The Effects Of Cocaine On Sex Drive

Cocaine is a powerful drug that can have serious impacts on sex drive and sexual health.

It is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that increases alertness, feelings of well-being, and euphoria. It also can make you more talkative and increase your heart rate and blood pressure.

In the short term, cocaine can make you feel more sexually aroused and increase your sexual desire.

But cocaine’s physical effects on sexual function are not all positive. Cocaine can also lead to erectile dysfunction in men and make it difficult for women to reach orgasm.

In addition, cocaine can reduce your ability to make rational decisions about sex, leading to risky sexual behavior and increasing your chances of contracting a sexually transmitted disease.

What Happens When You Have Sex On Cocaine?

Cocaine can make sex more intense and pleasurable, since sexual activity and cocaine both release dopamine in the CNS, an area of the brain that the drug is already ‘working’ on.

However, cocaine can also make people more impulsive and increase the risk of condomless sex, which can lead to STI transmission or unwanted pregnancy.

What Are The Short-Term Effects Of Cocaine On Sex Drive?

Cocaine can cause longer-lasting sex, increased euphoria, heightened awareness, and an overall increase in sexual pleasure.

This extends to orgasms, too, since having an orgasm while cocaine is active in the body causes the orgasms to be more intense.

Can Cocaine Lead To Better Orgasms?

While cocaine-induced orgasms can be more intense and euphoric than the same result in a sober state, the long-term use of cocaine can cause serious physical and mental health problems.

Long-term abuse of cocaine can negatively impact sexual intercourse, as it can cause erectile dysfunction in men.

This happens because the brain is used to the presence of excess dopamine from cocaine, and can get confused during sexual encounters when it is not present.

This means that the brain loses the ability to orgasm without external help, such as the dopamine released from cocaine.

How Does Cocaine Affect The Sex Drive Long Term?

Cocaine use can lead to sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction, difficulty reaching orgasm, and reduced sexual desire. These problems can persist even after people stop using cocaine.

It can also damage sexual health and present negative side effects to sexual partners, since it can lead to compulsive behavior — which can be risky and potentially cause unwanted pregnancies.

Compulsive Sexual Behavior

Compulsive sexual behavior includes excessive masturbation, multiple sexual partners, negative decision-making, risky sexual behavior, and preoccupation with sex.

Cocaine use can lead to compulsive sexual behavior, because it increases the levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain.

Dopamine is associated with pleasure and reward, so increased levels of dopamine can lead to a feeling of euphoria and a strong desire for more sexual activity.

Increased Risk For Contracting STIs

People who engage in sexual acts while using cocaine are more likely to engage in unprotected sex, forgo the use of condoms, and engage in riskier sex (i.e. rough sex).

This adds to the already-present risk factors of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Unsafe Sex And Related Consequences

People who use cocaine often engage in risky sexual behavior, such as unprotected sex. This can lead to sexually transmitted diseases and other health problems.

Cocaine can also lead to relationship problems. It can make people more aggressive and more likely to engage in domestic violence.

How Cocaine Use Affects Sexual Function

Cocaine affects the body’s CNS, which can lead to increased sexual arousal.

However, over time, repeated use of cocaine can lead to erectile dysfunction, inability to reach orgasm, and lubrication issues.

Erectile Dysfunction In Men

Cocaine constricts blood vessels, which can lead to decreased blood flow to the penis and make it difficult to achieve and maintain an erection.

This problem can be exacerbated when cocaine is used with alcohol or heroin, which increases the chance of erectile dysfunction.

Lubrication Issues In Women

Cocaine use can decrease prolactin production levels in women, which is the hormone responsible for sexual arousal and lubrication in women.

When levels are low, sexual activity can be uncomfortable or even painful, making it difficult or impossible to orgasm.

Are Effects On Sex Caused By Cocaine Permanent?

One of the most serious long-term effects of cocaine use is sexual dysfunction. This can include problems with sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm.

For men, this can mean erectile dysfunction, which includes difficulty in achieving and maintaining an erection.

Cocaine use can also cause damage to the reproductive organs. In men, this can lead to reduced sperm count and motility. In women, cocaine use can damage the eggs and lead to infertility.

Treatment Options For Cocaine Addiction

There are a number of substance abuse treatment programs and services available to treat cocaine addictions.

Addiction treatment approaches for cocaine abuse include:

• drug use education and counseling
• detox from cocaine, alcohol, opioids, and other substances
• inpatient and outpatient programs
• psychopharmacology treatment
• individual and group therapy

Find Substance Use Disorder Treatment Today

If you or a loved one is in search of drug abuse counseling or cocaine treatment, give our free helpline a call today to learn about treatment options in your area.