In America, it is considered normal— encouraged, even—to consume alcohol on a weekly and oftentimes daily basis. It is readily available and the center of many social activities because it helps people loosen up.
Like a lot of things that aren’t good for us, drinking in moderation should not pose a serious risk to your health. However, most people—even those that consider themselves moderate drinkers—would probably be surprised to find out what the healthy amount actually is. The healthiest way to drink alcohol varies slightly between males and females. For females, it is best to limit weekly intake to no more than seven drinks per week. Males’ weekly intake should be limited to 14 drinks or less.
There are many cons of drinking alcohol and negative side effects of being drunk. It’s pretty common knowledge that excessive consumption is damaging to your organs, specifically the liver. Alcohol can be used as a way to loosen up in many social situations, including romantic ones. Because of this, alcohol and sex are often associated with each other. But not everyone knows that alcohol also can also negatively affect your sexual health.
Long and Short Term Effects of Alcohol On Sexual Health
You may think your heavy drinking only affects you, but that’s not exactly true. So how can alcohol affect others around you? If you’re in a serious relationship and want a healthy sex life with your partner, you should be aware that heavy drinking and a healthy sexuality do not go together very well. A drink or two is fine to relax, but much more than that will mess with the signal between the brain and genitals. This means sexual stimulation is much harder to feel when under the influence. This can affect men’s ability to get an erection or reach ejaculation, and women’s ability to orgasm at all.
Because it’s a depressant, the short term, immediate effects of alcohol can be felt within minutes of consumption. Many people think alcohol boosts their sex drive, but what it actually does it lower inhibitions, making you more open to it. The negative short term effects can be felt the next morning, in what is most commonly known as a hangover. But what are some long term effects of alcohol? For both men and women, drinking heavily over a long period of time actually reduces your testosterone, which in turn lowers your libido (sex drive). For men, high-risk drinking for a long time can even cause shrinkage of the sex organs.
Heavy alcohol consumption also affects fertility. For men, it can reduce sperm counts. For women, it can decrease ovulation.
Conclusion
You don’t have to quit cold turkey, but there are many proven benefits of limiting alcohol consumption if you often find yourself drinking more than the weekly recommended amount. For both men and women, it’s normal to be concerned about your sexual health, especially as you age. For most sexual health questions, it’s best to consult your physician because they will know what’s normal for you and what is not. They will also be able to tell you how to promote good sexual health— not only in your life, but others you care about.