Alcohol reduces erectile dysfunction risk

PERTH, Australia, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Alcohol, which has a reputation as something of a drag on male sexual performance, may actually improve bedroom performance, Australian researchers said.

Kew-Kim Chew of the University of Western Australia's Keogh Institute for Medical Research and colleagues examined the data from a population-based cross-sectional study of men's health to assess the association between usual alcohol consumption and erectile dysfunction.

More than 1,500 Australian men were questioned through a questionnaire on health history and drinking habits. The five-item International Index of Erectile Function was used to assess erectile function, the researchers said.

Eighty-seven percent of the participants were current alcohol drinkers, with binge drinking, as defined by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, reported by 20 percent of drinkers.

Compared with never-drinkers, the age-adjusted odds of erectile dysfunction were lower among current, weekend, and binge drinkers and higher among ex-drinkers.

Among current drinkers, the odds were lowest for consumption within the NHMRC guidelines of between one and 20 standard drinks a week.

Further adjustment for cardiovascular disease or for cigarette smoking, age-adjusted odds of erectile dysfunction were reduced by 25 percent to 30 percent among alcohol drinkers.

The findings, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, suggest a modest negative association between alcohol consumption and erectile dysfunction.

The study provides no justification for advising men with erectile dysfunction whose drinking habits are consistent with NHMRC guidelines that they should cease or reduce their consumption of alcohol, researchers said.