Alcohol and sexual health

Everyone knows too much booze affects your sexual health and well-being. Unfortunately, simple cases of 'brewer's droop' and not being able to reach orgasm while drunk are just the tip of the iceberg.

Sexually transmitted diseases

Alcohol can contribute to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and Chlamydia.

Unprotected sex

First off, alcohol lowers our inhibitions. This means we could take more risks in our behaviour, including having sex when we might otherwise not. When we do, having consumed alcohol means we might not think about using a condom.
A recent survey commissioned by the Scottish Executive found that 17% of 15-year-old girls and 12% of 15-year-old boys surveyed, reported having had unprotected sex during the last year as a result of drinking alcohol.

Fumbled, broken condoms

If we do decide to try and use a condom, being drunk means that we're more likely to foul up putting it on. They get weakened and torn by fingernails, fail to get unrolled properly and we can forget to squeeze the air out of the teat first. All of these things can cause condoms to break, burst or slip off during sex.

Even when we can get them on properly, drink numbs sensation in both men and women. Prolonged use can also cause condoms to fail.

Remembering to play it safe

Girls who like girls should remember to get out the dental dams, use fresh condoms when you swap over if using any toys, and wash your hands before touching your genitals if you've been touching your partner's and vice versa.

Shrunken genitals

In both men and women, excessive drinking over prolonged periods can shrink external genitals!

Damage to unborn babies

No alcohol should be consumed during pregnancy as it can harm the unborn child.

Unwanted pregnancy

Drunken sex is more likely to lead to unplanned pregnancies, for all the same reasons as it puts us at higher risk of catching sexually transmitted diseases (see above).

Unwanted sex

In a 1996 study of university students, 16% said they had been taken advantage of sexually and 8% said they had taken advantage of another sexually as a result of excessive drinking.

Poor sexual performance

Alcohol is an anaesthetic and numbs the nerve cells in our sex organs. This can make it very difficult to reach orgasm. Drink also makes us clumsier and that can result in unsatisfying sex. And of course, it can also stop guys from getting and keeping an erection and stop women from producing enough natural lubrication for pain-free sex.

Drinking too much is also linked with depression, which can completely wipe out sexual desire.

Infertility

Drinking alcohol lowers sperm counts in men and makes it more difficult for women to get pregnant. Even young women who drink heavily can find that their periods stop altogether.

Relationship problems

In the end, good sex comes with healthy, loving relationships. If one or both of you regularly drinks too much, the stress that this will put on your relationship will start to tell in the bedroom as well as elsewhere.

The fact is that drink makes us emotionally less sensitive as well as physically clumsy. Added to that, time spent boozing and recovering from its after-effects will probably mean less time doing other, more positive things together, like talking and sharing feelings.