Alcohol and Erectile Dysfunction
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At Moorgate Andrology we get asked a lot about erections. How big should the erection be, how long should an erection last, and what effect does too much alcohol have on erections?
Erections are very important to men, and when there is a problem with them, men get worried, very quickly. There are many medical conditions and medications that can affect erection quality, but what if the problem is alcohol?
Is there such a thing as erection problems because of too much alcohol?
Well, studies have clearly demonstrated that too much alcohol in the system can affect the quality of the erection. If a man it drunk, then he may not be able to get an erection at all. If he can get an erection it may not be possible to keep one long enough for sexual intercourse.
The reason for this is that erections are controlled by the brain. It is the brain that controls the blood flow to the penis. And it is the blood flow that makes the penis erect. If the messages from the brain are not getting to the penis, then there is no way that an erection will happen.
Too much alcohol can also affect testosterone levels. Testosterone is a very important hormone in terms of male sexual function.
It is not only the erections though that can be impacted by heavy drinking, it can have much more far-reaching issues with the genitals. For example, it can cause the penis to get smaller.
When a guy has drunk too much he may find it difficult to control his orgasm. For example, he may ejaculate too quickly ( premature ejaculation ) or he may find that he cannot ejaculate at all.
We also see men at Moorgate Andrology who have low libido levels after long periods of heavy drinking.
Thankfully, help is at hand if drinking has gotten out of hand. There are many groups that can help with excessive drinking and Urologists can also help in terms of getting the erections back on track.
Temporary Erectile Dysfunction
Are you noticing that your erections are not as strong as they were ?. Maybe you can get an erection but it does not seem to last long enough for full sexual intercourse.
When this happens it can be quick a shock. The good news is that not all erectile dysfunction is permanent. Many men suffer temporary erectile dysfunction, which sorts itself out with no treatment at all in some cases, or in other cases, all that is needed is some counseling or short-term treatment.
Have you been feeling stressed recently ?. Pressures at work or at home can result in some elements of erectile dysfunction. When these issues are addressed, the erections will usually return to normal.
Make sure that if you are suffering from bouts of stress that you take action to resolve it. Your erections will thank you for it!
Other factors that can temporarily affect the quality of your erection include a poor diet. A poor diet can lead to the narrowing of the arteries. This can impact the blood flow to the penis. Make sure that you pay attention to your diet if you want to ensure good, strong erections.
Also, take a close look at your alcohol intake. Drinking too much alcohol can have an adverse effect on your erections. Do you smoke ?. If you smoke try to stop or at least cut down on the number of cigarettes you smoke each day. Smoking can narrow the arteries, again reducing blood flow to the penis. When blood flow to the penis is reduced it can lead to erectile dysfunction. By cutting down on smoking and alcohol intake you can reverse erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction can be a vicious cycle once it appears. Worries about being able to perform can make erectile dysfunction worse. It’s really important to seek help as soon as you notice your erections waning. One of the things that the medics will want to do is rule out any underlying cause of your ED, that’s why it is strongly advisable to get checked out as soon as possible.
Contact either your GP or a Urologist, both will be able to help you.
Long Term Erectile Dysfunction
Have you experienced long-term erectile dysfunction? Sometimes, it can seem that nothing you try improves your erections. In some cases, the erections improve marginally with treatment, but not enough to achieve a strong erection, one that is hard enough for penetrative sex.
In most cases, doctors will advise either penis pumps or so-called “first-line” treatments such as sildenafil or tadalafil to help improve erections for those diagnosed with erectile dysfunction for the first time.
For many patients these options can work quite well, sometimes they work well at first, and then the efficacy wanes and suddenly it seems the erections are once again too weak.
From this point on, other options include self-administered injections of a drug called prostaglandin.
These have been available for some time and can be a reasonable option for patients who are struggling to get optimum results from oral medications or penis pumps.
Some men however don’t like the injections as they find them painful. Others cannot cope with the interference it can cause in lovemaking, as at some point you have to administer the injection prior to penetrative sex.
If this is the case for you, or you find that the injections are not working anymore, then you may consider a penile implant. Most men who consider a penile implant are at the point of long-term erectile dysfunction as they have usually tried everything before they get to the point of thinking about a penile implant.
When everything else has failed to work, a penile implant can be a very good option. Although all erections going forward would be a mechanical erection, you will know that you will indeed get an erection strong enough for sexual intercourse when you want one. Penile implants are placed under general anaesthesia in a surgical procedure that takes around one to two hours. The operation is performed by a Urologist, an expert in genital surgery.
If you feel that you are now in a position of long-term erectile dysfunction get in touch with us without delay. Our team of Urologists will be able to review the treatment that you have been using to date and suggest ways in which your erections can once again get back on track.
What is the next step?
If you are suffering from erection problems as a result of drinking alcohol, then contact us without delay. We can arrange a consultation and assessment with a Moorgate Andrology Urologist at a clinic close to you. The sooner you act the sooner you can start enjoying your sex life once again.
Get in touch by phone or complete the enquiry form on this page.