Will the intoxication of fun take away your marital happiness? Know how alcohol, smoking and drugs are secretly destroying sexual health.

Amidst the modern lifestyle, late-night parties and excessive work stress, the consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other intoxicants has increased rapidly among youth and adults. This misconception is often spread through cinema, social media and among friends that taking drugs removes hesitation, increases self-confidence and doubles the pleasure of sexual activity. But medical science, urologists and sexologists term this claim as completely hollow and dangerous. The reality is that intoxication may suppress mental tension and social shyness for a few moments in the beginning, but within the body it attacks the nervous system, hormonal balance and blood vessels so deeply that gradually the sexual ability completely disappears. Addiction often turns out to be the biggest villain at the root of marital discord and sexual dissatisfaction among hundreds of couples who visit clinics in different cities of the country every month, which people fail to recognize in time.

Alcohol is often seen as a mood enhancer, but pharmacologically alcohol is a powerful ‘central nervous system depressant’. This means that alcohol slows down the brain’s ability to think, understand, and send signals to the body.

• Erectile Dysfunction: Healthy sexual function in men requires a precise coordination of the brain, hormones, nerves and blood flow. When a person is under the influence of alcohol, the brain is unable to send signals for blood circulation to the veins of the penis at the right time. In medical language it is called ‘Alcohol Induced Sexual Dysfunction’ or colloquially as ‘Whiskey Gem’.

• Weakness and delayed ejaculation: Excessive drinking not only makes it difficult to achieve orgasm, but also makes it impossible or extremely painful to reach orgasm due to reduced sensitivity.

• Drastic drop in testosterone: Continuous drinking of alcohol causes severe damage to the liver. Liver plays an important role in the metabolism of the male hormone testosterone. Due to liver damage, testosterone decreases in the body and the level of female hormone estrogen starts increasing, due to which men start losing libido and can even lead to abnormal growth of breasts (Gynecomastia).

Those who think that they do not drink alcohol and only smoke a few cigarettes a day should know that tobacco and nicotine are the biggest enemies of the sexual organs.

• Vasoconstriction: Nicotine directly narrows the arteries and causes hardening of their walls (atherosclerosis). Just as a heart attack occurs due to blockage of heart arteries, in the same way the blood supply to the very fine microscopic blood vessels of the penis and pelvic area stops. If sufficient blood is not supplied, the tension stops, which later takes the form of permanent impotence.

• Elimination of sperm count and quality: Carbon monoxide, tar and heavy metals present in cigarette smoke cause DNA fragmentation of the sperms formed in the testicles. Due to this, the sperm count in men decreases, the mobility of sperms decreases and distorted sperms start forming, which directly causes male infertility and miscarriage.

Sexual health problems are not limited to men only; Alcohol, smoking and other intoxicants have equally destructive effects on women’s bodies.

• Lack of natural lubrication: Alcohol and nicotine dehydrate the body and reduce blood flow to the vaginal blood vessels. Due to this, natural lubrication is not produced during arousal, due to which intercourse becomes extremely painful and painful (Dyspareunia).

• Loss of libido and anorgasmia: Due to continuous consumption of intoxicants, women completely lose their desire for sex and it becomes impossible to reach orgasm.

• Hormonal imbalance and interruption of ovulation: Menopause occurs two to three years earlier in women who smoke. Due to this, periods become irregular, egg quality deteriorates and there are serious difficulties in conceiving.

Consumption of cannabis, cocaine, MDMA and other synthetic drugs is often considered a part of the party lifestyle by the youth, but this misconception proves to be completely destructive in the long run. Regular consumption of marijuana dulls the brain’s hypothalamus, causing testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels to drop rapidly. At the same time, cocaine and party drugs completely deactivate the dopamine receptors of the brain. The result is that after some time the person loses the ability to feel any normal physical touch, emotional attachment or sexual pleasure without drugs. This not only results in physical disability but also severe depression, anxiety, marital breakdown and social isolation.

If this deadly habit is recognized in time and distance is maintained from the addiction, then the body has an amazing ability to heal itself.

1. Addiction and detoxification: After quitting cigarettes and alcohol, within a few weeks there is a significant improvement in blood circulation and the elasticity of the veins starts returning.

2. Nutritious food and antioxidants: Include in your daily diet foods rich in zinc, magnesium and L-arginine such as pumpkin seeds, walnuts, pomegranates, green leafy vegetables and garlic which increase blood flow and nitric oxide.

3. Regular Cardio and Pelvic Exercises: Doing 30 to 40 minutes of brisk walk, running, swimming and ‘Kegel exercises’ daily strengthens the pelvic floor muscles and increases blood circulation to the genitals.

4. Stop hesitating and consult a doctor: Don’t make sexual problems a matter of shame or guilt. If the problem persists even after quitting the drug, instead of falling prey to any quack or quack, consult a qualified andrologist, urologist or sexologist. The momentary thrill of addiction can never be a substitute for a healthy, beautiful and satisfied married life.