Vaping and Erectile Dysfunction: Is There a Connection? 

We all know that smoking can cause erectile dysfunction and other chronic diseases. Vaping emerged as a healthier alternative to cigarettes, so more men are starting to use vape. However, it’s also well known that vaping contains nicotine, which poses the question: can vaping cause erectile dysfunction? 

The Hype Behind Vaping 

Vape usage has been on the rise especially among men. This could be attributed to how vaping is being portrayed as a way to smoke without suffering from dire health consequences. Vapes are often compared with tobacco smoking. ﷟HYPERLINK "https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/stopping-smoking/reasons-to-stop/tobacco/"tar to form in your lungs. However, while vapes don’t create tar, they can cause organ damage and addiction just like cigarettes.don’t create tar, they can cause organ damage and addiction just like cigarettes. 

The Dangers of Vaping 

Contrary to what advertisements tell you, vaping is not safe for you. It may be touted as an alternative to cigarettes, but if you’re not smoking, there’s no good reason to vape. Vaping irritates your lungs just like cigarettes. It can trigger or worsen asthma and cause popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans) or the permanent scarring of your alveoli (tiny lung airways). There’s also a specific lung condition called EVALI, which stands for e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury. 

From 2019 to 2020, the USA experienced an upsurge of severe lung damage related to vaping. Patients suffered chest pains, shortness of breath, coughing, and a fast heartbeat. Some also experienced fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain. It turns out that they consumed vape juices laced with THC, a compound of marijuana. Thousands of people were confined to the ER, and 68 people died. It was such an outbreak that the term EVALI was coined for this condition. 

Vapes also use propylene glycol along with glycerine to transform the juice into an aerosol or mist that the user can inhale. Propylene glycol turns into propylene oxide, which is a class 2B carcinogen, so there is a chance that you can get cancer from vape. Heavy metals such as lead, nickel, and tin, which cause DNA damage, have been found in vape juice, along with ultrafine particles that can get lodged in your lungs. Vapes can also accidentally explode and cause death if you are unlucky. 

Vapes contain undisclosed ingredients that can be harmful and can have more nicotine than traditional cigarettes, leading to addiction. While some argue that vaping can help you quit smoking, a study found that 80% of people who managed to quit cigarettes due to vaping continued smoking but with e-cigarettes. Given that vapes can be as debilitating as cigarettes, you might be wondering if they’re also harmful to your sexual health, which brings us to the next question: does vaping give you erectile dysfunction? 

Does Vaping Cause Erectile Dysfunction? 

Just like tobacco cigarettes, your sexual health can also be compromised by vaping. Erectile dysfunction is the most observed sexual problem among men who use vape. Here’s how vaping can impede erections: 

High Blood Pressure 

Vaping raises the level of your adrenaline, one of the hormones released during the stress response. Adrenaline increases your heart rate, leading to higher blood pressure. So, if you’re frequently vaping, your blood pressure would also be frequently altered. Constant high blood pressure can become its own condition called hypertension. Hypertension can cause erectile dysfunction by hardening your blood vessels, making it difficult for them to dilate so that blood can enter your penis. 

Endothelial Damage 

Just like traditional cigarettes, vapes also contain nicotine, which is a vasoconstrictor. This means that it tightens your blood vessels, further increasing your blood pressure and limiting blood flow to areas like your penis. Nicotine can also cause oxidation to your endothelial cells, which are the inside lining of your arteries. When these cells are under oxidative stress, they’re unable to properly send signals for nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is necessary for the blood vessel dilation process during erections. 

Cardiovascular Diseases 

High blood pressure and endothelial damage can lead to more complex damage to your circulatory system. It can contribute to the development of other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as atherosclerosis, stroke, heart failure, and heart attack. CVDs can cause erectile dysfunction because blood flow is an integral part of the erectile process. Any disruption in that blood flow can weaken your erection. Medications used to manage CVDs can also cause impotence as a side effect. 

