Alcohol and potency – does alcohol affect erection?
Excessive alcohol consumption may produce negative effects on a man’s sexual performance. It may delay or completely inhibit an erection. It also adversely affects libido and a man’s mental condition. Too much alcohol makes a man more vulnerable to stress, various types of fears, and depressive states, which are not conducive to an active sexual life.
Alcohol is not an ally of male vital strength; it is estimated that as much as 85% of men with alcohol dependence have problems with their sexual life. In some, the problems are manifested as impotence (in more than half of alcoholics), others suffer from low libido or lack of ejaculation after alcohol. Frequent consumption of strong alcoholic drinks devastates the entire body, leads to changes in the hormone and vascular systems, to blood sugar fluctuations and to testicular atrophy, as well as lesions within the liver. It all affects the quality of sexual life and reproductive performance. People who often drink alcohol must be aware that sooner or later they may develop erectile dysfunction (ED). What is more, the problems occur not only when they are under the influence of alcohol, but also when they are sober.
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Alcohol and erections – how does it work?
Research conducted by scientists from Washington University indicates that intoxicated men need more time to have an erection than sober men. It is caused by the fact that alcohol inhibits reactions to external stimuli which are necessary to trigger the erection mechanisms (a stronger stimulation is often needed). Furthermore, alcohol affects the blood system and dysregulates the blood pressure needed to achieve and maintain an erection, it disturbs the thinking processes, and reduces desire for sex.
Effect of alcohol on potency – alcohol-related impotence
Erectile dysfunction after alcohol frequently stems from liver diseases, such as liver cirrhosis, alcohol-related liver steatosis, or alcohol-related hepatitis, as well as pancreatic diseases. Each of those diseases may manifest itself by erectile dysfunction, while in alcohol dependence – by alcohol-related impotency. This is caused by the fact that liver plays an important role in the metabolism of a hormone that is responsible for, among others, the sexual drive and potency – namely testosterone. In case of liver dysfunction, blood testosterone level decreases, which leads to impotency and the lack of desire for sex.
Read also: Vitamins for men – which ones to improve fertility?
Erectile dysfunction after alcohol – circulatory system disorders
Ethanol in alcoholic drinks has an enormous influence on the quality and duration of an erection because it dilates blood vessels and, thus, reduces the blood supply to the penile cavernous bodies. And when there is no rapid supply of blood to the penis, which is then retained inside the penis, there is no chance for an erection, even if a man is strongly aroused. Heavy drinking also leads to arterial hypertensions, one of the main diseases which accompany erectile dysfunction. It must be noted, however, that small amounts of alcohol may help in problems with erection, as low doses dilate the small blood vessels, facilitating the flow of blood through those vessels and reducing the diastolic pressure.
No erection after alcohol – nervous system down
There is also no chance for an erection when the transmission of stimuli from the central nervous system to male reproductive parts is disturbed. Such dangerous changes in the nervous system, including nerve fibre damage, may be caused by high doses of alcohol. Neuropathy, which results from long-term alcohol consumption, makes it impossible for stimuli sent by the pituitary gland to reach the reproductive organs properly. Remember that alcohol may also devastate blood vessels located in the penis itself.
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Alcohol and erection – mental disorders
Excessive drinking also makes sexual encounters more difficult and leads to behavioural changes, sometimes to permanent personality changes. Besides aggression, alcohol may induce anxiety.
An alcoholic:
- has difficulties concentrating,
- cannot assess a situation rationally,
- stops caring for their looks,
- does not take care of their relationship, which is a source of conflicts.
What is more, alcohol abuse is often accompanied by depressive states, lower self-esteem, and general lack of interest in sex. Additionally, alcohol abuse is more often than not associated with factors contributing to erectile dysfunction, such as heavy smoking, obesity, drug use.
Alcohol-related impotence – treatment
It is estimated that even as much as 70% of male heavy drinkers are under the risk of alcohol-related impotence, while half of alcohol-dependent men suffer from the disorder. The first step in treating the alcohol-related impotence is, obviously, total abstinence. Erectile dysfunction may also be treated in such patients in a similar way as in other men. Doctors, then, prescribe medications which clear the blood vessels in the cavernous bodies of the penis. The medications are phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and include the following:
- sildenafil
- wardenafil
- avanafil
- tadalafil
The effectiveness of the inhibitors is high and the expected result may be achieved even after 30 minutes from taking a pill (in some cases, the effects continue for up to 36 hours). Remember, however, that alcohol inhibits the action of those drugs.
Read also: Problems with erection at a young age – what to do?
Beer and potency
Although small doses of weaker alcohol may positively affect a sexual life because they help to overcome sexual restraints, increase libido, and boost self-esteem a little – drinking beer may turn out be a trap. Why? It turns out that frequent beer consumption has negative effects on male potency. Phytoestrogens (with similar influence as female hormones called estrogens) contained in hop may lead to undesirable effects in men, such as:
- reduced testosterone production,
- muscle mass loss and abdominal and gluteal fat gain,
- hair loss,
- cellulite,
- gynecomastia.
Those changes have aggravating effects on self-esteem and may disturb the sexual life of a beer-lover.
Read also: Problems with erection – what causes erectile dysfunction?
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