Is a common belief that alcohol works as an aphrodisiac, and many people are drinking in order to have a better sexual encounter.

Practice

Alcohol may be the world’s oldest known drug. After a few drinks, alcohol can have a desinhibiting effect on people, making them feel more comfortable. In small quantities, alcohol can help people socialize, so they can approach easily to other persons. This is one of the reasons why many youngsters drink, and studies have found that drinking is becoming a very important activity of night life all around the world.

(Source: Senang Wine Bar and Tapas Bistro Senangtapas)

Another reason why people drink before having sex is because they think alcohol can be used to enhance sexual sensations and arousal. Some people also use some drugs, like cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis in order to obtain these same results. A study conducted by researchers in public health and social sciences for BioMed Central, showed that males are more likely to drink as part of deliberate sexual strategies.

Real effects

Despite these perceived sexual “benefits”, drunkenness is strongly associated with an increase in risk taking behaviour (have sex without protection) and feeling regretful about having sex while under the influence of alcohol. But this is just talking about feelings. Lets talk about the physical effects.

Some researches show that even after a few drinks sexual response is reduced. As drinking increases both men and women will experience a reduction in sexual arousal, men may have difficulty getting erections, and both men and women may have difficulty experiencing orgasm.

Explanation to alcohol’s effects

As is well known alcohol is a nervous system depressant. It acts at many sites, including the reticular formation, spinal cord, cerebellum and cerebral cortex, and on many neurotransmitter systems. Alcohol is a very small molecule and is soluble in “lipid” and water solutions. Because of these properties, alcohol gets into the bloodstream very easily and also crosses the blood brain barrier.

Since alcohol is a depressant, people experience relaxation, difficulty to concentrate, slower reflexes, reduction in coordination, and all of the above are produced by low quantities of the molecule. As anyone can see, these effects cause the reduction in sexual response, and even can difficult experience an orgasm. Though, the effects on men and women can be different.

Research indicates that even after one drink, alcohol reduces a woman’s physical sexual response. Vasocongestion and vaginal lubrication both progressively decrease with alcohol consumption. This leads to a difficulty to reach orgasm and a decreased intensity of it.

Studies also showed that alcohol has some impact on men, decreasing the amount of testosterone in their bodies, making hard for them to maintain an erection. However, with men who drink occasionally, testosterone levels return to normal, and moderate amounts of alcohol are not associated with reduced testosterone.

Now we can see the real sexual effects of alcohol, and we can decide responsibly whether we drink or not before a sexual encounter. Let’s not forget that sex is not only a physical action, it involves emotions and feelings that can help to maximize the sexual experience as well!