Can smoking weed every day cause erectile dysfunction?

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Why can weed cause ED?

Dr. Houman says marijuana can contribute to ED through multiple mechanisms:

Blood vessel constriction. THC may reduce nitric oxide availability, which is essential for erections. (Reminder: THC stands for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and is the cannabinoid responsible for that feeling of being high.)
Hormonal imbalance. Long-term use has been found to suppress testosterone production, though further research is needed to confirm this.
Neurological effects. Marijuana can dampen the brain's arousal response, making it harder to achieve an erection.

“When you have an erection, the blood vessels have to dilate (get larger), and with chronic use of marijuana, studies show that that dilation doesn’t happen as well, so you can have some issues with getting the erection,” Dr. Gittens says.

In other words, erectile difficulties due to smoking marijuana are likely the result of the substance’s effects on blood vessels.

Remember that the research on the topic isn’t totally definitive yet. Marijuana doesn’t affect everyone the same way, and the effect may depend on dosage, frequency, and other factors like how healthy your blood vessels are to start with.

How to treat ED without quitting marijuana

ED can be frustrating, but the good news is that it’s almost always treatable. From ED medication to lifestyle changes, there are a lot of steps you can take to get harder erections.

Try Viagra

Viagra (sildenafil) is one of the first-line treatments for ED, and for good reason: It works. Here are the key things to know about Viagra that can help you have an informed conversation with your healthcare provider:

It’s an oral prescription medication that is safe and effective for most men.
It starts working within 30–60 minutes.
Effects last for up to 4–6 hours.
Side effects are typically mild, such as headache, indigestion, stuffy sinuses, facial flushing, and temporary vision changes.
Serious side effects are rare, but may include priapism, a prolonged erection lasting 4 hours or more that is considered an emergency. (If you believe you are experiencing serious side effects, don’t hesitate to seek emergency medical attention.)

Try Cialis

Cialis (tadalafil) is another popular oral ED medication with similar side effects as Viagra. Here are two key differences between Cialis vs. Viagra:

You can take Cialis daily at a lower dose, so you’re always ready to go.
Or you can take it on demand like Viagra (similar to the way you take Viagra), but its effects last way longer — for nearly a whole weekend (or up to 36 hours).

As always, speak with your healthcare provider to see if Cialis might be right for you.

Explore other prescription ED treatments

Stendra (avanafil) and vardenafil are two more oral medications for ED that are largely considered effective, well-tolerated, and safe for most men to take.

You have other options beyond traditional ED medication, too. For example, you might try:

Ro Sparks, a sublingual (read: under-the-tongue) treatment that combines sildenafil and tadalafil (the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis, respectively) for fast-acting effects.
Daily Rise Gummies, fruit-flavored gummies containing tadalafil that are meant to be taken every day so you can be ready 24/7.

While the above two medications are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), their active ingredients have been individually FDA-approved for ED in other forms.

Consider other lifestyle changes

If you want to get better erections without medication, try these healthy lifestyle changes:

Drink less alcohol. Heavy drinking is strongly associated with ED. Limiting your alcohol intake may lower your risk of ED.
Exercise on a regular basis. Studies show that those who exercise more are less likely to have ED.
Eat a balanced diet. In particular, health experts generally recommend adopting a Mediterranean diet, which includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and other ED-friendly foods.
Get better sleep. Poor sleep has been linked to ED, so prioritizing 7–9 hours of shut-eye nightly can support healthy erections.
Take care of your mental health. Stress, anxiety, and depression can all contribute to ED. Practice relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises. And reach out to a therapist if you need to.

Should you quit marijuana to help with ED?

Given the links between marijuana and erectile dysfunction, smoking less weed — or quitting altogether — is probably a good idea. Using less cannabis has also been shown to relieve anxiety and depression, both of which are strongly associated with ED.

Quitting cannabis may also improve your fertility, Dr. Gittens says.

“In my fertility practice, we’ll see a guy with lower sperm counts who makes the modification of reducing the amount of marijuana he smokes, or stopping it completely, and we see a drastic change in their semen analysis for the good,” he shares.

