Dear Alice,
I know all the effects smoking has on the body, but nobody seems to have information on what it does to your sex life.
–Mrs. Curious
Dear Mrs. Curious,
You are right to assume that smoking affects one’s sex life. In fact, several studies have found that there is a link between smoking and difficulties getting an erection. Unfortunately, there is little research on the effects of smoking on women’s sexual health, but the reason behind the strong link between smoking and male impotence can be presumed to affect women too.
Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it tightens blood vessels and restricts blood flow. In the long term, it has even been shown to cause permanent damage to arteries. Since a man’s erection depends on blood flow, researchers assumed smoking would affect erections. Studies have confirmed this time and again. It needs to be noted that most of these men were older, and smoking is considered just one cause of erectile dysfunction. The others include stress, hypertension, alcoholism, diabetes, and prostate surgery.
So what does this mean for women? During sexual arousal, the labia, clitoris and vagina also swell up with blood, enhancing sensation and arousal. It can be assumed that nicotine restricts blood flow in women as it does in men and may have a negative effect on sensation.
–Alice
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Readers should not rely on information in Go Ask Alice! features for diagnosis or treatment and should always consult a health-care provider to identify and treat any medical or other health condition. Send questions at www.goaskalice.columbia.edu.
Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Kris Karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com)
