-19 following a diagnosis of ED. Logistic regression models adjusted for age and BMI showed a significant association between ED and COVID-19, with a 5.27 odds ratio [95% CI: 1.49−20.09]. Evidence coming from diagnostic procedures, such as penile color-doppler ultrasound and hypothalamic-pituitary−testicular axis evaluation, may aid in assessing the extent to which COVID-19 has been able to impair erectile, and finally vascular, function. 65 COVID-19 may also affect ED prevalence and severity through the indirect impact of the virus on men's cardiovascular system and through the indirect effects of treatments for COVID-19. 65 For example, in some cases, COVID-19 may cause acute cardiac injury, leading to a decrease in blood supply to genitalia. 23 Also, COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU who are given thiazide-type diuretics, aldosterone receptor blockers, b-adrenergic receptor blockers, or ACE inhibitors to control blood pressure are believed to be at risk for ED. 23 It has been demonstrated that patients with COVID-19 commonly have neurologic manifestations. 24 Disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system are present in most COVID-19 patients, while stroke, ataxia, seizures, and depressed level of consciousness are more common in severely affected patients. 25 The neurological effects observed in some cases of COVID-19 may x COVID-19 and Erectile Dysfunction Scoping Review also have negative impacts on ED. 23 Neurogenic ED consists of a large cohort of ED, accounting for about 10% to 19% of all cases. 26 Neurological effects can occur via direct infection injury (blood circulatory pathway and neuronal pathway), hypoxia injury, ACE2, and immune injury 27 The tremendous diversity in the etiological factors associated with neurogenic contributors to ED 26 combined with the multidimensional effects of COVID-19 demonstrate the importance of further exploring the impact of COVID-19 infections on the nervous system. 27 Finally, ED may be affected by COVID-19 through endocrine mechanisms. COVID-19 features a state of hyperinflammation promoted by the same inflammatory cytokines found to be associated with clinical progression of sexual dysfunction (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-a, interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-1b). 5 Although COVID-19 has been shown to cause systemic inflammation predisposing the involvement of multiple organs, the extent of its effect on the urogenital system has not yet been adequately researched. 17 It has been theorized that that testicular damage may result following COVID-19 infection. 18,19,28 The ACE2 gene is a receptor of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for COVID-19. High levels of ACE2 expression in testes indicate that SARS-CoV-2 might affect the testes, potentially affecting male sexual function. 14,20 The effects on testicular tissue may harm testosterone production which may, in turn, have an association with ED insofar as its endocrine pathophysiologic risk. 65 The more likely effect of testosterone deficiency resulting from COVID-19 infection is decreased sexual libido, and lesser risk on decreasing erection ability. 65 Endothelial damage by SARS-COV-2 tied to endothelial expression of ACE2 combined with testosterone's role in modulating endothelial function 66 and associated inflammatory effects could be a factor in the differential burden of COVID-19 observed in some men. 5 Men at greatest risk for having serious complications secondary to COVID-19 are those traditionally at risk for ED: older adult, diabetic, men with cardiovascular disease, overweight/obesity, and with multiple comorbidities. 29 Furthermore, weight gain as a result of the pandemic could have compounding long range adverse effects on the risks for overweight and obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, all of which are associated with ED. 31

Topic 2: The Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 on ED
It is important to consider the role of added stress, anxiety, and physical health implications for men with ED amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 29 Increased rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety are expected in the general population, and even more in COVID-19 survivors, following the pandemic. 65 Anxiety and depression are commonly seen in men with ED. 32 Psychological and mental health issues may lead to ED or worsening ED. ED has been shown to be 1.3 −2.3 times more common in individuals with anxiety and depression. 67 Although the psychological effects such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and sleep disturbances are being studied for COVID-19, literature evaluating the relationship between these psychological and mental consequences and ED is rather scarce. 33 Some evidence has shown that sexual behavior was altered during the pandemic, including a reduction in sexual desire and number of sexual partners during the lockdown. 34,35 The COVID-19 outbreak has dramatically affected men's quality of life by changing inter-personal relationships, community life, and sexual health. 