Can Alcohol Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

by: karinmanning
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Alcohol does have its advantages and taking it in moderate amounts (1 to 2 shots each day) can be useful to the body. It has been shown that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol every day can help to decrease the likelihood of having coronary heart disease and stroke.

The abuse of alcohol however is a completely different thing. Alcohol abuse is seen as a primary reason for erectile dysfunction. This is because alcohol will widen the blood vessels keeping those to your penis open which in turn causes a failed erection.

Alcohol and its effects will differ for each person depending on how much is consumed. The more that is consumed over time, the greater the sexual effects will be. Studies have shown that abusing alcohol can result in:

Difficulties reaching and keeping an erection

Problems ejaculating

A reduction in sexual desire

Infertility

The sexual side effects of alcohol abuse have been estimated at up to 25% of abusers. Some 55% of them have reported having problems reaching and keeping an erection. Up to 57% of them also report having reduced sexual desire.

There are many studies that support the view that alcohol abuse can result in a reduction in testosterone production and testicular atrophy, which in turn can lead to impotence, and erectile dysfunction.

It has been argued that consuming alcohol in has the effect of stronger sexual desire. Even thought this may be true the long term effects of abusibng alcohol are far reaching as it affects erections.

This abuse can bring about erectile dysfunction quickly since alcohol is the main cause of hypertension and diabetes which can lead to erectile dysfunction.

High blood pressure goes hand in hand with increased alcohol consumption and if this state is allowed to continue then it may lead to a damaging of the blood vessels that take blood to the penis. Once damaged, these blood vessels will cause erectile dysfunction to occur.

The abuse of alcohol over an extended period of time usually results in some major changes within the body. The impulses that connect the pituitary glands and the genitals are greatly affect with alcohol abuse.

Studies show that this will result in problems of erectile dysfunction. An erection is in part caused by the nervous system through the dilation of the blood vessel in the penis which allows blood to fill them up resulting in the penis swelling.

When alcohol is abused the nervous system will eventually be damaged and this will lead to blood vessels not being able to dilate. Over time it will lead to an erection problem that will persist even when alcohol is no longer being consumed.

It is not known whether or not the effects of alcohol abuse on erections can be reversed and thus normal erections may never return. There are studies that suggest that in a small proportion of men some sexual functioning is possible. This may however have been due to other lifestyle changes that had taken place.

About the Author

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