Microplastics Discovered in Penises and Semen Raises Erectile Dysfunction Questions

Microplastics have been extracted from penises for the first time, with scientists raising alarm about their effect on sexual health. A study that assessed the tissue from six men who had undergone surgery treating erectile dysfunction was published in the science journal Nature.

In 80% of the samples examined, seven types of microplastics were identified with some types as small as two micrometres or two thousandths of a millimetre.

In the study, scientists commented, “The detection of microplastics in penile tissue raises inquiries on the ramifications of environmental pollutants on sexual health,”

About half of the microplastics extracted were polyethylene terephthalate, which is often used to make clothes drinks and food packaging. Polypropylene, a hard microplastic often used in packaging formed about 34.7% of the substances.

Researchers shared that some of the plastics were as large as a millimetre

“Our study presents a ground-breaking investigation into the presence of microplastics in penile tissue,”

“By shedding light on the presence of microplastics in human tissues, our research adds a crucial dimension to the ongoing discourse about the effects of environmental pollutants on human health, with a specific focus on male sexual health.”

Dr Ranjith Ramasany, who led the research shared that more studies are needed to investigate if microplastics are likely to cause erectile dysfunction. He said,

“Since we know it lingers in the penis, we need to now focus on research that could explain the mechanism,”

“We were not surprised by the findings because of previous studies demonstrating the presence of microplastics in the heart and blood vessels.”

Microplastics enter the human body through the air we breathe, water and food or even through touch. The microplastics were found in blood for the first time in 2022. Recent research shows their contamination is linked to more severe conditions.