Coronavirus Lingers in Testicles: Men at Higher Risk

One study has found that the coronavirus lingers in the testicles, which means that men are at higher risk of getting infected with the deadly disease. They studied 68 patients in Mumbai, India, and found that the virus has a worse effect on men. 

An oncologist at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, Dr. Aditi Shastri led the research, together with a microbiologist at the Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Mumbai, Dr. Jayanthi Shastri, and found that the coronavirus attaches to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a protein that is found in large quantities in the testicles. They are also found in the heart, lungs, and the gastrointestinal tract, however, it is less prevalent in the ovarian tissue. 

READ ALSO: Can Coronavirus Be Transmitted Sexually? 

(Photo: unsplash/Hush Naidoo)
Men are at higher risk of the coronavirus disease because the virus lingers more on their testicles, a study showed.

Coronavirus Stays Longer in the Testicles Than Other Parts of the Body

According to their study, the virus can stay in the testicles for a longer period because they are walled off from the rest of the body, which is why women have been easily regaining their health from the disease compared to men. 

The study showed that men took an average of six days before the virus was out of their system, while women only took only an average of four days. This proves that COVID-19 stays on men's bodies longer than women. 

An expert in gender differences in the immune response of Georgetown University, Dr. Kathryn Sandberg said that women clear viruses more quickly than men, and a part of the reason is that women's immunity responds faster to invasions.

They also found out some of the reasons why men are more susceptible to coronavirus. Studies show that men are more likely to be smoking and have a high blood pressure than women. Both of these affect the body's resistance against viruses, therefore making men at higher risk of contracting the virus. 

Stabbing Pain in the Testicles

Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that some men who have tested positive with the virus had a stabbing pain in the testicles. The NHS told the patients to observe for any persistent coughs, fevers, abdominal pains, and difficulty with breathing. 

(Photo: unsplash/Adrian Swancar)
Some men patients complained of having stabbing pains in their testicles.

One patient reported having a strange "buzzing sensation" throughout their body early this month, while some shared online that they have a similar "fizzing sensation" Another one of the patients said that he had a burning sensation in their eyes which left them with fatigue and diarrhea. 

Birmingham-based surgeon, Dr. Viney told MailOnline that some viruses can affect the testicles like mumps. While there are some men that experienced symptoms in their testicles after being infected with the coronavirus, this should not cause much alarm because many of the doctor's male patients did not have the same symptoms.