Acute effects of nicotine on physiological and subjective sexual arousal in nonsmoking men: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Chronic nicotine treatment has deleterious effects on vascular functioning and catecholamine modulation, which may compromise erectile functioning. Evidence that long-term cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for introducing impotence is robust. However, limited studies have focused on the acute effects of smoking on physiological sexual response, and none have investigated the deleterious effects of isolated nicotine on human sexual arousal. Consequently, pathophysiological underpinnings of tobacco-induced-and particularly, nicotine-induced-erectile dysfunction are not well understood.


OBJECTIVE
To provide the first empirical examination of the acute effects of isolated nicotine on sexual arousal in nonsmoking men.


METHODS
Twenty-eight sexually functional heterosexual men (mean age 21 years), each with less than 100 direct exposures to nicotine, participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Participants received either Nicorette polacrilex gum (SmithKline Beecham Consumer Healthcare, Pittsburgh, PA, USA) (6 mg; approximately equivalent to smoking one high-yield cigarette) or placebo gum, matched for appearance, taste, and consistency, approximately 40 minutes prior to viewing an erotic film.


METHODS
Physiological (circumferential change via penile plethysmography) and subjective (continuous self-report) sexual responses to erotic stimuli were examined, as well as changes in mood.


RESULTS
Nicotine significantly reduced erectile responses to the erotic films (P = 0.02), corresponding to a 23% reduction in physiological sexual arousal. This occurred in 16 of 20 men with valid physiological recordings. Nicotine had no significant effect on continuous subjective ratings of sexual arousal (P = 0.70) or on mood (all Ps > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Isolated nicotine can significantly attenuate physiological sexual arousal in healthy nonsmoking men. These findings have implications for elucidating physiological mechanisms responsible for the effects of nicotine on sexual dysfunction, and for assisting public health policy in considering the deleterious effects of nicotine on sexual health.
Harte
Christopher B
CB
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Meston
Cindy M
CM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004882:Erotica; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017156:Photoplethysmography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking
D009538:Nicotine