Low Testosterone 

Some studies show that nicotine is negatively associated with testosterone. Testosterone is the main male sex hormone, so you may also experience problems beyond the bedroom. But with sex, lack of testosterone can decrease your libido, inhibit erections, and disrupt your ejaculatory control. Additionally, there are studies linking vapes to low sperm count. If your testosterone is consistently low, you might have hypogonadism or testosterone deficiency. You can access testosterone replacement therapy on top of comprehensive treatments for other sexual dysfunction at the Men’s Health Clinic. 

Psychological Distress 

The negative impact of vaping on your sexual health can lower your self-confidence, trigger performance anxiety, and cause additional stress. Men tend to vape to destress, so the frequency of vaping may increase. Since nicotine users may develop tolerance, they might also opt for high-nicotine vapes, which will worsen both their physiological issues and addiction. This leads to a toxic feedback cycle where increased vape usage can lead to severe erectile dysfunction and the progression of chronic diseases. 

Cancer 

While more studies are needed, vaping is a risk factor for cancer. Cancer treatments may cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect. This becomes more likely if men develop prostate cancer or testicular cancer. Testicular cancer can wreck male sexual health because the testes produce testosterone. The nicotine from vape already lessens your testosterone. Testicular cancer will throttle it further. Cancer can also cause pain, impacting sexual desire and physical intimacy. 

How to Quit Vaping 

You don’t need to silently endure the damage caused by vaping and erectile dysfunction. Here are some steps you can take to increase your chances of stopping vaping: 

• Jot Down Reasons for Quitting – It can feel daunting to try to quit vaping because of withdrawal symptoms, but you can ground yourself with the purpose or reason why you’re quitting. When you remember the why, the how becomes more bearable. 
• Give Yourself a Deadline – If there’s no deadline, it’s unlikely that a task will get done, especially if it’s a difficult one. As with SMART goals, give yourself a deadline for taking the first step. So, set a deadline for when you’ll reach out to your doctor for help, for example. 
• Gradual Decline of Vaping – Going cold turkey on vaping can make your addiction worse due to withdrawal. When you break your clean streak, you might feel disheartened, making you less likely to try again. Quit gradually. Start by reducing the frequency. 
• Nicotine Replacement Therapy – You don’t have to do things by yourself. Consult about nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). NRT only uses nicotine, eliminating exposure to other chemicals from vape. It gradually lessens the dosage so you can slowly quit. 
• Connect to Your Support Network – Apart from seeking medical help, you can also enlist the aid of your family and friends. Tell people you are quitting so that they can hold you accountable. This will also ensure they don’t trigger you to be tempted (e.g. inviting you to vape). You may even have a quit buddy, someone who will quit smoking together with you. 
• Switch to a Better Fixation – Your body might be treating vape as a dopamine activator. Instead of vaping, find other activities that feel rewarding. For example, you can get into gaming instead. Unless you become sedentary, gaming is unlikely to make you sick. 
• Learn Stress Management – If you’re using vape to relax, you may keep getting an urge to vape when stressed. Either change the way you react to stressors or practise stress management hacks like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga. 
• Adopt a Healthier Lifestyle – Erectile dysfunction tends to be due to an unhealthy lifestyle. We recommend that you sleep for about eight hours every night, eat a low-carb nutritious diet, and exercise regularly. When you feel physically better, staying clean will be easier. 

Conclusion 

Does vaping cause erectile dysfunction? Yes. Vaping can reduce blood flow due to its harmful chemicals, leading to weaker erections. You can prevent erectile damage from vaping by quitting. If you need help with nicotine addiction, please reach out to your primary care provider. 

Still experiencing impotence even though you quit vaping? It may take a few weeks before you see improvements in your erection. But if you’re still experiencing erectile dysfunction after that, book an appointment with us. Our ED experts will map out all your triggers and provide you with premium, comprehensive care!