Sex may be pervasive in our popular culture, but conversations about it are still associated with stigma and shame in Indian homes. As a result, most individuals dealing with sexual health issues or trying to find information about sex often resort to unverified online sources or follow unscientific advice from their friends.
To dispel widespread misinformation about sex, News18.com is running this weekly sex column, titled ‘Let’s Talk Sex’. We hope to start the conversation about sex with this column and address issues of sexual health with scientific insight and nuance.
The column is being written by Sexologist Prof (Dr) Summary Jain. In today’s column, Dr. Jain explains the effects of tobacco use and smoking on your sexual health and fertility.
It is impossible to know whether using tobacco or smoking is harmful to our health. It increases the risk of lung cancer, chronic lung disease, heart disease and much more that come with lung cancer. But are you more likely to quit if you’ve learned that it can affect your abilities in the bedroom, too?
Smoking is a common habit among men in both urban and rural India. The last few decades have also seen a significant increase in the number of female smokers. We all know that smoking adds a significant cost burden to one’s finances, health and relationships. It is recognized as the most important preventable cause of poor health and disease.
‘Remember, the best way to spoil your health is to smoke.’
There are many elements and almost thousands of chemicals that are known to cause cancer when lit cigarettes. Several researches have also demonstrated a connection between cigarette smoking and serious health conditions. Perhaps few people know the effect that smoking can have on a person’s sexual function.
The following are ways in which smoking can affect your sexual health.
impotence
Blood circulation is greatly affected by your smoking habits. It is a possible reason behind many serious health problems like heart disease, stroke and heart attack. Therefore, ED is not an exception here.
Erectile dysfunction is a major sexual problem in men that occurs due to insufficient blood flow to the male genitals. Penis may not be enlarged or erect for a long time due to difficulty in filling blood. Smoking damages the vascular system which is important in the process of facilitating an erection. Erection requires good blood flow to the penis, so men who smoke are more likely to experience ED because smoking damages blood vessels and prevents them from working as well as they should.
decreased libido
Tobacco directly affects testosterone levels in men and women. It becomes a major cause of low libido in men. Cigarette smoking increases the level of carbon monoxide in the body which inhibits the production of testosterone, ultimately reducing libido. As a result, the average ejaculation time is much shorter for smokers than for non-smokers.
infertility
Smoking challenges fertility in many ways. Smokers are more likely to experience infertility than non-smokers. This fact applies equally to both men and women. Men who smoke have low sperm counts, slow sperm movement and abnormalities in the shape and function of sperm. In women, smoking accelerates egg loss and accelerates infertility. Cigarette smoke also interferes with the ovary cells’ ability to make estrogen and leads to more eggs with genetic abnormalities. Tobacco causes damage to the DNA of eggs and sperm. In addition to men experiencing fertility problems, women who are addicted to smoking are less likely to conceive because of the harm caused by tobacco products. Nicotine, carbon monoxide and cyanide are the reasons behind egg spoilage.
You could say that getting or maintaining an erection is not just a problem imposed by tobacco. Such problems can be cured, but they cannot solve your infertility issues.
decreased physical endurance
Because smoking accelerates the decline in lung function, many smokers end up breathing more quickly and have less stamina for physical tasks. It can also affect their stamina during sex. Additionally, physical changes such as discolored teeth and bad breath may make it unsuitable for potential romantic partners.
penis shrinkage
Smoking shortens the penis over time. As mentioned earlier, smoking hinders blood circulation in many parts of the body. It becomes difficult to achieve spontaneous erection or erection at night which keeps the penis stretched and maintains its good health. Such changes may not be observed over time, but when it does, you have come a long way.
Increases risk of certain sexually transmitted diseases
Many different diseases, such as sexually transmitted diseases, or Peyronie’s disease, an abnormality of the penis, can be activated or aggravated by tobacco. Researchers have also found a link between tobacco exposure and the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus. This virus is generally believed to increase the risk of mouth and throat cancer.
What is the solution?
Smoking is a dangerous to health. It is more than a proverb. Tobacco has serious effects on male and female sexual health. Apart from reducing the average life expectancy, it affects the overall health of a person.
However, if you can’t quit smoking, you already know what negative changes you can make in your peaceful life. This becomes one of the main reasons for the confusion of relationships. Quitting smoking can make a positive difference and get your life back on track.
If you need help or advice to quit smoking, contact a trusted counselor or health care professional.
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