36 An Internet-based survey of 1,356 participants in Turkey in June 2020 evaluated sexual function in terms of sexual intercourse frequency and sexual desire during the COVID-19 pandemic using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) forms. 37 Study findings showed a decline in sexual function during the pandemic period (40.8% had decline in sexual intercourse frequency, 14.0% had decline in frequency of masturbation, and 31.5% had a decline in sexual desire), particularly among individuals living in metropolitan areas. 37 An online questionnaire administered to Chinese men (n = 612) during the pandemic (April-May 2020) found that 8.4% and 8.5% subjects reported deteriorated erectile function or ejaculation control ability by self-evaluation, whereas 31.9% and 17.9% subjects showed decreased IIEF-5 scores or increased premature ejaculation diagnostic tool scores. 38 Subjects with deteriorated erectile function by self-evaluation and decreased IIEF-5 scores displayed higher General Anxiety Disorder-7 (P < .001 and P = .001) and higher Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score (P < .001 and P = .002) and decreased frequency of sexual life (P < .001 and P < .001) and physical exercise (P = .009 and .007). 38 Subjects with decreased frequency of sexual life had reduced income (P < .001), increased anxiety (P < .001) and depression (P < .001). 38 A study evaluating sexual activity and depression in a sample of hospital workers and their acquaintances (n = 544) during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy analyzed responses to the IIEF-15, FSFI, and Beck Depression Inventory. 39 Levels of sexual satisfaction were measured with the IIEF-15 overall satisfaction (OS) and intercourse satisfaction (IS) domains. Low satisfaction levels were defined using an arbitrary cut-off score ≤12.5 in the sum of IIEF-IS and IIEF-OS domains. The sexual desire (SD) domain from the IIEF was also recorded and low sexual desire was defined using an arbitrary cut-off score of ≤5. The median (interquartile range) IIEF-Erectile Function score was 10 (3,11) and the IIEF-Orgasmic Function score was 3 (3,5). The IIEF-Intercourse Satisfaction score was 5 (0, 7), IIEF-Overall Satisfaction score was 5 (4,9), and the IIEF-Sexual Desire score was 4 (3,5). 39 To our knowledge, there are no studies clearly defining a cut-off value for abnormal satisfaction domains for the IIEF-15. However, the IIEF validation study by Rosen et al (1997) tested it in a series of 111 men with sexual dysfunction and 109 age-matched, normal volunteer controls. 68 The authors found COVID-19 and Erectile Dysfunction Scoping Review that the mean OS scores were 8.6 for controls and 4.4 for patients, and the mean IS scores were 10.6 for controls and 5.5 for patients. 68 On average, controls scored 7.0 in the sexual desire domain and patients scored 6.3. 68 The frequency of ED among male healthcare professionals (n = 159) during COVID-19 was also evaluated using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised and the IIEF-5 and compared to a control group of 200 people. 40 Both stress disorder and ED were seen at higher rates in healthcare professionals (P < .001). 40 The median IIEF-5 scores of male nurses, married subjects, and those working with confirmed COVID-19 patients, were found to be worse (15 [5−24] for physicians vs 10 (5−23) for nurses, P < .001; 16 [5−24] for single vs 12 [5−24] for married, P = .014; 15 [6−24] for suspected patient area vs 11 [5−24] for diagnosed patient area, P = .011). 40 A Turkish study evaluating the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on couples' sexuality (n = 245) utilizing the IIEF-15 found that male sexual function scores (IIEF erectile function domain) during the pandemic (May 2020) were statistically significantly lower compared to the pre-pandemic period (pre-pandemic 26.59 § 4.51 vs during pandemic 24.55 § 5.79; P = .001). 41 Parallels can be drawn between the psychological consequences of COVID-19 and those coming from similar disasters, such as the 9/11 attacks or earthquakes, and similar short-and long-term treatment strategies are, therefore, needed to provide adequate care. 65 Tailored psychological interventions may be helpful in supporting patients who develop ED either from the illness itself or as a consequence of the containment measures. 65 Topic 3: Impact of COVID-19 on the Management of ED and on Access to ED Treatment Disruptions in elective and non-emergency medical care access and delivery were observed during COVID-19, particularly during periods of considerable community transmission of SARS-CoV-2. 56,57 Many elective surgeries for benign urological conditions such as ED were postponed during the COVID-19 outbreak. [48][49][50]69 One example summarizing shifts in men's urological care was published by the Canadian Urological Association. 51 It noted the massive shift in only offering surgeries for emergencies and urgent oncology cases with management shifting to mostly virtual care for male sexual health conditions. 51 Although not explicitly documented in the published medical literature, it is likely that the evaluation and treatment of ED was also postponed or delayed, potentially prolonging and possibly exacerbating ED problems.
