Alcohol abstinence and erectile dysfunction Original paper

Erectile dysfunction (ED) — the consistent or recurrent inability to sustain or maintain penile erection sufficient for sexual satisfaction — has a high prevalence among men with alcohol use disorder (AUD).^[1] Several studies have found an association between acute and chronic alcohol use and ED,^[2] but little is known about whether ED can be reversed with the cessation of alcohol use.

This prospective follow-up study examined the effect of 3 months of alcohol abstinence on ED in men with AUD. A total of 104 men (average age of 41) were recruited from an addiction clinic, all of whom met the following inclusion criteria: (i) diagnosed with AUD, (ii) positive for ED, and (iii) in a stable relationship with a sexual partner for >6 months.

The primary study outcome was the presence and severity of ED, which was assessed using the five-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) at baseline and at the 3-month follow up.

Overall, 92 participants (88.5%) showed an improvement in ED after 3 months of alcohol abstinence, and 64 participants (62%) reported a complete recovery from ED.

In this study, greater improvements in ED were associated with a younger age, the absence of alcoholic liver disease, and a lower quantity and shorter duration of alcohol use, suggesting that these factors mediate the relationship between ED and AUD.

Although the original text of this article used the term “de-addiction” clinic, we have opted to use “addiction clinic” in our summary.