Space flight may increase erectile dysfunction among astronauts

Rats that experienced a simulation of microgravity and cosmic radiation showed signs of erectile dysfunction a year later

By Chen Ly

22 November 2023

Being in space may take its toll on astronauts’ health

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Extended bouts in space could raise men’s risk of erectile dysfunction due to the effects of microgravity and cosmic radiation, according to experiments in rats.

The coming decades may see the return of crewed missions beyond Earth orbit. The US, for example, hopes to have astronauts walking on the moon again by 2025 and even aspires to set up a permanent base there. Meanwhile, talks of sending the first people to Mars have been ongoing for years.

But being in space may have some strange effects on our health. Previous research shows that microgravity reduces astronauts’ heart rates and blood pressure, with some even developing vision problems.

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Now, Justin La Favor at Florida State University and his colleagues have found that space flight may lead to erectile dysfunction.

The team first simulated microgravity in rats via so-called hindlimb unloading. This involved lifting the back legs of 43 male rats and tilting them to a 30-degree angle, keeping them in this position for four weeks. A further 43 male rats were free to behave as normal in cages.

Within both groups of rats, different animals were exposed to varying amounts of a cosmic radiation simulation, made up of protons and ions: high levels, low levels or none at all.