Space travel does strange things to the human body. For example, prolonged exposure to the weightless environment of space leads to muscle atrophy and a decline in bone density. Moreover, in the vastness of space, where the force of gravity is significantly diminished, blood flow to all areas of the body decreases. This can have a drastic effect on the brain, heart, kidneys, and even the penis. Couple the loss of gravitational forces with galactic cosmic radiation, and you have a recipe for penis-related problems. According to a new study published in FASEB Journal, male rats subjected to comparable conditions to astronauts suffered severe damage to the vascular tissue responsible for erections. It’s important to note that humans and rats are similar physiologically. We possess comparable organs, and analogous body structures. Both species regulate their body chemistry through similar hormones, possess nervous systems that function in a parallel manner, and exhibit similar responses to infection and injury. In other words, the new paper’s findings appear to carry a great deal of weight. Worryingly, the effects on the floppy rodents persisted even after an extended period of recuperation. The lead author of the study, Justin D. La Favor, an expert in neurovascular damage at Florida State University, discovered that tissue alterations, primarily caused by heightened oxidative stress, were induced by low doses of galactic cosmic radiation and simulated weightlessness.
“With manned missions to outer space planned for the coming years, this work indicates that sexual health should be closely monitored in astronauts upon their return to Earth,” said Dr. La Favor.
However, he added, although “the negative impacts of galactic cosmic radiation were long-lasting, functional improvements induced by acutely targeting the redox and nitric oxide pathways in the tissues suggest that the erectile dysfunction may be treatable.”
La Favor told the Daily Express US that he felt compelled to explore this sensitive topic because “astronauts face several health risks associated with the elements that they are exposed to, such as increased risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases.”
“While not a life-threatening condition such as these,” said the assistant professor of nutrition and integrative physiology, “erectile dysfunction is a major contributor to decreased life satisfaction and quality of life in men that experience it.” In the US, a staggering 30 million men are affected by erectile dysfunction.
In light of the United States’ ambitions to send astronauts on prolonged missions to the Moon in the near future and to Mars by 2040, the potential health risks they may face are of utmost importance to La Favor. In this particular investigation, he noted, “the galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) had a particularly damaging effect on erectile function.” This, he added, “was not in itself surprising,” largely because researchers have, for quite some time, known that GCR can cause significant harm to endothelial cells and nerves, both of which play a crucial role in erectile function. What surprised La Favor and his colleagues was the fact that the detrimental impacts of GCR endured for an extended period following exposure. Thus, this study signifies the long-term repercussions that astronauts might encounter upon undertaking prolonged journeys to the Moon or Mars.
When asked for his thoughts on the idea of humans colonizing Earth’s only natural satellite and/or the Red planet, La favor thinks “there are so many major barriers to permanently inhabiting either the Moon or Mars,” including “the potential health consequences of living with persistent exposure to cosmic radiation.” Although he thinks “it would be premature to say that procreation won’t be possible,” he concedes that “it will certainly be more difficult.” That’s because, beyond the effects on erectile function, scientists also know that GCR exposure impairs ovarian function. “Current research pertinent to spaceflight suggests that GCR decreases spermatogenesis [i.e., the process by which sperm cell production occurs],” cautioned La Favor, “although it seems that this is only a short-term effect. With constant GCR exposure, spermatogenesis may be persistently diminished. All of these factors combined could really impact the fertility of a population living on the Moon or Mars.”
