Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 19, 2025 7 hours, 53 minutes ago
Medical News: How the SARS-CoV-2 Virus May Accelerate Symptoms of Prostate Enlargement
A new medical review is drawing attention to a surprising and often overlooked consequence of COVID-19—its potential to worsen prostate issues in older men. Researchers from “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy and various departments at “Saint John” Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, Romania, have uncovered growing evidence suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 can directly affect the prostate, aggravating symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—a common non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate in aging men.
COVID-19 Worsens Prostate Conditions in Older Men
The study found that the virus enters the prostate through ACE2 receptors, the same molecular gateways it uses in the lungs and kidneys. Once inside the prostate, SARS-CoV-2 can trigger inflammation and disrupt hormonal balances.
This
Medical News report shows that such inflammation and hormonal disruption may worsen lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which include frequent urination, weak stream, and difficulty emptying the bladder—classic signs of BPH.
Key Findings Reveal Alarming Mechanisms
According to the review, SARS-CoV-2 can aggravate prostate enlargement in four key ways. First, it uses the ACE2 receptor to infect prostate cells, which could lead to direct damage and accelerate growth of prostate tissue. Second, the virus may interfere with androgen (male hormone) signaling—a crucial element in BPH development. Third, COVID-19 causes a surge of pro-inflammatory molecules called cytokines, which inflame the prostate and worsen symptoms. Fourth, the virus is linked to new cases of diabetes and heart conditions, both of which are known to worsen prostate problems.
Interestingly, the virus also appears to reduce ACE2 activity in the prostate. This reduction weakens the body’s ability to produce a protective molecule called Angiotensin (1–7), which normally helps reduce inflammation. As a result, patients may experience faster progression of BPH symptoms after recovering from COVID-19.
Inflammation and Hormones at the Core
The review also highlights that patients with existing metabolic disorders like diabetes or hypertension are more likely to experience severe BPH complications if they contract COVID-19. In older men especially, this connection is even stronger. The study cited a large cohort analysis showing that COVID-19-infected men had higher rates of urinary retention, infections, blood in urine, and needed more combination therapies for symptom relief.
Androgen receptors—targets of male hormones—also appear to play a role. COVID-19 may alter their expression, triggering inflammation and contributing to worsening BPH symptoms. There’s debate, however, over whether medications like 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (commonly used for BPH) increase or reduce COVID severity.
Doctors Urged to Monit
or Prostate Health Post COVID
The study concludes that doctors should closely monitor prostate health in older men who’ve had COVID-19. Identifying which patients are at risk of worsened BPH symptoms after infection could help guide long-term care strategies. Though more research is needed, the evidence suggests that COVID-19 does not simply stop at the lungs—it may also drive silent but serious changes in urological health.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Mædica – a Journal of Clinical Medicine
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40677668/
https://www.maedica.ro/articles/2025/1/2025_20(23)_No1_pg112-116.pdf
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Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/researchers-from-china-explore-the-connection-between-prostatic-diseases-and-covid-19
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/malaysian-researchers-warn-that-covid-19-can-cause-prostatitis
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-covid-19-news-largest-male-study-to-date-reveals-that-sars-cov-2-deteriorates-prostate-and-urological-health
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-latest-mount-sinai-urologists-advocate-that-men-with-prostate-cancer-be-screened-for-covid-19-routinely-due-to-severity-and-mortality-risk
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