Substance Abuse and Sexual Functioning: An Overview of Mechanisms

Sexuality remains a subject of ongoing debate, with significant implications for self-perception and self-esteem, and addiction is a factor that can adversely affect it. Sexual dysfunction heavily burdens people with substance use disorders, as it can cause severe issues such as erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, dyspareunia, and delayed ejaculation. These issues can be caused by hormonal imbalances, loss of vaginal lubrication, lowered blood flow to the penile tissue, and problems with other organs, such as the liver. There could be some therapies to resolve such issues at least partially, for example, medication (oral and injectable), low-intensity focused shockwave therapy, vacuum constriction device, promoting exercise, and testosterone replacement therapy. Utilizing such methods could be helpful, but we could not be sure of their effectiveness. The current review aims to give a brief overview of sexual function, substance use disorders, and their impact on sexuality.