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Implication of Cigarette Smoking and Cessation on Sexual Function in Men and Women

  • MEDICAL COMORBIDITIES (AT GOLDSTEIN, M MINER, AND SJ PARISH, SECTION EDITORS)
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Abstract

Sexual dysfunction is a major public health problem that negatively affects the lives of hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. There is strong evidence suggesting that tobacco use and sexual dysfunction are linked. In fact, cigarette smoking is independently associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction (ED). This relationship has been observed among both current and former smokers and among both passive and active smokers, and many studies suggest a dose-response relationship. Further, prospective studies indicate that cigarette use increases the risk of incident ED, whereas smoking cessation appears to improve erectile function. The link between tobacco use (and disuse) and sexual function in women is relatively understudied, and results remain inconclusive. Future research would benefit from utilizing more prospective designs and assessing the effects of smoking (and particularly passive smoking) on a wider range of sexual function outcomes (physiological, sexual dysfunctions other than male and female arousal disorders), especially among women.

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Christopher B. Harte declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by the author.

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  1. Research Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Ave. (116-B4), Boston, MA, 02130, USA

    Christopher B. Harte

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Christopher B. Harte

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  1. Christopher B. Harte
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Correspondence to Christopher B. Harte.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Medical Comorbidities

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Harte, C.B. Implication of Cigarette Smoking and Cessation on Sexual Function in Men and Women. Curr Sex Health Rep 6, 220–234 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-014-0028-4

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