Although research is limited, it shows that nicotine can negatively affect your sex drive, but it can be reversed.
Millions of people use nicotine and tobacco crops every day – more than 61 million people in the United States. From e-cigarettes to nicotine patches and more, there is no shortage of nicotine-containing crops on the market.
Investigate has shown that tobacco and nicotine products can have serious health effects, including possible changes in sex hormones and sexual function. Some educations have even shown that smoking can cause changes in libido, sex drive, or desire levels.
This article looks at what research says about the effects of nicotine on sex drive, including whether quitting smoking can help improve libido.
Does Nicotine Affect Sex Drive in Men?
Several studies on nicotine and libido propose that nicotine use, especially cigarette smoking, may negatively affect sex drive in men.
A small 2020 studyTrusted Source, looked at sexual function, unhappiness, and other health conditions in young men with nicotine addiction. In this study, researchers found that nicotine addiction leads to sexual dysfunction in areas related to sexual desire, arousal, erection, and even orgasm.
Sexual Dysfunction
It’s important to know that sexual dysfunction occurs when you experience significant problems with your ability to experience pleasure or respond sexually.
If you have difficulty being sexually active, becoming aroused, or feeling pleasure during sexual activity, you may have a sexual dysfunction or a medical condition that affects your sexual health.
While we generally define “sexual dysfunction” in our content and use alternative terms for it in what follows, this article uses the term “sexual dysfunction” to ensure accuracy when sharing research findings.
A 2021 Trusted Source study examined several risk factors for low libido in older men. The study found that cigarette smoking is significantly associated with a severe decrease in libido in middle-aged and older men.
While research suggests a link between nicotine use and decreased sex drive, it’s still unclear how nicotine affects libido. But this may be due to nicotine’s effects on the nervous system and hormones, which are primarily responsible for our sex drive, arousal, and much more.
Language Matters
You’ll sign that the language used to share statistics and other data is fairly binary, swinging between using “male” and “female” or “masculine” and “feminine.”
While we generally avoid such language, specificity is key when reporting study participants and clinical outcomes.
Unfortunately, most of the studies and surveys mentioned in this article either did not contain data or did not include transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, queer, agender, or asexual participants.
Does Nicotine Affect Sexual Desire in Women?
Experts have done little research on sexual dysfunction in women, but nicotine appears to harm libido in women.
In a 2013 Trusted Source study, researchers found that more than 34% of women with a substance use disorder experienced sexual dysfunction. And among those with nicotine addiction, the risk of sexual dysfunction was nearly 3 times higher.
A 2015 Trusted Source study found that premenopausal women who smoked had more sexual dysfunction and lower sexual function in the areas of desire, arousal, and satisfaction.
Does nicotine affect sexual desire in intersex and transgender people?
Research on the effects of nicotine on sexual function in intersex and transgender people is limited, with virtually no studies examining this link. However, because the negative impact on libido is notable in both men and women, it is likely to affect the sexual health of factually marginalized populations.
While nicotine is likely to have the same effects on the transgender group as on their cisgender counterparts, transgender people may be more likely to experience these effects.
Some studies suggest that up to 40% of the transgender population in the United States regularly uses nicotine products, compared with about 22% of the general US population. In addition, transgender people without social support may be more likely to use nicotine regularly.
This highlights the need for further research into nicotine use in these populations.
Does Quitting Nicotine Improve Your Sex Drive?
Although research suggests that nicotine may reduce sex drive, there is little research available on how quitting nicotine can improve sex drive. However, one study that examined this topic found that quitting smoking may be beneficial for libido.
In a 2017 Trusted Source, researchers examined the effectiveness of leaving smoking on sexual function in men undergoing prostate surgery. The study originate that quitting smoking was one of the factors that contributed to improved sexual function 1 to 2 years after surgery.
Of course, this study only found sexual improvements in a subset of people, and more research is needed to conclude whether quitting nicotine can help improve sex drive in a larger group of people. In the future, we may find that the return of libido is another benefit of quitting smoking.
Conclusion
Many studies have examined the link between nicotine and sexual function, and research suggests that nicotine use, especially cigarette smoking, may increase the risk of decreased sexual desire.
If you experience changes in your sexual desire, such as decreased libido, arousal, or other indications, contact your doctor to discuss your concerns. While nicotine may be one source of these changes, your doctor may want to look at other underlying causes that may be affecting your sexual desire.