Viagra Studies

Smoking Causes Male Sexual Impotence

On Nov 5, 1998, Thailand became the first country in the world to have "cigarette smoking causes sexual impotence" printed on the side of cigarette packets. Thailand made the decision to include the label on impotence after studying a number of scientific reports. This step was taken after the researches world wide proved that smoking is linked to erectile dysfunction and erectile dysfunction is twice likely to occur in smokers than non-smokers. Even exposure to second hand smoke is also a significant factor behind making a man impotent.

In biological terms, impotence or erectile dysfunction is the constant inability to have an erection for sexual purposes even when sexually aroused. Sexual functioning requires the coordination of several functions in the body. This includes the nervous system (mental stimulation) working in coordination with hormones, and the vascular system which pumps blood into the muscle tissue of the penis that maintains the erection. Smoking can affect all these systems, thereby, causing impotence. The research studies taken in two of the famous Medical centers in New York revealed that smoking affects men's reproductive, sexual and urinary functions. It was also found that nicotine levels found in the semen of smokers were higher than those found in their bloodstream, indicating that once absorbed into the bloodstream, nicotine accumulated in seminal fluid.

Many diseases caused by smoking involve the blockage of arteries which means that smoking inhibits the flow of blood in the body. Heart attacks and strokes are one result of severe blockage of arteries. Erectile dysfunction is the other result of poor blood flow owing to the habit of smoking. It has been found that smoking also changes the shape of the sperms which leads to miscarriage, congenital malformation, birth defects in the children born to the male smokers. Smoking decreases sperm production, changes sperm mobility and severely blocks the flow of blood into the penis causing erectile dysfunction or impotence. Smoking over many years' time can cause damage to the blood vessels of the penis and a person will not be able to see it within 15-20 years of smoking. As soon as a person approaches 40 plus, his ability to sustain an erection deteriorates.

The issue of sexual health, in particular the issue of erectile dysfunction or being impotent is a very sensitive and delicate matter for a man. We all know that smoking can lead to lung cancer, cardio vascular diseases, hypertension etc. but still men continue to smoke. Perhaps a step like the Thailand government to print on the cigarette packet that 'smoking leads to sexual impotence' may do the job for many of the smokers who knowingly or unknowingly smoke.