How Smoking Affects Men's Sexual Health

March-14, 2023

Smoking can have an impact on a person's fertility, libido, and sexual performance. Smokers of cigars, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products are also likely to have negative consequences.

Impotence, often known as erectile dysfunction (ED), is caused by a variety of psychological and physical causes. Smoking cigarettes is one of them. Given that smoking can harm blood vessels and that ED frequently results from inadequate arterial blood supply to the penis, this is not surprising. Happily, if you stop smoking, your performance and vascular health will certainly improve.

Smoking and your blood vessels

Smoking has numerous health hazards. Cigarette smoking can harm nearly every organ in your body. Cigarette smoke contains substances that harm the lining of your blood vessels and impair their function. These substances can also injure your heart, brain, kidneys, and other body tissues.

The impact of cigarette compounds on the blood vessels in the penis poses a risk to your erectile health. Erection occurs when the arteries of the penis swell and fill with blood in response to signals from the penis' nerves. The nerves respond to brain-generated sexual desire impulses. Even if the neurological system is functioning well, an erection may be physically impossible if the blood vessels are unhealthy as a result of smoking.

Effects of Smoking on Sexual Function

ED (erectile dysfunction):

Tobacco use harms the vascular system, which is essential in the process of enabling erections. Erections require adequate blood flow to the penis, so men who smoke are more prone to have ED because smoking destroys blood vessels and prevents them from working properly. Furthermore, according to the findings of a study presented at one of the American Heart Association's Annual Conferences on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, the more a person smokes, the greater their risk of ED. Men who smoked more than 20 cigarettes daily had a 60% higher risk of ED in this study than guys who never smoked.

Happily, quitting smoking can enhance erectile function. One prospective study found that ex-smokers had a 25% improvement in ED one year after quitting, compared to no change in current smokers.

Reduced genital response:

Although research in this area is very limited, preliminary findings suggest that nicotine may dramatically diminish the genital arousal response in generally stimulating conditions. One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over research found that women who took 6 mg of nicotine 40 minutes before seeing an erotic film had a 30% reduction in physiological sexual desire.

Smoking is damaging to sex hormones (androgens and estrogens), which can also dull sexual response and decrease vaginal lubrication in women. Finally, the decreased blood supply to the genitals due to damaged blood vessels may limit sensitivity and impede sexual response.

Fertility decline:

Smoking has been shown to reduce fertility in both men and women. Cigarette smoking has been associated with lower sperm volume, count, and motility in men (capability of movement). For women, smoking has been linked to lower ovarian function, fewer eggs, and an increased risk of early menopause.

Physical stamina decline and other factors:

Because smoking hastens the deterioration of a functioning lung, several smokers start to lose breath faster and exhibit decreased endurance for strenuous pursuits. This could also have an effect on their stamina during sex. Physical changes, such as stained teeth and foul breath, may also turn off potential romantic partners.

Seeking Assistance

The earlier you address ED, the sooner you will discover a solution. Schedule a visit with a urologist or men's health specialist if you don't have a primary care physician. ED is a relatively prevalent medical condition. Nonetheless, you may be recommended that one of the things you should do is stop smoking.

If you've tried and failed to quit smoking in the past, don't give up hope. Try a different approach this time. To help you quit smoking, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute suggest the following steps:

- Put together a list of the reasons you would like to quit and why previous attempts to quit failed.

- Draw your attention away from your smoking triggers, such as alcohol or coffee use.

- Get assistance from friends and family. It is acceptable to recognize that you need aid in quitting a strong addiction such as smoking.

- See your physician regarding prescription and over-the-counter drugs for smoking cessation. If a medicine appears to be a good option, follow the medication's directions.

- Discover new smoking alternatives and activities that can distract you from cigarette cravings, such as exercise or hobbies, to keep your hands and mind occupied.

- Be prepared to experience cravings and setbacks. Just because you make a mistake and smoke a cigarette doesn't mean you can't go back on track and succeed.