Sexual Function And Illicit Drug Use: Amphetamine Use In Men May Affect Sex Life

New findings published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reveal that illicit drug use, particularly the use of amphetamines, may affect sexual function in men.

Amphetamines are classified as a group of drugs that trigger the central nervous system and contain ingredients such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, methylphenidate, and 3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("Ecstasy").

In a recent study, researchers examined the effects of amphetamine use in 1,159 males who illicitly abused stimulants. Half of the participants said that the drugs had no impact on their sexual function, while the other half reported that these impacts resulted in erectile rigidity and sexual satisfaction, enhanced orgasmic intensity and delayed ejaculation.

"Compared with 211 matched controls, amphetamine users were twice as likely to experience erectile dysfunction," said Dr. Bang-Ping Jiann, senior author of The Journal of Sexual Medicine study.

Some amphetamines have been used to treat certain medical disorders, including obesity, Parkinson's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. However, some of the long-term effects associated with its use can be dangerous, including convulsions, coma, and even death in more rare cases.

For more information about the short- and long-term effects of amphetamine use, click here.

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