Many people say that alcohol greatly affects their ability to engage sexually. In general, they agree on two things: that having consumed some alcohol makes them feel a greater desire for sex, and that it makes sexual intercourse a bit more difficult, making reaching orgasm (among other things) more difficult. Now, is this true? And, if so, what is the scientific explanation?
Alcohol affects our metabolism in different ways, depending on different factors (amount of alcohol ingested, physiological conditions of the person, frequency of consumption. . . ). In the short term, we can distinguish different effects:
-It causes the secretion of dopamine, a neurotransmitter related to pleasure. Because of this, we may feel happier, euphoric, or excited, which would make us more likely to relate to other people.
-It affects the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for processing information. Alcohol makes it work slower, slowing down thoughts and making it harder to evaluate the consequences of our actions. All this can contribute to disinhibition.
-Alters the cerebellum, responsible for the movement in general (coordination, balance. . . ). As a result, we may feel less agile and clumsier. This would cause us to have some problems in a sexual relationship when we want to perform certain movements.
-It affects the hypothalamus, on which some hormonal processes depend. Because of this, sex drive may increase or decrease (the exact relationship between alcohol and sex drive has not been clearly established).
-It interferes with the spinal bulb, which deals with basic physiological processes such as breathing or heart rhythm. As a result, heartbeats may drop, breathing much slower, feeling tired may increase. . . The body would perceive this as a state of emergency in which non-survival actions (such as sex) are pushed into the background.
-It affects many other processes of the central nervous system, generally hindering the transmission of signals at the neuronal level. Because of this, the stimuli are less effective, as they are not well interpreted at the brain level (i. e. , you feel less). Similarly, and in connection with a previous point, the processing of more superficial information may lead to decisions that you would not agree with if you had not ingested alcohol.
References:
Miller, N. S., & Gold, M. S. (1988). The human sexual response and alcohol and drugs. Journal of substance abuse treatment.
Peugh, J., & Belenko, S. (2001). Alcohol, drugs and sexual function: a review. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 33(3), 223-232.
Xavi Ponseti
Col. Nº B-03138
