Unexpected Consequences of Concussion
Concussions, a form of mild traumatic brain injury, are one of our study’s top research priorities, which includes exploring how head trauma can affect other key areas of former player health, including sexual health and testosterone levels.
What the Science Says
Our analysis of 3,400 former players indicates that concussions and other conditions that disproportionately affect former NFL players may have adverse effects on sexual health.
Specifically, we found that:
- Former players who sustained more concussion symptoms during their playing years (loss of consciousness, disorientation, nausea, etc.) were more likely to experience erectile dysfunction (ED) later in life.
- Former players who sustained more concussion symptoms also had a greater likelihood of being diagnosed with low testosterone, a condition which is thought to lead to ED and poorer overall health.
- Sleep apnea, prescription pain medication use, hypertension, and obesity additionally increased former players’ risk for ED and low testosterone.
The findings from our former football player study mirror what has been seen in head-injured military veterans and professional boxers. Strong associations between head injury and ED have also been found in civilians with just a single traumatic brain injury. This evidence, along with our findings, suggest that ED and hormone dysfunction may be the result of physically-based issues brought on by repeated head injury.
Action Items for Former Players
While more research is clearly needed, there are many things you can do to improve your sexual health:
- ED is highly treatable and can also be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as heart disease. If you are experiencing ED or other symptoms of poor sexual health, talk to your doctor about these concerns and how you can address them.
- Sleep apnea, hypertension, low testosterone, and obesity can significantly increase your risk for ED. Work with your doctor to assess these. Treating even just one issue may lead to significant improvements in sexual health as well as other important health areas.