Can alcohol cause infertility in men?

Written by Brandon Okey. Mina Draskovic, B.Psy., reviewed this content for accuracy.

Alcohol wrecks sexual performance for men. The more you drink, the higher your risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) because alcohol disrupts the blood flow, nerve function, and hormone balance needed for healthy erections.

According to a 2007 study, 72% of men with alcohol dependence struggle with sexual dysfunction, while erectile dysfunction affects one-third (33.3%) of these men.

Breaking alcohol dependence isn’t easy, but with proper support, you can reclaim your sexual health and return to sobriety. Our alcohol rehab program combines medical expertise with personalized care to address addiction and the underlying issues that fuel it.

Does low testosterone cause ED?

Testosterone powers your erectile function. When its levels drop below normal range, your sexual desire and erectile capacity suffer.

Here’s how testosterone enables healthy erections:

It stimulates receptors in your brain that control sexual desire and arousal.
It activates nitric oxide production to help relax blood vessels in your penis and allow blood flow.
It maintains the health of endothelial cells lining blood vessels throughout your erectile tissues.
It preserves the strength and responsiveness of the smooth muscle tissue in your penis.
It supports nerve sensitivity in your genital region, enhancing your response to touch.

Men with low testosterone often experience weaker erections, decreased frequency of morning erections, and reduced overall sexual satisfaction. The relationship works on a spectrum; the lower your testosterone falls, the more your erectile function deteriorates.

How does alcohol lower testosterone?

Heavy drinking disrupts your hormone production, including testosterone. When you consume alcohol, your liver prioritizes metabolizing testosterone over hormone regulation, which creates a cascade of negative effects on your sexual functions.

Excessive alcohol consumption attacks testosterone through the following mechanisms:

Alcohol increases aromatase production, which converts testosterone into estrogen. A 2019 systematic review found that five drinks per day can boost estrogen levels in men by up to 15%.
The Leydig cells in your testes that produce testosterone shrink by up to 37% in subjects with alcohol dependence according to a 2014 article published by Middle East Fertility Society Journal.
Cortisol levels spike by 50–150% with chronic alcohol consumption. High levels of the stress hormone block testosterone production in the testes while shrinking erectile tissues and dampening sexual desire.
Alcohol disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis by blocking luteinizing hormone secretion from the pituitary gland. This hormone normally tells your testes to produce testosterone, but alcohol prevents this signal from being transmitted, cutting testosterone production by up to 40% within hours of drinking.
Alcohol accelerates zinc excretion through urine. As the primary building block for testosterone molecules, zinc deficiency directly prevents your body from manufacturing adequate hormone levels even when other systems function normally.
Just two alcoholic drinks before bed reduces REM sleep by 24%, the critical sleep phase when nearly 70% of daily testosterone production occurs. According to a 2022 journal article, disruption creates a hormonal deficit that diminishes morning erections and sexual arousal the following day, even if you stopped drinking hours before sleep.

Men who drink heavily show much lower testosterone levels than non-drinkers. These hormone disruptions sabotage not just your sexual function but also muscle mass, energy, and mood. After quitting alcohol, testosterone levels can bounce back within days.

Our alcohol detox program helps flush alcohol toxins from your system. Our male-focused recovery approach addresses the testosterone damage caused by drinking, accelerating your return to hormonal balance and healthy sexual function.

Will my erectile dysfunction go away if I stop drinking alcohol?

For most men, quitting alcohol reverses erectile dysfunction. Your body begins healing as soon as alcohol clears your system, but the severity and duration of your drinking habit determine your recovery timeline.

Men whose ED occurs primarily during or immediately after drinking sessions typically recover function quickly when they stop. Their erectile issues mainly stem from alcohol’s temporary effects on blood flow and nerve function. Long-term heavy drinkers face a longer recovery road. Years of alcohol abuse create structural and functional changes throughout your body that take time to heal.

The good news is that these changes reverse for most men with sustained sobriety.

How long after quitting alcohol does erectile dysfunction improve?

