Tobacco and Impotence

Cigarettes cause impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction.^{Footnote 1}

• Key facts about tobacco use and impotence
• What is impotence?
• How does tobacco use increase the risk of impotence?
• How does quitting reduce the risk of impotence?
• Health benefits of quitting tobacco use at any age
• Call for free help to quit

Key facts about tobacco use and impotence

• The risk of erectile dysfunction increases with past and present smoking habits as smoking reduces blood flow to the penis.^{Footnote 2Footnote 3Footnote 4}
• People who smoke have a greater risk of erectile dysfunction than those who do not smoke.^{Footnote 5}

View health-related messages for all tobacco product packaging.

What is impotence?

Impotence, or erectile dysfunction, is the inability to have and keep an erection for sexual purposes.^{Footnote 1} Erectile dysfunction is usually caused by poor vascular function that reduces blood flow to the penis.^{Footnote 8}

Smoking increases the chances of developing erectile dysfunction. One study has shown that in people younger than 40, smoking is a significant factor in experiencing impotence.^{Footnote 9} 40% of men experiencing erectile dysfunction also smoke, compared to 28% of men in the general population.^{Footnote 10}

Once erectile dysfunction is diagnosed, treatment can include medications, testosterone replacement therapy, and penile implants.^{Footnote 11}

How does tobacco use increase the risk of impotence?

Tobacco smoke contains many toxic chemicals that enters the body when the smoke is inhaled.^{Footnote 7} Smoking increases the formation of plaque along the walls of blood vessels. Plaque builds up along the inside of the blood vessels causing them to narrow, which can disrupt proper blood flow. This condition is called atherosclerosis.^{Footnote 1Footnote 7}

Atherosclerosis in the blood vessels of the penis can disrupt blood flow to the penis, making it more difficult to have and maintain an erection.^{Footnote 12}

Smoking can also damage sperm cells, leading to fertility problems, including birth defects and decreased chances of survival of the fetus at birth.^{Footnote 7}

How does quitting reduce the risk of impotence?

Quitting smoking leads to a reduced risk in the development of atherosclerosis. The progression of atherosclerosis slows the longer someone remains smoke-free.^{Footnote 2}

For someone who smokes, their risk of erectile dysfunction increases with how much they smoke and for how long. This means that the earlier someone quits smoking, the smaller the risk for erectile dysfunction will be.

Health benefits of quitting tobacco use at any age

Quitting tobacco use reduces the risk of premature death, improves health, and enhances quality of life.^{Footnote 2} Quitting at any age is beneficial to one's health.^{Footnote 2} Even people who have smoked or used tobacco heavily for many years benefit from quitting.^{Footnote 2} Quitting is the most important thing someone who smokes can do to improve their health.

Read more about the benefits of quitting smoking.

Call for free help to quit

Call the toll-free pan-Canadian quit line at 1-866-366-3667. Quit line counselling, alone or in combination with cessation medications, increases success in quitting.^{Footnote 2}