The COVID-19 pandemic and related mitigation measures such as school closures and stay-at-home orders substantially affected patient healthcare-and medication-seeking patterns. 52 −54,56,57 Overall, an estimated 40.9% of US adults avoided medical care during the pandemic because of concerns about COVID-19. 56 Age, gender, sexual identity, education, and self-reported worry about general health were significantly associated with experiencing healthcare delays overall. 57 The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities within worldwide healthcare and social systems, some of them including services concerning sexual health. 42 The need for improved healthcare access was a reality for countless citizens who had never experienced a crisis with such a dimension. 42 COVID-19 required healthcare and social systems, clinicians, and citizens to adjust to the digital era in a matter of days. 42 E-Health interventions; that is, the increased use of communication and information technologies for health (eg, short message service [SMS], email, video call, cell phone applications, etc.) have been brought to the center of discussion for improved access to healthcare in challenging situations. 42 The World Health Organization followed by key professional societies such as the American Psychological Association deemed e-Health a priority target for the improvement of public and universal health. 42 The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of telemedicine and in many ways, sexual medicine healthcare is ideal for telemedicine. Sexual medicine healthcare providers are a highly specialized group of clinicians who are frequently based in metropolitan areas. 60 Patients travel great distances to see sexual medicine care providers and telemedicine may increase outreach to patients who cannot otherwise access specialized care. 60 The COVID-19 pandemic has offered healthcare professionals an opportunity to re-examine delivery of sexual health services to hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. 61 Providers can increase access to male sexual dysfunction treatment by removing traditional barriers to healthcare that these individuals routinely encounter. 61 Rapid advances in telehealth have increased virtual (eg, phone or video) healthcare services and allowed access to confidential and private virtual care. 61 Virtual visits can also triage patients for in-person visits required for services. 61

Topic 4: Health Disparities and the Impact of COVID-19 on ED
The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified health disparities through loss of work and health insurance, having an impact on employee healthcare coverage and overall access to healthcare. In addition, the COVID-19 outbreak has amplified health disparities by race and gender in the US, perhaps most significantly for African American and Latino men. 62 The strain that the outbreak imposed on already resource-constrained health systems undoubtedly disproportionately impacted the health of these individuals. 30 African American and Latino men reported significantly lower levels of access to a provider to see if COVID-19 testing would be appropriate (P = .013), lower utilization of medical services (P = .001), and less use of telehealth for mental health services (P = .001). 43 The disproportionate social disruption and losses from COVID-19 also contributed to a wide range of health and quality-of-life outcomes amongst these populations. 44,45 Data regarding disparities in access to ED treatment are scarce. There is some evidence that there are disparities in sexual dysfunction outcomes following prostate cancer treatments in African-American men relative to ethnically different counterparts. 46 Disparities in urologic healthcare delivery and access; however, have been more thoroughly researched and documented in the published medical literature. These studies have demonstrated that there are apparent differences in urologic healthcare delivery and access among racial and ethnic groups in the US. 58 This has been shown in urologic cancer screening, treatment choices, and survival, as well as in the arena of chronic kidney disease, transplant allocation, and transplant outcomes. 58 Healthcare barriers that inhibit support for men seeking care for ED were already in existence before COVID-19, 59 and the disparities in access to all healthcare were exacerbated by the pandemic. 