Alcohol may be ruining your orgasm – 11/11/2023 – Balance

Emma Schmidt, a clinical sexologist in Cincinnati, Ohio, lost count of the number of clients she saw with low libido and problems orgasming after they saw a doctor who advised them to “just relax and have a glass of wine.” .

Not only is this kind of suggestion trite, Schmidt said, it highlights gaps in our general understanding of the interaction between alcohol and sex.

After years of contradictory conclusions, recent research has made it clear that even moderate drinking poses risks to overall health. But the question of how alcohol affects sexual health — specifically orgasms — may be a little fuzzier.

“Society has long described alcohol as a crucial ingredient for romantic encounters,” said Catalina Lawsin, a clinical psychologist specializing in sexuality. She added that people often mix sex and alcohol because it relaxes them and gives them a sense of escapism — and because of a widely held belief that alcohol “increases sexual ability and pleasure.”

What happens when you mix alcohol and sex?

“Essentially, there is no research,” said Dr. Lauren Streicher, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine whose work focuses on sexual dysfunction in women.

Existing data — much of it from rat studies or small, qualitative investigations — suggests a pattern: Small amounts of alcohol appear to increase arousal and lower sexual inhibitions, Streicher said, but large amounts can suppress arousal and delay or block sexual activity. orgasm.

To understand why, it’s helpful to look at the specific processes that happen in your brain when you drink.

Alcohol releases dopamine, described as “the feel-good neurotransmitter” by Dr. Regina Krel, assistant professor of neurology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Researchers believe it helps control cravings.

At the same time, alcohol increases the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid, or Gaba, a chemical messenger that inhibits impulses between nerve cells, essentially slowing down the brain and making a person feel more relaxed.

“It makes you think, ‘Oh, I’m hornier!'” because it lowers inhibitions, said Laurie Mintz, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Florida who focuses on human sexuality. “But the irony is that it’s actually a central nervous system depressant.”

This means that alcohol has a dampening effect throughout the brain, Dr. Krel said, including the prefrontal cortex (which is responsible for things like evaluating consequences), the cerebellum (which controls coordination) and the autonomic nervous system. (which regulates functions such as heart rate and breathing).

Alcohol can impair the brain’s ability to process sexual stimuli and coordinate muscle contractions, which are key to the orgasmic response, Dr. Lawsin added. “Although it may initially contribute to relaxation and reduced inhibition, excessive consumption can interfere with the intricate processes that lead to the intense pleasure and satisfaction of orgasm.”

How much you drink matters

Experts have said that drinking in moderation before having sex is generally acceptable. However, they also emphasized that whether alcohol will help lead to orgasm by reducing stress and inhibitions, or get in the way of orgasm by suppressing basic functions, has a lot to do with how often you drink and how much you drink in certain occasion.

Moderate drinking is generally defined in the United States as no more than two drinks per day for men or one drink per day for women. But how alcohol affects you is determined by a number of factors, including genes, body size and composition, and your drinking history.

Chronic, heavy alcohol use has been linked to erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation in men, Dr. Mintz said. Research has also linked alcohol consumption to sexual dysfunction (persistent problems with sexual response, desire and orgasm) in women.

“There is no magic number of doses that applies to everyone,” said Dr. Lawsin, adding that excessive alcohol use can make it difficult for partners to connect, as well as impair decision-making and the ability to consent to sex. .

How to Find Help for Orgasm Problems

If you are experiencing anorgasmia (delayed or infrequent orgasms, or no orgasm at all), your first step should be to see a primary care doctor or sex therapist to help determine the underlying cause or causes and connect you with the right type of specialist. or treatment, said Dr. Schmidt.

There may be one or several underlying issues that affect your ability to orgasm, including certain health conditions or medications, relationship problems and trauma, as well as alcohol consumption.

Many primary care doctors, and even some gynecologists and urologists, don’t have specific training in sexual medicine, so it can be helpful to ask if they do, she said, and what their experience is with anorgasmia patients.

If alcohol seems to be getting in the way of your orgasms, ask yourself how and why you use alcohol during sex, Dr. Schmidt said, noting that mental health professionals and sex therapists can be a valuable resource.

Do you usually drink or do you always drink first?

“If a person uses alcohol to have sex,” she said, “or feels fear, shame, or vulnerability when having sex without drinking, then it’s a good idea to explore this topic further.”