Can Opioids Cause Erection problems?

The opioid crisis continues to be a hot button issue in the news, as the United States and other countries grapple with how to make this pain killer available for responsible medical use while at the same time limiting its availability for misuse and abuse. There have been numerous articles about the problem of abusing opioids in general - but too few men may be aware of the fact that opioid misuse could potentially lead to erection problems. While the opioids issue is bigger than this one concern, it’s worthwhile for men to know more about this potential impact on their sex lives.

What are opioids?

People are talking about opioids and the opioid crisis, but what exactly are opioids? Basically, opioids are a kind of narcotic pain reliever that are intended to be used when mild pain relievers don’t get the job done. They work by reducing the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Opioids are not available over the counter and require a prescription.
Some of the more commonly-known opioids are codeine (often found in prescription cough medicines), morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone and hydrocodone.
Further, opioids are often classified in two categories - short-acting and long-acting. Short-acting opioids are intended to provide relief for six hour or less; they release their medication more quickly. Long-acting is intended to last at least hours, and the medication is released more quickly.

Erection effects

Many animal studies have noted that opioid use has the potential to create sexual problems in both male and female test animals. Some studies in humans have also noted this problem.
One 2017 study looked at other studies which had focused on men who had undergone opioid therapy and men who had not. By combining the data from these studies, the authors found that men who had used opioids were about twice as likely to have erect penis dysfunction as those who had not used opioids.

Why should this be? Well, another study - this one from 2013 -sheds some light on that question. This study looked at 81 men who had all been on opioid therapy for at least three months. None of the men had tested for low testosterone levels before undergoing therapy; however, more than half (57%) developed low testosterone from the opioid treatment. (The rate varied depending on which kind of opioid was used. Of men taking short acting opioids, the rate of low testosterone development was 34%, compared to 74% of those on long-acting testosterone.

In men, testosterone is an important component of sexual health. Higher levels of testosterone are associated with an increased sex drive, as well as with greater erectile function. So by suppressing testosterone production, opioids can make it more difficult for a man to achieve an erect penis. (And, with his sex drive also impacted, it may make a man less interested in sex as well.)

Check with doctor

If a man is using opioids and feels that they may be having an effect on his erect penis, he should consult with his doctor about an appropriate course of action to take. And if he feels that using opioids is having other negative effects, such as creating a potential dependency, he needs to bring this to the attention of his doctor right away.

Opioids are not the only factor impacting an erect penis, and having a healthy member overall increases the odds of having healthy erections. Men should regularly apply a first class penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The ideal crème will contain a wide range of vitamins, including A, B5, C, D and E. In addition, the crème should contain the amino acid L-arginine, which helps boost nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide, in turn, helps keep penile blood vessels capable of receiving greater blood flow.

Can Opioids Discourage an Erect Penis?

Opioids have been in the news in recent months, largely due to an increasing concern about abuse of these drugs and the health crisis that is forming as a result of that abuse. There are many reasons to be concerned about improper use of opioids, and penis health might be one of those reasons. Some research suggests that use of opioids may cause issues with getting or maintaining an erect penis.

Opioids

Many people have heard of opioids, but what are they exactly? The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines opioids as a class of drugs that interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain. This class of drug is infamous because it includes the illegal drug heroin. It also includes a synthetic opioid called fentanyl, which is used to relieve pain but which is also a "street drug" under names like Apache, Jackpot, and China White. There are many other opioid pain relievers, like morphine, codeine, and oxycodone.

Opioids used for pain relief serve a very important medical function: enabling patients enduring extremely painful procedures or conditions to cope with pain. Unfortunately, even some of the prescription opioids have in recent years become abused. Combined with the presence of heroin and the fentanyl derivatives, opioid addiction has expanded dangerously. More than 90 Americans die every day from abuse of opioids in their various forms.

Erect penis problems

There exists the possibility that opioid use - even when prescribed and used in an appropriate manner - may have an impact on a man’s erect penis function.

A recent study from the Journal of Sexual Medicine reviewed ten studies that looked at opioid use and erectile dysfunction in men. The ten studies involved a total of more than 8,000 men (average age of 41.6 years). The studies looked at men who were receiving opioid management, and compared them to controls that received placebos.

After analyzing the results from all ten trials, the authors determined that men who use opioids have a 96% greater risk of developing erectile dysfunction. Not only that, but the risk was even greater among younger men. (Men may typically develop some erect penis issues as they age; younger opioid users were much likelier to develop them earlier than the typical population.)

Some studies found that opioids lower testosterone levels, which may be a reason why erectile dysfunction may develop. Other theories (yet to be tested in men using opioids) are that depression may play a role, or that opioids could negatively decrease nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide is needed to help penile blood vessels expand and accommodate the greater influx of blood that creates erections.

While this study presents some interesting ideas, it points to the need for more studies designed to specifically address erect penis issues and opioids and which can look more closely into possible causes and effects.

In the meantime, if a man is prescribed opioids, he may want to report any erectile dysfunction issues he experiences to his doctor and discuss possible options. (And any man who is abusing opioids is strongly encouraged to seek help from a medical professional immediately; such abuse can be fatal.)

Opioids and their possible effect on an erect penis are just one factor to consider when protecting penis health. Daily use of a top drawer penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is an excellent way to help maintain that overall health. Definitely seek out a crème with L-arginine, an amino acid which boosts nitric oxide production, thereby helping penile blood vessels expand as needed. It also helps if the crème contains vitamin D, the "miracle vitamin" that the body needs to help maintain its health, especially during cold winter months.