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Alcohol and sex

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Main article: Sex and drugs

Consumption of alcohol has a number of effects that affect sexual intercourse and sexual behavior.[1] The effects of alcohol are a balance between its suppressive effects on sexual physiology, which will decrease sexual activity, and its suppression of psychological inhibitions, which will increase the desire for sex.[2]

Alcohol is a depressant. After consuming, alcohol causes the body’s systems to slow down. Often, feelings of drunkeness are associated with elation and happiness but other feelings of anger or depression can arise. Balance, judgment and coordination are also negatively affected. One of the most significant side effects of alcohol is reduced inhibition. Reduced inhibitions can lead to an increase in sexual behavior.[2]

Alcohol and sex in men

Male sexuality can be drastically affected by alcohol. Both chronic and acute alcohol consumption have been shown in mosthttp://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/37/2/169</ref>http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119617864/abstract</ref>http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/202/3/676</ref> (but not allhttp://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118836704/abstract</ref>) studies to inhibit testosterone production in the testes. This is believed to be caused by the metabolism of alcohol reducing the NAD+/NADH ratio both in the liver and the testes; since the synthesis of testosterone requires NAD+, this tends to reduce testosterone production. Emanuele, M. A., Halloran, M. M., Uddin, S., Tentler, J. J., Emanuele, N. V., Lawrence, A. M. and Kelly, M. R. (1993) The effects of alcohol on the neuroendocrine control of reproduction. In Alcohol and the Endocrine System, Zakhari, S. ed., pp. 89–116. National Institute of Health Publications, Bethesda, MD. </ref><rev />http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/219455</ref>

As testosterone is critical for libido and physical arousal, alcohol tends to have deleterious effects on male sexual performance. Studies have been conducted that indicate increasing levels of alcohol intoxication produce a significant degradation in male masturbatory effectiveness. This degradation was measured by measuring blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and ejaculation latency.[3] Alcohol intoxication can decrease sexual arousal, decrease pleasureability and intensity of orgasm, and increased difficulty in attaining orgasm.[3]

Alcohol and sex in women

In many women, alcohol increases sexual arousal, desire, and pleasure, although does it lower the physiological signs of arousal.[4] Women have a different response to alcohol intoxication. Studies have shown that acute alcohol consumption tends to cause increased levels of testosterone and estradiol.http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/35/1/84</ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3122772</ref> Since testosterone controls in part the strength of libido on women, this tends to cause an increase in interest in sex. Also, because women have a higher percentage of body fat and less water in their bodies, alcohol can have a quicker, more severe impact. Women’s bodies take longer to process the alcohol which often takes one-third longer to eliminate the substance.[2]

Sexual behavior in women under the influence of alcohol is also different than men. Studies have shown that increased BAC are associated with longer orgasmic latencies and decreased intensity of orgasm.[4] Some women report a greater sexual arousal with increased alcohol consumption as well as increased sensations of pleasure during orgasm. Because ejaculatory response is visual and can more easily be measured in males, orgasmic response must be measured more intimately. In studies of the female orgasm under the influence of alcohol, orgasmic latencies were measured using a vaginal photoplethysmograph which essentially measures vaginal blood volume.[4]

Psychologically, alcohol has also played a role on sexual behavior. It has been reported that women who were intoxicated believed they were more sexually aroused than before consumption of alcohol.[4] This psychological effect contrasts with the physiological effects measured, but refers back to the loss of inhibitions because of alcohol. Often, society has limited the expression of sexuality by women and alcohol can influence the capacity for a woman to feel more relaxed and in turn, be more able to be sexual. Alcohol may be considered by some women to be a sexual “disinhibitor”.[4]

Sexual risk-taking

Alcohol intoxication is associated with an increased risk that people will become involved in risky sexual behaviours, such as unprotected sex.[3] It is unclear if this is a causal relationship, or if the personality types of people who often drink large amounts of alcohol are more tolerant of risk-taking.

Alcohol is linked to a large proportion of unwanted outcomes associated with sex such as date rape, unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Alcohol Use and Sexual Risk Behaviour, World Health Organisation, 2005, ISBN 9789241562898
  2. ^ a b c Crowe LC, George WH (1989). "Alcohol and human sexuality: review and integration". Psychol Bull. 105 (3): 374–86. PMID 2660179. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ^ a b c Halpern-Felsher BL, Millstein SG, Ellen JM (1996). "Relationship of alcohol use and risky sexual behavior: a review and analysis of findings". J Adolesc Health. 19 (5): 331–6. doi:10.1016/S1054-139X(96)00024-9. PMID 8934293. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e Beckman LJ, Ackerman KT (1995). "Women, alcohol, and sexuality". Recent Dev Alcohol. 12: 267–85. PMID 7624547.
  5. ^ Glen R. Hanson, Peter J. Venturelli, Annette E. Fleckenstein (2005), Drugs and society, p. 238, ISBN 9780763737320{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Bibliography

  • Abbey, A, Zawacki, T, MA, Buck, P, Clinton, M, McAuslan, P (Alcohol and Sexual Assault). Alcohol Health and Research World. Volume 25, Number 1, 2001
  • [1]
  • Malatesta, V. J., Pollack, R. J., Crotty, T. D., and Peacock, L.J. (1982). Acute alcohol inotxcation and female orgasmic response. The Journal of Sex Research, 18 (1), 1-17.
  • Malatesta, V. J., Pollack, R. J., Wilbanks, W. A., and Adams, H. E. (1979). Alcohol effects on the orgasmic-ejaculatory response in human males. The Journal of Sex Research, 15 (2), 101-108.
  • Ridberg, Ronit, Spin the Bottle: Sex, Lies & Alcohol, Media Education Foundation ISBN 1893521893, 2004
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