Does Vaping Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Hey, Bestie! Thanks for stopping by to chat. We’ve already spent some time talking about erectile dysfunction. If you missed that chat, find it here. To review, erectile dysfunction (ED), or difficulty getting and keeping an erection, occurs when not enough blood flows to the penis (1). While ED can have many possible causes, it is often liked to cardiovascular health. In cases of poor cardiovascular health or cardiovascular disease (CVD), blood flow to the body can be reduced due to narrowing of the arteries (2).
It is well documented in scientific literature that cigarette smoking can negatively impact cardiovascular health. In fact, studies show smoking leads to coronary artery disease (CAD) which is a type of CVD (3). Since cigarette smoking results in decreased cardiovascular health and blood flow, it can have an impact on erectile function. Research has shown that cigarette smoking is linked to ED (3, 4). An article by Biebel, et. al. concluded that “There is substantial evidence showing that cigarette smoking contributes to ED” (4). Another article reported that “Smokers are at even higher risk of developing ED independent of age and comorbidities” (3). Basically, we know that cigarette smoking, CVD, and ED are all linked. Anything that negatively impacts the arteries is likely to negatively impact erectile function, regardless of age or other factors.
So, what does any of this have to do with electronic cigarettes? Well, electronic cigarettes, also called e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), vape pens, or vaping devices have long been considered to be healthier and safer alternatives to the traditional cigarette. They work by heating a liquid containing nicotine and sometimes other flavoring. This liquid becomes aerosolized as it is heated and the user can then inhale the gas into their lungs. While ENDS are free of many of the harmful chemicals found in traditional cigarettes, recent studies suggest they’re not as harmless as they once seemed. While I won’t get into all the typical harms/dangers of ENDS, I do want to talk about how they impact erectile function.
This leaves us with the question: Does vaping cause erectile dysfunction? A few recent studies suggest that it does. In a 2022 study, authors looked at data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study and honed in on a question about ED. After analyzing the data, researchers concluded that “the use of ENDS seems to be associated with erectile dysfunction independent of age, cardiovascular disease, and other risk factors” (5). Even ENDS users younger than 65 years of age with no history of CVD were more likely to experience ED than their non-ENDS-using counterparts. Folks who used ENDS were more than 2x as likely to experience ED than those that didn’t (5).
While research on the use of ENDS is fairly new, I think it is fair to say that vaping may not be as benign as was once thought. For many males, ED is one of the most difficult and shameful conditions to deal with. Remember that ED is treatable in physical therapy. Your therapist can work with you on pelvic floor exercises to help improve blood flow within the pelvic region and potentially help improve symptoms of ED. General cardiovascular exercise is also great for the arteries and can improve symptoms. While ED is treatable in physical therapy, it is important to note that ED related to ENDS use is completely preventable. If you’re looking for a reason to move away from regular vaping, let this be your reason.
More research is needed to determine whether quitting smoking and/or ENDS contributes to improved erectile function. Also, further research will need to be completed to truly understand the link between ENDS and ED. Does ED result from using ENDS every day? Every week? These are the questions that still need to be answered, but until then, be careful with your ENDS use.
XOXO,
Your Pelvic Bestie
References:
1. NIH Consensus Conference . Impotence. NIH Consensus Development Panelon Impotence. JAMA. 1993;270:83–90.
2. Miner M, Seftel AD, Nehra A, Ganz P, Kloner RA, Montorsi P, Vlachopoulos C, Ramsey M, Sigman M, Tilkemeier P, Jackson G. Prognostic utility of erectile dysfunction for cardiovascular disease in younger men and those with diabetes. Am Heart J. 2012;164:21–28.
3. Kovac JR, Labbate C, Ramasamy R, Tang D, Lipshultz LI. Effects of cigarette smoking on erectile dysfunction. Andrologia. 2015 Dec;47(10):1087-92. doi: 10.1111/and.12393. Epub 2014 Dec 29. PMID: 25557907; PMCID: PMC4485976.
4. Mark G. Biebel, Arthur L. Burnett, Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad, Male Sexual Function and Smoking, Sexual Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Issue 4, 2016, Pages 366-375, ISSN 2050-0521, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2016.05.001.
5. El-Shahawy O, Shah T, Obisesan OH, Durr M, Stokes AC, Uddin I, Pinjani R, Benjamin EJ, Mirbolouk M, Osei AD, Loney T, Sherman SE, Blaha MJ. Association of E-Cigarettes With Erectile Dysfunction: The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. Am J Prev Med. 2022 Jan;62(1):26-38. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.08.004. Epub 2021 Nov 30. PMID: 34922653.
*The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives
