Q: My SO has been at my throat ever since she read an article saying that smoking causes erectile dysfunction, is that true? She wants me to quit, I don’t want to quit just yet.
A: Thank you for your question! Also, you should thank your SO for being a great partner and caring about your health. If you want a short answer – yes, smoking absolutely causes erection problems.
According to the recent data, smoking is the number one cause for ED in males under the age of 45. Once again, if you want a brief version – it damages your blood vessels. Maintaining an erection requires sufficient blood supply to the penis area and, all thanks to nicotine, your penis shrinks because of the contracted vessels. The longer you’ve been a smoker, the harder it is to reverse the damage done by cigarettes.
You already know this, but cigarettes are bad for your body as a whole. They can harm just about every part of your body, they severely damage the lining of the blood vessels, impairing their functioning. Your heart is also at risk. Your kidneys, brain, and, of course, your lungs are also damaged. Most of that can be reversed, but it will take time to heal. Our bodies are surprisingly resilient, believe it or not.
To wrap it all up, our advice to you is quitting. You need to quit right now. We believe you because you have a supportive partner that will help you throughout the process. This is not going to be easy, but good things are never easy. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your family/friends and/or professionals. Good luck!