The Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Penile Erection

Abstract

Clinical observations suggest that cigarette smoking impairs erectile function in patients with moderate arterial insufficiency. To evaluate the effects of smoking on the physiology of erection, we studied six healthy adult mongrel dogs in which bipolar cuff electrodes were implanted around the cavernous nerves. After threshold stimulation parameters for penile erection were established, cigarette smoke collected in a 60-ml. syringe was released slowly near the dog's mouth, to be inhaled by natural breathing. Stimulation of the cavernous nerve was repeated and blood samples for nicotine, cotinine and blood gases were obtained before and after each cigarette. The systolic and intracorporeal pressure, flow through the internal pudendal artery, and venous flow from the corpora cavernosa were recorded at baseline and with each electrostimulation after smoke inhalation. Five of the six dogs were unable to achieve full erection after inhalation of smoke from two to three cigarettes. Some decrease of flow through the internal pudendal artery occurred and the venous restriction ability was almost completely abolished by smoking. Further, when nicotine was injected intravenously into two additional dogs, the same phenomenon was observed. These findings support the idea that cigarette smoking may contribute to impotence in some patients.

Male Sexual Function and Smoking

“…Because animals cannot be made to smoke actively, the animals were passively exposed to smoke in a cage. 9,17,42,44,51,65 CONCLUSIONS There is substantial evidence showing that cigarette smoking contributes to ED. This association is supported by case series, cross-sectional, and prospective population-based studies.…”

“…[5][6][7] There is growing evidence that tobacco smoke adversely affects sexual health and erectile function. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] However, patient awareness that smoking is a risk factor for ED is low-only 24.2% of surveyed patients in a urology clinic were aware of this association. 18 A major proposed mechanism behind this is that cigarette smoke has a similar atherogenic effect on penile vasculature as on coronary vasculature in increasing heart disease risk.…”

Obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction: still a neglected risk factor?

“…ED has also been associated with aging [33][34][35], obesity [36], cigarette smoking [37,38], and alcohol abuse [39]. Common systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus [40], chronic renal failure [41], and coronary artery disease appear to be risk factors for the development of ED (Table 1).…”

Erectile dysfunction and atherosclerosis

“…Both epidemiologic analyses [6,7] and experimental studies [9] support the concept that smoking adversely affects erectile function by impairing endothelium-dependent smooth muscle relaxation, as reviewed by McVary et al [10]. Mannino et al [11] studied 4462 US Army Vietnam-era Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common problem in the United States, with estimates that 30 million men suffer with some degree of ED.…”