There’s been a lot of talk around concussions these days, especially around professional, college, and high school sports. But what about everyday guys who happen to find themselves with one? Can a hit in the noggin conk out your sex life? As it turns out, it just might. Researchers at Harvard took a look at the connection that multiple studies had pointed out over the years and went to work to see if concussions really could affect penis health. It turns out, they can.

What is a concussion?

A concussion is defined as a brain injury that is caused by a blow to the head or a violent shaking of the body. People can lose consciousness, but that is not required to be classified as having a concussion. Other symptoms include headache, loss of balance, memory loss, dizziness, sleepiness, confusion, lack of coordination, and excessive fatigue. There is no cure for a concussion. Only rest and the restriction of activities can allow the brain to recover.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, also known as ED, is a penis health condition in which a man is unable to summon an erection or maintain one for the duration of sex to completion 25 or more percent of the time. While more common in men over 40, with risk rising steadily for a man in his 60s and higher, young men can also suffer from ED. Erectile dysfunction is caused by a wide variety of things spanning many physical and psychological issues. Treatment is possible, and oftentimes, very successful in reversing the disease.

How are the two linked?

Researchers at Harvard Medical School conducted a new study that surveyed more than 3400 former NFL players. They were “tipped off” to a possible correlation between ED and concussions by older studies, such as those done on boxers and military men, which showed that repeated head trauma leads to hormone dysfunction, which eventually leads to erectile dysfunction. However, these studies were quite small, so the Harvard researchers knew they had to find a large, reliable test group to see if correlation did indeed imply causation.

The researchers did find that football players who did experience concussive symptoms after a head trauma were more likely to have low testosterone or erectile dysfunction. They believe the trauma causes something called “post-traumative hypopituitarism” (say that fast 5 times). Basically, the pituitary gland, the major hormone controller, sits in a very vulnerable spot in the brain. When the head is hit, the blood vessels and neuronal connections around the pituitary gland get bruised and injured, so they bring less blood to the pituitary gland, which, in turn, doesn’t send the signal to make testosterone, and without the ’rone, there is no bone(r).

But these are former NFL players, not average everyday guys who don’t bang into other big dudes for a living. Surely this can’t affect John Q. Public down the lane.

Sorry, but yeah, it does. Studies have found that just one bad concussion, the kind that lands you in the hospital, can cause your penis health to take a major hit. And to make matters more dire, the more concussions he has, the more likely his penis health will worsen and the more likely his sausage will stay shrunk.

Maintain Penis Health With These Tips

In addition to keeping your head and body safe, there are other ways to improve and maintain optimal penis health. Always practice safe sex. Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and never miss an annual exam. Also, get plenty of sleep so you get the 3 to 4 nighttime erections that promote penis health and function. Also keep your penis clean by washing thoroughly with a mild cleanser, being sure to get all the folds and wrinkles, and rinsing well.

Don’t forget to finish off this good grooming regimen with a specially formulated penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Choose an oil that includes a variety of vitamins and nutrients that promote penis health and ingredients like L-arginine and vitamin C to boost blood flow for strong erections, and who doesn’t want those?