56 This further reinforces the need to ensure that these ED treatment barriers are not additionally amplified. A greater focus must be paid to health equity, including providing increased resources and supplies for affected groups, adapting to inequities in the existing environment, and ensuring adequate access to healthcare services to ameliorate the burden of COVID-19 on African American and Latino male respondents. 43 Aside from disparities in access to healthcare, other factors may also play a role in the differential impact of COVID-19 on particular subgroups of vulnerable populations. There is some evidence that Latino men may be affected more often by ED than Caucasian men in the US. 58 Evidence of racial differences in endothelial function has been known for over a decade; black race is independently associated with arterial endothelial function and this plays a role in overall cardiovascular risk. 63 A previous study found that the prevalence of ED among different racial and ethnic groups in the US is the result of complex phenomena and may be dependent upon the interplay of socioeconomic, demographic, medical, cultural, and lifestyle characteristics. 64

Pathways Forward
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light a remarkable awareness on many health and social issues, including ED and men's health. 42 The four topics that emerged from the scoping review illustrate the far-reaching effects of COVID-19 on ED. Evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic may precipitate or worsen ED through biological and mental health effects is emerging and compelling. Preliminary evidence showed a significant association between ED and COVID-19, with a 5.27 odds ratio [95% CI: 1.49−20.09]. Multiple pathways and factors associated with ED and the significance of COVID-19 were identified in the published medical literature (Figure 4). There is reason to suspect that impaired vascular function and ED might persist in COVID-19 survivors and even become a public health issue. 65 In patients recovered from COVID-19, ED evaluation and consultation may be important. 21 Getting effective public health messages out to the population is vital and this current pandemic has demonstrated the need for more focused views on men's sexual health. 2,3 Studies with larger cohorts of subjects who were infected with COVID-19 are needed to evaluate the degree of impact on men's health. 21 As data accumulate in administrative health databases, retrospective analyses may be conducted to better understand the patterns of interactions that men with ED had with the healthcare system through COVID-19 and to capture the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on pre-existing and emergent ED. Patient surveys such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey may be helpful in collecting patients' experiences with ED during and after COVID-19.
There are several limitations of this scoping review. Given the breadth of topics reviewed from the 693 peer-reviewed articles, we did not conduct a formal systematic review or meta-analysis. Moreover, given the paucity of primary data showing the relationship between COVID-19 infection and ED, many unanswered questions remain. In addition, publication bias may have affected the reported relationships and we were unable to assess the magnitude of publication bias given the limited studies. Finally, the generalizability of the findings may be limited given the significant variability in the underlying causes of and the varying healthcare systems, practices, and health infrastructure across the globe.

CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, this scoping review of the literature showed emerging evidence that COVID-19 has a uniquely harmful impact on men's health and erectile function through biological, mental health, and healthcare access mechanisms. ED could be a concerning consequence for a large segment of the male population given the high transmissibility of COVID-19; therefore, long-term and well-designed studies are needed to clarify the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on ED. Men presenting with ED after COVID-19 infection may have underlying endothelial dysfunction and vasculature issues and hence pulmonary and cardiovascular complications from COVID-19. A strategic focus on gender in the COVID-19 response will be critical for mitigating the impacts of the pandemic. 3,47 The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities within worldwide healthcare and social systems, some of them including services concerning sexual health. 42 Telemedicine may be helpful in diagnosing and treating sexual medicine patients 55