Erectile Dysfunction versus Alcoholism

Alcoholism will inevitably lead to sexual problems in a relationship. For men, this most often means problems getting and sustaining an erection, even when sober.

How does alcoholism cause sexual problems?

Alcoholism can adversely affect libido and cause erection difficulties.

Defining what constitutes alcoholism is not easy, because it has to cover several related factors.

• There are the toxic effects of too much alcohol consumed over the short and long term on many body tissues – particularly the liver, brain and nervous system.
  
  
• There are also the social consequences of alcoholism to consider.
  
  

For many alcoholics, the disruption of their personal lives can be more immediately obvious and important than the chemical changes occurring inside them.

If either partner in a relationship is an alcoholic, then sexual difficulties will almost certainly be one of the consequences of the problem.

For men, this most commonly manifests itself as erectile dysfunction (ED), which can be present even when you are sober.

Alcoholism also has an adverse effect upon libido: long-standing alcoholism is accompanied by various hormone problems, among which is a fall in testosterone output.

Sex is unlikely to be an attractive activity for anyone with an inebriated partner and is just one aspect of the relationship problems that alcoholism brings.

Alcoholism and psychiatric illness

In addition to the direct effects of excess alcohol, many alcoholics also have significant psychiatric illness, the most common being depression.

Many depressed people also turn to drinking to give short-term relief of depression, only to find that alcohol doesn’t help - but the consumption can rapidly get out of control.

The elderly are a section of the population that is growing in numbers, but in whom loneliness and depression are common and often not recognised.

Increasing age and the presence of depression are both strongly associated with erectile dysfunction.