PHX Reporter

• People who suffer from chronic sinusitis are at risk of developing erectile dysfunction.
• Medications such as Sudafed and other decongestants can also cause erectile dysfunction.
• New treatment options, such as balloon sinuplasty, are available for patients with chronic sinusitis.

Dr. John Stewart of Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said chronic sinusitis can be a factor in erectile dysfunction.

"Sleep deprivation and sexual function go hand-in-hand. You're not going to do very well in that department if you're handed the pillow and told to go sleep on the couch because you're snoring loudly," Stewart told PHX Reporter. "Also, men may not understand that since they have different anatomy than females, taking decongestants such as Sudafed can cause irreversible prostate hypertrophy."

Many people may not realize such medications could pose serious, long-term risks, he added.

"Over time, that can affect function in urination and urogenital health, in general," Stewart said. "So they need to be aware of that when they're reaching in the medical aisle and looking for that magic bullet to try to help relieve their sinus issues. I caution them strongly against that."

The National Institutes of Health defines erectile dysfunction as "the inability to attain and maintain an erection of sufficient quality to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse,” and the National Center for Biotechnology Information reports that the condition affects approximately 5% of men in the U.S. A study of data from more than 1 million people from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) found that chronic sinusitis is associated with increased risk of erectile dysfunction. 

Yahoo Sports published a report from Kaohsiung University in Taiwan, saying men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are as much as 50% more likely to be impotent than men who don't. The study found that when sinusitis inflames the lining of the sinus cavity, it causes blood vessels in the genitals to restrict blood flow.

In addition to the problems caused by sinusitis, a report by Men's Journal stated that using medication such as Sudafed or other decongestants for sinus symptoms can cause erectile dysfunction.

There is, however, reason to have hope, according to Stewart.

"By the time they're thinking in those terms, they really need to seek help, fortunately, and let us help them in a non-harmful way with how to overcome the issues that they're experiencing," he said.

According to the NHIRD report, treating sinusitis surgically has significantly decreased erectile dysfunction in patients.

There are several surgical treatment options for those with chronic sinusitis, such as endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty, according to WebMD. Endoscopy is a common practice in which a doctor inserts thin, flexible instruments called endoscopes into the nose, which send images to a screen, allowing the doctor to see where the sinuses are blocked and guide the medical instruments to remove polyps, scar tissue and other blockages.  

Endoscopy is often done with a local anesthetic, meaning the area is numbed but the patient stays awake during the process. There are no incisions into the skin, so recovery is usually relatively quick.

Another treatment option is balloon sinuplasty, which is a good choice for those who don't need anything removed from their sinuses. During balloon sinuplasty, the doctor puts a thin tube with a small balloon attached into the nose. The doctor then guides the balloon to the blocked area and inflates it. The balloon helps clear the sinus passages, alleviating congestion and allowing the patient to breathe more clearly.

If you're interested in learning more about diagnosis or treatment of chronic sinusitis, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.