Most men see erectile function improvement within 2–3 months of complete sobriety. According to Salter, et. al., nearly 90% of men recover normal sexual function within this timeframe, but the exact speed depends on how long and heavily you’ve been drinking.

Recovery follows a typical pattern after you quit.

First 7–10 days: Your body tackles alcohol withdrawal; erectile function might not improve yet.
2–4 weeks alcohol-free: Morning erections return, and sexual function starts improving.
1–2 months sober: Most men with mild to moderate alcohol-induced ED see major gains as hormones stabilize and blood flow improves.
3 months without alcohol: This marks the turning point where erectile function rebounds for most men.
Six months alcohol-free: Even men with severe, long-standing alcohol problems experience substantial recovery.

Men with decades of heavy drinking might need up to a year to see maximum improvement.

The path to sexual health recovery begins with breaking the cycle of your alcohol use disorder (AUD) at Ardu, where our specialized detox program eliminates alcohol safely from your system. Many men use alcohol to self-medicate, but our dual diagnosis approach tackles addiction and any underlying mental health issues fueling your drinking.

How much alcohol causes erectile dysfunction?

The amount you drink predicts sexual dysfunction severity.

Having a drink or two every now and then barely increases your ED risk, but the danger climbs quickly with binge drinking.
Knocking back 2–3 drinks daily pushes your risk of erectile problems up by 25–30%.
Once you hit four or more drinks daily or engage in weekend binge sessions, your risk of ED skyrockets by 60–70%, with immediate and lasting damage to sexual function.
Men who down more than 14 drinks weekly face higher risks of permanent damage to sexual function.

Research shows a J-shaped relationship between alcohol and erectile function. Complete abstainers and heavy drinkers have more ED than occasional light drinkers.

Your genetics, health, medications, and age all affect how alcohol impacts your erections. Men with heart disease, diabetes, or smoking habits experience ED at lower alcohol levels than healthy men.

Your health depends on fixing the root cause (your drinking) rather than just masking symptoms. Many men find that wanting their sex life back provides powerful motivation to stay sober.

Reclaim your sexual health and sobriety at Ardu

At Ardu Recovery Center, we tackle the alcohol-ED connection head-on. Our approach combines medical treatment, psychological support, and whole-body healing to fix your addiction and, indirectly, its sexual consequences.

Our male-focused rehabilitation program starts with medically supervised detox to manage withdrawal safely. We provide 24/7 medical supervision, IV hydration, and medications to ease discomfort while alcohol leaves your system.

Our addiction specialists build a personalized sobriety plan that fits your situation. Through cognitive behavioral therapy and other proven approaches, we help you confront drinking and build healthier coping strategies.

Beyond traditional addiction treatment, our additional programs accelerate your body’s natural healing through:

Nutritional therapy to repair alcohol damage.
Structured exercise programs to rebuild cardiovascular health crucial for erections.
Mindfulness training to reduce anxiety that undermines recovery and sexual performance.
Group support where you can discuss sensitive issues with men facing similar challenges.

Don’t let alcohol keep wrecking your sexual health and relationships. Call Ardu today at (801) 872-8480 to take back control of your sobriety and sexual confidence.

Alcohol and erectile dysfunction FAQ

Does Viagra work with alcohol?

Viagra (sildenafil) works less effectively when combined with alcohol. Alcohol and Viagra affect blood pressure, and mixing them increases side effects such as dizziness and headaches. A systematic review found even moderate alcohol intake reduces Viagra’s effectiveness by 30%.

While one drink might cause minimal interference, excessive drinking significantly undermines erectile medications. For men with alcohol-induced erectile dysfunction, healthcare professionals recommend separating alcohol consumption and ED medication by at least 4–6 hours for sufficient erectile function during sexual intercourse.

How long after quitting alcohol do testosterone levels return to normal?

Testosterone levels begin recovering within days of your last drink. Men with moderate alcohol consumption typically see substantial improvement within 2–4 weeks of abstinence. Heavy drinkers with chronic alcohol abuse may require 3–6 months for full hormonal balance restoration.

