NE Valley Times

• Men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are at an increased risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction.
• Taking cold medication to treat sinusitis can also contribute to erectile dysfunction.
• A surgical treatment option can resolve both sinusitis and its side effects.

Dr. Franklyn Gergits of Sinus and Allergy Wellness Center says that chronic sinusitis causes chronic inflammation, which can lead to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction.

"Sex life and blood flow to the organs can be negatively impacted if the sinuses and nasal cavity are chronically inflamed," he told the NE Valley Times. "Inflammation can cause blood vessels to restrict or constrict instead of being dilated. If that happens, that means there's not the best blood flow to any part of the brain or the body. Sometimes erectile dysfunction or other forms of sexual dysfunction can occur when inflammatory processes take place inside the body. One of the more common areas of that inflammation can be the nasal cavity in the sinuses."

Erectile dysfunction -- which is defined as "the inability to attain and maintain an erection of sufficient quality to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse” -- affects approximately 5% of men in the U.S., according to Scientific Reports: Nature Research. A study using data from more than 1 million people from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database found that chronic sinusitis is associated with increased risk of erectile dysfunction. According to the report, treating sinusitis surgically significantly decreases erectile dysfunction in patients.

Yahoo! Sports reported that men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are as much as 50% more likely to be impotent compared to men who do not suffer from sinusitis, citing a report from Kaohsiung University in Taiwan. The study found that when sinusitis inflames the lining of the sinuses, it causes the blood vessels in men's genitals to restrict blood flow.

While some people might seek medication to try to alleviate their sinus symptoms, medications such as Sudafed or other cold medications can also cause erectile dysfunction, according to Men's Journal.

However, people who suffer from sinusitis have several surgical treatment options, including endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty, according to WebMD. Endoscopy is a common procedure, during which doctors insert thin, flexible instruments called endoscopes into the nose. One instrument has a small camera lens that sends images back to a screen, allowing a doctor to see where the sinuses are blocked and guide the other instruments to gently remove polyps, scar tissue and other blockages.

Because there is no incision, recovery time is typically relatively short. Endoscopy is usually done with a local anesthetic, meaning the area will be made numb and the patient remains awake. 

Another newer treatment is balloon sinuplasty, which is a good option for patients who don't need anything removed from the sinuses. The doctor puts a thin tube into the nose with a small balloon attached to one end. The doctor then guides the balloon to the blocked area inside the nose and inflates it. The balloon helps clear the passageway so the sinuses can drain properly, alleviating congestion.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.