Sex may permeate our popular culture, but conversations about it are still associated with stigma and shame in Indian households. As a result, most individuals dealing with sexual health issues or trying to find information about sex often resort to unverified online sources or follow the unscientific advice of their friends. To address the widespread misinformation about sex, News18.com is running this weekly sex column, titled ‘Let’s Talk Sex’. We hope to initiate conversations about sex through this column and address sexual health issues with scientific insight and nuance.

In this article, we will explore exactly how smoking cigarettes can become a curse for your sex life & bedroom satisfaction.

You’re probably aware that smoking is bad for your health, but did you know that it can also seriously impact your sex life? Lighting up not only affects your lungs and heart but can also diminish your performance in the bedroom. From decreasing blood flow to damaging your fertility, tobacco is seriously detrimental to your love life. If you want to enjoy intimacy to the fullest or eventually start a family, it’s time to kick the habit for good. Once you understand the full impact, you may find all the motivation you need to finally quit.

• Reduced Blood Flow: When you smoke, the nicotine causes your blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow throughout your body. This includes the blood vessels in your genitals, making it more difficult for men to get an erection and women to become aroused. Smoking slows arousal and inhibits pleasure receptors in the brain.
• Lower libido: Smoking reduces your libido or sex drive over time. The chemicals in tobacco smoke disrupt your hormone levels, including testosterone which fuels libido in both men and women. With a lower libido, you have less interest in sexual activity and intimacy.
• Erectile dysfunction: For men, smoking is a leading cause of erectile dysfunction. The nicotine and toxins damage the blood vessels and nerves in the penis required for an erection. Smoking significantly increases the risk of erectile dysfunction, and quitting can help reverse some of the damage.
• Infertility issues: Smoking reduces fertility in both men and women. In men, it damages sperm cells and in women, it accelerates the ageing of eggs and ovarian follicles. Smoking makes conception more difficult and also increases the risk of genetic abnormalities and miscarriage. Quitting smoking can help restore fertility over time.

Second-hand Smoke Hurts Your Partner’s Sexual Health Too

Second-hand smoke doesn’t just damage the health of smokers, it also harms their partners as well. Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke is terrible for your sex life and your partner’s sexual health.

The toxic chemicals in second-hand smoke damage blood vessels and restrict blood flow throughout the body. This makes it difficult for men to achieve and maintain an erection. In women, these same toxins curb arousal by limiting blood flow to the vaginal area. Second-hand smoke also depletes the body’s nitric oxide, a molecule crucial for relaxing and widening blood vessels during arousal.

In addition, the carcinogens in second-hand tobacco smoke may eventually lead to reproductive cancers in both men and women, harming fertility and sexual function. The impacts are so damaging that the effects of 30 minutes of exposure to second-hand smoke are comparable to smoking 4 cigarettes yourself!

The good news is that the body can heal from the damage caused by second-hand smoke exposure once it stops. So do your sex life a favour – avoid second-hand smoke whenever possible. Ask smokers to take it outside and far away from you. Your sexual health and your partner’s will thank you for it.

Quitting Smoking Improves Sexual Performance

There are so many benefits to quitting smoking, but better sex is certainly one of the most motivating.

• Stronger Erections: By quitting smoking, you’ll start to notice stronger and firmer erections again. Smoking negatively impacts blood flow throughout the body, including to your penis. Better blood flow means better erections that last longer. Within just a few months of ditching the habit, many men find their erections become noticeably harder and more reliable.
• Increased Stamina: Smoking saps your stamina and endurance, making you tire more easily during sex. Quitting will boost your energy levels, allowing you to last longer without needing to stop for a break. You’ll have the stamina to try new positions and go for multiple rounds. Both you and your partner will appreciate your newfound sexual endurance.
• Improved Orgasms: With increased blood flow and stamina comes more intense orgasms. Each orgasm may feel stronger, last longer and be more pleasurable overall. For many men, quitting smoking leads to some of the best orgasms they’ve had in years. The boost to your libido and sex drive also makes reaching orgasm easier.
• Fresher Breath and Smell: Let’s face it, smoking makes everything smell terrible, including your breath and body. Quitting will make you smell better overall, which most partners will appreciate during intimate moments. Your breath, hair and clothes will no longer reek of smoke, and your senses of smell and taste will start to return. Kissing will be more enjoyable for you both, without the taste of cigarettes.

How long will it take to notice the effects?

You may start to notice improvements in as little as 1 to 2 weeks after quitting. However, full benefits can take 3 months to a year. Rebuilding lung function and allowing blood vessels to widen again takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see dramatic changes right away. The rewards of quitting will continue to pay off over weeks and months. Stay committed to being smoke-free and you’ll get your mojo back, better than ever.

So there you have it. Smoking is seriously bad news for your sex life. The research clearly shows it lowers your libido, makes it harder to perform, and decreases satisfaction for you and your partner. The chemicals in tobacco damage your blood vessels and nerves, messing with key parts of your body that are vital for a healthy sex life. No buts about it, ditching the cigs is one of the best things you can do if you want to have a rocking time in the bedroom. Your lungs and heart will thank you too. Who knows, you might find yourself with a whole new spark once you kick the habit. So do yourself and your partner a favour and snub out that cigarette for good. Your sex life will be so much hotter and healthier if you do.