There is this idea that alcohol and sex make a great combination.  But at what point does the tide turn from great to disaster?  This assumption that it is ‘great’ comes from the fact that alcohol lowers inhibitions and can be found relaxing.  So some feel less restrained and more open to engaging in sex.

The nerve of sexual arousal

During arousal, excitatory signals can originate in the brain.  The excitatory nerve pathway causes nerves in the penis or vulva to respond by releasing pro-erectile neurotransmitters such as nitric oxide and acetylcholine.  These chemical messengers notify the smooth muscles of the penile arteries to relax and fill with blood, resulting in an erection.  They also cause smooth muscle relaxation and increased blood flow to the female’s pelvic area, resulting in vaginal lubrication.

How alcohol affects sexual arousal

Alcohol is a depressant drug that inhibits the central nervous system disrupting the balance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters.  The central nervous system is responsible for controlling our thoughts and how our brain talks with our body.  Alcohol inhibits this neuronal signaling, resulting in impaired cognitive thinking and judgment.  In addition, alcohol interacts with brain receptors causing interference with the communication between excitatory nerve cells resulting in suppression of the excitatory nerve pathway activity.  The result is decreased sexual arousal.

The male perspective of alcohol on arousal

From a physical perspective, alcohol can lower testosterone levels by interfering with the three glands responsible for its production, the hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary gland, and your testes.  In as little as 30 minutes after consumption, testosterone can start to drop.  A reduction in testosterone will affect the libido.  To be clear, when we talk about libido, we are not directly speaking about erectile dysfunction (ED).  Many men often confuse the two concepts together.  Libido is about sexual desire.  The inability to achieve orgasm has nothing to do with your level of desire.  A decreased libido is often evident through a reduced interest in sex.   

Delayed ejaculation is a common side effect of alcohol on the male orgasm.  As mentioned above, the suppression of the excitatory nerve pathways and the neurotransmitters responsible for arousal significantly impact our perception of pleasure and sexual feelings.  This can lead to a delay in orgasming.  Studies have found that intoxicated men find it harder to orgasm than their sober counterparts, and drunk men will take longer to become erect. 

Alcohol can affect the quality of your sperm as it impairs the function of Sertoli cells in your testes, which are needed for sperm maturation.  Spermatogenesis is the development of sperm in the testes, and testosterone plays a role.  Disruptions to these hormones result in what is known as spermatogenic arrest, which is the interrupted development of sperm that can lead to low sperm count in semen.

Alcohol can also cause short-term erectile dysfunction.  Alcohol causes vasodilation resulting in the blood vessels of the body dilating.  This affects the blood volume and blood flow in and out of the penis.  As a result, the penis can feel flaccid or not as ‘hard’ during intercourse.  We also know that alcohol has a diuretic effect, often resulting in dehydration.  This diuretic effect also impacts blood volume, which affects the blood volume and flow in and out of the penis resulting in flaccidity or a less erect penis. 

The female perspective of alcohol on arousal

When we drink alcohol, our levels of Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in our brain increase.  GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps us feel relaxed.  It is known as an ‘inhibitory’ neurotransmitter.  This is why alcohol can often feel like a coping mechanism for stress.  In addition, females often report feeling less inhibited and increased sexual desire, pleasure, or arousal after small amounts of alcohol. 

The perception of increased pleasure is because alcohol increases the level of dopamine in the brain.  Dopamine is a chemical messenger responsible for sending signals of pleasure.  This is also why people feel a ‘buzz’ from drinking alcohol.  Alcohol also directly increases the amount of norepinephrine present within the brain.  This neurotransmitter acts as a stimulant and can increase arousal and excitement.  Now it is easy to understand why, after a small amount of alcohol, a female can feel more aroused, pleasure, and open to the idea of sex.

However, these feelings are short-term because the more alcohol consumed, the quicker these feelings disappear. 

From a physical perspective, the diuretic effect of alcohol directly impacts females the same way it affects males.  A reduced blood volume means a reduced blood flow to the pelvic area, which will decrease vaginal lubrication.  Remember the article on vagina wetness and how it spoke about how lubrication is produced!

In addition, alcohol will delay orgasm for females as well as males.  Alcohol inhibits the central nervous system, particularly the parasympathetic excitatory pathways resulting in reduced arousal, impacting pleasure receptors, and decreasing sexual enjoyment.  In a double whammy style scenario for the female, inhibiting the parasympathetic nervous system affects Nitric oxide production.  As you would remember, nitric oxide has a role in the production of vaginal lubrication.  Therefore not only will alcohol delay your orgasm, but it will also significantly affect the levels of lubrication you produce.

Alcohol and its correlation to increased sexual risk-taking

When our ability to reason and control our impulses is impaired by alcohol, people often tend to engage in actions with little thought to potential consequences.  The increase in GABA within the brain results in lowered inhibitions, and the potential to engage in a more risqué sexual activity can occur.  This can often result in unplanned, unprotected, non-consensual sexual encounters.  In fact, 60% of STIs transmitted happen when alcohol is involved in sexual activity. 

It is important to remember that alcohol can complicate sexual activity, so you must be mindful of the amount you consume, particularly if you are considering engaging in sexual activity.  The key is to drink alcohol responsibly.  The less you drink, the better your brain will function, and the better your brain will perform, the better your penis or vulva will.