If you also smoke cigarettes, you’re going to want to kick that habit to the curb, as well. Like marijuana, cigarette smoking is also linked with sexual dysfunction and ED. Those who quit smoking see their erections improve in quality by 25% after one year, according to research.

How marijuana or weed affects men’s sexual function

Given the somewhat recent legalization of recreational and medical marijuana in the US, research on all the effects of marijuana — including its effects on sexual function — is limited but ongoing.

Of the scientific literature that’s currently available, several studies contradict each other.

Some say smoking weed likely worsens ED and fertility.
Some say it may have no impact on sexual function.
Others claim it may even improve sexual performance.

Some of the differences in findings could be because marijuana has different effects in different people. Also, occasional use differs from chronic daily use. Overall, additional research is needed to better understand the relationship between marijuana and sexual health.

Here’s a quick recap of the positive and negative effects of weed on men’s sexual function and performance, according to the research:

How does weed affect men’s libido and sexual function?

Potential positive effects

Potential negative effects

Increased sexual desire

Better orgasms

Higher sexual satisfaction

Premature ejaculation

More difficulty orgasming

Reduced sperm count, concentration, and quality

Higher risk of ED

Among the studies referenced above, most did not clarify which type of weed consumption (e.g. flower, edible, topical) led to these results. Also, given that different people have different experiences with marijuana, effects may vary at the individual level.

“Marijuana interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in hormone regulation, blood flow, and neurological signaling — all of which influence sexual function,” Dr Houman says. “Some men report increased relaxation and heightened sensations with use, but others experience difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection.”

Weed’s impact on fertility sometimes surprises men, says Dr. Gittens. But marijuana doesn’t necessarily affect all men the same way.

Men with naturally higher sperm counts may still be able to reproduce with marijuana in their system, but those who already have lower sperm counts to begin with may be especially vulnerable to weed-related infertility.

“In some of the studies, it shows nearly a 30% decrease in sperm count,” Dr. Gittens explains.

Short-term effects of smoking weed

The most obvious effect of smoking weed is that you-know-it-when-you-feel-it sensation of being high. You may move more slowly or have trouble remembering things. Take too much, and you might start feeling paranoid, as well.

In addition to its psychoactive properties, smoking weed can cause a number of short-term effects, such as:

Euphoria
Disorientation
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Nausea
Sleepiness
Increased heart rate
Breathing changes

As for the short-term effects of cannabis on sex? In some studies, people reported an increase in libido. This is likely because they feel a little less inhibited, which can allow them to enjoy sex a little more. These temporary increases in libido and relaxation may also reduce performance anxiety, Dr. Houman says.

“For people with chronic pain, marijuana can help them initiate intercourse and get out of their pain and more into the sexual function,” Dr. Gittens says.

However, people who feel sleepy after using marijuana may be less likely to be able to engage in sexual activity and could even experience difficulty orgasming.

How quickly you feel the effects of marijuana depends on how you consume it. When you’re smoking weed, these short-term effects can reach their peak within 3–10 minutes of inhalation. With edibles, the high can take much longer to kick in — around 1–2 hours.

Long-term effects of smoking weed

Getting stoned may be fun for some, but it can also have several long-term effects that are worth considering. Frequent or heavy use of marijuana has been linked to health issues such as:

Addiction
Altered brain development, particularly in adolescents and young adults
Cognitive impairment
Chronic bronchitis (when you are smoking marijuana)
Lower overall life satisfaction

Chronic use of chronic (pardon the pun) may also have lasting negative effects on your sex life. Continued marijuana use can cause fertility issues, too.

“Especially at high doses, [it] has also been linked to lower testosterone levels, impaired sperm quality, and vascular dysfunction — all risk factors for ED,” Dr. Houman says.

(FYI, researchers have yet to define what exactly “chronic use” is, but most agree it ranges from using weed often enough to develop a tolerance, whether that be multiple days a week or multiple times a day.)

Personalized ED treatment for you.