Overview

• Long-term space missions may cause permanent erectile dysfunction in male astronauts, according to a NASA-funded study.
• Exposure to high levels of galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) and microgravity are associated with increased risk of oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, factors in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction.
• Researchers exposed 86 adult male rats to four weeks of simulated microgravity and GCR, and found long-term impairment of neurovascular erectile function.
• Researchers suggest that sexual function in male astronauts could be impaired for the remainder of their sexual health space following return to Earth from prolonged deep space exploration.
• Antioxidant treatments for erectile tissue may be a potential solution, as they showed functional improvements in the tissues, suggesting that the erectile dysfunction may be treatable.