Can Alcohol Lead to Erectile Dysfunction?

March 18, 2021

5 mins

Occasional drinks during social gatherings like hanging with friends is a common and perfectly safe thing to do. In fact, there is research to indicate that drinking in moderation can be beneficial to your overall health. Alcoholic beverages like wine are full of antioxidants that help defend your body against oxidative damage which can be a component of many different conditions. 

While beneficial in moderation, alcohol can have negative impacts when people develop a dependence or drink excessively on a daily basis. Alcohol dependency is one of the most common forms of addiction and has devastating impacts on people's lives. Not only is alcohol addiction harmful to your body, but it often will impact the relationships and people surrounding that individual. 

Below is a discussion surrounding alcohol consumption as well as how it relates to your overall and sexual health. Through this article, you will gain a deeper insight into the effects that alcohol consumption can have on your body as well as how it can affect your sex life. The article also goes into other lifestyle choices that could cause erectile dysfunction. 

Revitalize your intimacy discreetly.

Explore our ED treatment options.

Get Started

How Much Alcohol is Too Much?

At some point, you have most likely run into a situation where you drank more alcohol than you planned. The morning after a fun night out at the bar can quickly remind you what your limit is for alcohol. A pounding headache and hangover indicate that you have exceeded your limit. 

The interesting thing about alcohol consumption is that the general amount and tolerance an individual has toward it varies from person to person. Factors like weight, gender, body fat, and more all play a role in how much alcohol you can tolerate. 

How much alcohol is too much varies based on your specific anatomy and how you drink. If you have a carbohydrate-rich meal with or before drinking, you can most likely tolerate more while if you are on an empty stomach you will most likely be able to tolerate less. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that men should aim to stick to two alcoholic drinks or less a day. This recommendation is based on data, but it should be noted that it is simply a recommendation. It is up to your discretion to understand your limitations and try your best not to overindulge. 

When Does Alcohol Consumption Become a Problem?

While occasional drinking doesn’t pose an immediate threat to your health, overconsumption and addiction certainly can. Alcoholism is a dangerous dependency on alcohol that is facilitated by continual and frequent drinking. When addicted to alcohol it can be difficult to quit as withdrawal symptoms can be quite intense. 

While alcoholism represents the extreme of drinking, consuming it on a regular and routine basis is not great for your overall health. 

One of the most popular alcoholic beverages is beer. While nice after a long day at the office or at the worksite, beer is one of the more calorie-dense alcoholic beverages. Some craft beers can even be as much as 350 calories per serving. 

When daily alcohol consumption is paired with an inactive lifestyle, beer can be a source of excessive calorie intake which can lead to weight gain. Studies have linked increased levels of alcohol consumption to an increased probability of obesity. 

Drinking becomes a problem when it begins interfering with your health and daily activities. Alcohol addiction and alcohol-linked weight gain are two indicators that drinking may be posing a problem to you. There are resources and alternatives available to you if it is needed. 

What Does Alcohol Do to the Body?

If you have ever had too much to drink, you most likely felt the symptoms associated with being tipsy. Coordination, inhibition, and higher level functioning of the brain slow when alcohol is consumed. These effects lead to being drunk and are a reason that some people make poor decisions while drinking. 

Alcohol also acts as a diuretic which causes water loss in the human body. Dehydration is a key component of why hangovers occur. When you drink you lose water through urination more readily. If you are not rehydrating, this leads to a dehydration headache which is a common symptom of hangovers. 

Another way alcohol affects your body is that it needs to be filtered out of your body through the liver. If you are a heavy drinker, it can overload the filtration ability of the liver and lead to liver problems. 

How Alcohol Causes Sexual Dysfunction

With the basics of alcohol consumption out of the way, you are probably still wondering if alcohol has an impact on your sexual health. 

Many studies have been conducted surrounding this and it has been found that alcohol dependence is linked to the development of sexual dysfunction. The research found that the most common dysfunction associated with alcohol consumption was premature ejaculation. This was closely followed by an increased chance of erectile dysfunction and an increased chance of low libido. 

These findings are not all that surprising as drinking in excess contributes to many physiological changes within the body. Slowed brain activity, dehydration, and loss of inhibition can all impact your sexual performance and health. Based on the research excessive drinking can lead to sexual dysfunction but moderate drinking is not particularly linked with sexual dysfunction. 

Can You Take ED Medication If You Consume Alcohol?

Romantic evenings can typically include a romantic alcoholic beverage paired with a nice meal. If you have ED, you may be wondering if you should skip the alcohol.

If you have a habit of drinking in excess, it is not recommended to take ED medication. Certain health conditions may worsen while on ED medications.

While it is not recommended to take Viagra® with alcohol, drinking in moderation is usually acceptable when taking ED medication. However, be sure to follow any advice from your healthcare provider on whether you should drink while taking the medication.

If you have questions about interactions with your ED medication, reach out to a licensed medical professional to ensure you are receiving safe and effective treatment. 

What are Other Causes of Erectile Dysfunction?

Alcohol related erectile dysfunction is not one of the main reasons that men experience ED. The inability to maintain or get an erection is a complex system that involves the brain, nervous system, endocrine system, and cardiovascular system. Causes for erectile dysfunction can impact any one of these components and lead to ED.

How Rex MD Can Help

While alcohol is not the main cause of erectile dysfunction, keeping your alcohol consumption low reduces your risk of ED. Some common causes of erectile dysfunction include obesity, stress, anxiety, and more. In some cases, making changes to your lifestyle may reduce the effect of ED symptoms.

Taking steps to lead a healthier lifestyle looks like following a well-balanced diet, getting adequate exercise, and limiting your consumption of harmful substances. It's also important to manage stress as best as you can.

REX MD is a telehealth service that provides men with accessible treatment options for ED when changing their lifestyle isn't enough.

Get started today with finding an ED medication that works for you.