During recovery, the body repairs alcohol-damaged Leydig cells in the testes that produce testosterone. Age influences recovery speed. Younger men experience faster normalization of testosterone levels. Some men notice improved mood, energy, and sexual desire before testosterone fully returns to normal.

How does alcohol affect a man sexually?

Alcohol delivers immediate and long-term blows to male sexual functioning. Initially, it drops blood pressure and slows nerve signals, making erections difficult to achieve and maintain. Regular excessive consumption damages blood vessels and erectile tissues while reducing testosterone production.

Men with alcohol dependence report multiple sexual disorders: decreased desire, difficulty maintaining erection firm enough for sexual intercourse, delayed ejaculation, and reduced sexual arousal. These negative impacts create a vicious cycle. Many men drink to reduce performance anxiety, yet alcohol worsens the underlying physiological processes needed for healthy sexual response.

What alcohol is good for erectile dysfunction?

No type of alcohol benefits erectile dysfunction. All forms damage sexual function based on alcohol content, not beverage type. All alcohol types (beer, wine, liquor) impair erection sufficiency when consumed above moderate amounts. The relationship between alcohol consumption and erectile health follows a dose-response pattern where excessive drinking consistently harms erectile tissues. While some claim red wine might offer minimal cardiovascular benefits in tiny quantities, these potential benefits don’t extend to erectile function.

Does vodka cause impotence?

Vodka, like all alcohol, can cause temporary erectile dysfunction with immediate consumption and permanent impotence with long-term abuse. Its high alcohol content creates immediate risks for erectile issues through blood pressure changes and nervous system depression. A night of binge drinking vodka can trigger temporary erectile dysfunction lasting 24–72 hours, while chronic vodka consumption can lead to lasting damage requiring medical treatment to address underlying health conditions.

Studies of patients with alcohol use show no difference between vodka, whiskey, or other spirits in their impact on erectile function. The determining factor is alcohol concentration and quantity consumed.

Resources

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Lei Chen, Guang-rui Shi, Dan-dan Huang, Yang Li, Chen-chao Ma, Min Shi, Bin-xiao Su, Guang-jiang Shi, Male sexual dysfunction: A review of literature on its pathological mechanisms, potential risk factors, and herbal drug intervention, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 112, 2019, 108585, ISSN 0753-3322, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2019.01.046.

O.O. Dosumu, A.A.A. Osinubi, F.I.O. Duru, Alcohol induced testicular damage: Can abstinence equal recovery?, Middle East Fertility Society Journal, Volume 19, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 221-228, ISSN 1110-5690, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mefs.2014.01.003.

Viola Helaakoski, Jaakko Kaprio, Christer Hublin, Hanna M Ollila, Antti Latvala, Alcohol use and poor sleep quality: a longitudinal twin study across 36 years, SLEEP Advances, Volume 3, Issue 1, 2022, zpac023, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac023

Salter CA, Tin AL, Bernie HL, Nascimento B, Katz DJ, Benfante NE, Carlsson SV, Mulhall JP. Predictors of Worsening Erectile Function in Men with Functional Erections Early After Radical Prostatectomy. J Sex Med. 2022 Dec;19(12):1790-1796. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.08.193. Epub 2022 Oct 1. PMID: 36192298; PMCID: PMC10168542.

Li S, Song JM, Zhang K, Zhang CL. A Meta-Analysis of Erectile Dysfunction and Alcohol Consumption. Urol Int. 2021;105(11-12):969-985. doi: 10.1159/000508171. Epub 2021 Sep 14. PMID: 34521090.

Kim JN, Oh JJ, Park DS, Hong YK, Yu YD. Influence of Alcohol on Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors Use in Middle- to Old-Aged Men: A Comparative Study of Adverse Events. Sex Med. 2019 Dec;7(4):425-432. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2019.07.004. Epub 2019 Aug 20. PMID: 31444051; PMCID: PMC6963111.