{"id":10388,"date":"2018-05-25T08:00:29","date_gmt":"2018-05-25T08:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/?p=10388"},"modified":"2018-12-16T11:18:41","modified_gmt":"2018-12-16T11:18:41","slug":"opioids-can-cause-erection-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/erectile-dysfunction\/opioids-can-cause-erection-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Opioids Can Cause Erection Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"

E<\/span>ven as the death toll from America’s opioid crisis climbs, other casualties from this widespread problem get little notice. One such casualty is sexual function, which takes a hit when men and women hooked on painkillers become so obsessed with getting their next fix that their interest in sex largely vanishes.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Opioid addiction and the mounting death toll attributed to it have dominated the headlines in recent months, but the widespread use of opioids — \u00a0in the form of both prescription and illegal drugs — is also taking a toll on sexual function.<\/p>\n

Men and women coping with chronic pain often lose their desire for sex, and the opioid drugs they take to relieve the pain can lead to physical changes that result in sexual dysfunction.<\/p>\n

Recently, a team of Chinese researchers affiliated with Guangzhou Medical University in Guangdong conducted a meta-analysis of data from previously published studies relevant to a possible link between opioid use and the risk of erectile dysfunction. Their meta-analysis covered 10 studies and data from a total of 8,829 men with a mean age of 41.6 years.<\/p>\n

Of that total, 2,456 men — more than a quarter of all study participants — received opioid treatment for the management of pain. The duration of opioid treatment ranged from a low of four months to a high of nine and a half years.<\/p>\n

Higher Incidence of ED Noted<\/h3>\n

Researchers found that the incidence of erectile dysfunction among men using opioids was significantly higher than among men of comparable age who were not taking opioid-based painkillers. Their findings were published in the October 2017 issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n

While the precise cause of erectile dysfunction among opioid users is uncertain, some studies have indicated that it could be linked to the effects of some opioids on serum levels of sex hormones in opioid users. While testosterone doesn\u2019t play a direct role in erectile function, it does help to regulate sexual drive in both men and women. And men whose sex drive is sluggish or nonexistent will obviously find it difficult to achieve and sustain an erection.<\/p>\n

Some Drugs More Problematic Than Others<\/h3>\n

One such study, published in the October 2017 issue of Drug Testing and Analysis<\/em>,<\/a> found that while some opioid drugs reduced blood levels of testosterone, others did not. Study participants taking hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine showed a significant decline in their levels of free testosterone. However, test subjects who took methadone, tramadol, fentanyl, and pregabalin experienced no noticeable decline in their T-levels.<\/p>\n

At present, the United States is dealing with an opioid crisis that goes far beyond the lawful use of such drugs for pain management. The crisis also now involves men and women who\u2019ve become addicted to these drugs even in the absence of chronic pain. Some who were legitimately prescribed opioid-based painkillers in the wake of surgery or a traumatic injury have become hooked on the drugs and will go to extreme lengths to get these medications or street drugs, such as heroin, to achieve similar highs.<\/p>\n

Impact on Sex Life Often Overlooked<\/h3>\n

As mentioned earlier, the death toll from this crisis is continuing to climb, but many opioid drug abusers — and their loved ones — seem to take little notice of other damage that these drugs can cause. The desensitizing effects of opioids on nerves certainly dull the pleasurable sensations associated with sex and in some cases decrease the desire for sex.<\/p>\n

If this article has piqued your curiosity and you would like to stay abreast of the latest developments from the consumer health front, particularly news relevant to sexual health and function, follow our blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Even as the death toll from America’s opioid crisis climbs, other casualties from this widespread problem get little notice. One such casualty is sexual function, which takes a hit when men and women hooked on painkillers become so obsessed with getting their next fix that their interest in sex largely vanishes. Opioid addiction and the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10448,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_autoblog_aioseo_focus_keyphrase":"","_autoblog_aioseo_title":"","_autoblog_aioseo_description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[88],"class_list":["post-10388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-erectile-dysfunction","tag-erection-health-2"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t