E D; (Part Two) ~

Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, (huh?)

Meaning it tightens blood vessels and restricts blood flow. In the long term, it has even been shown to cause permanent damage to arteries. Since a man's erection depends on blood flow, researchers assumed smoking would affect erections.
(As I wrote about in part 1.)

Studies have confirmed this time and again. In a study published in Addiction Behavior, it was shown that just two cigarettes could cause softer erections (Yikes Again!) in male smokers. Results are corroborated by a review of all studies done on impotent men over the last two decades.

Research shows that 40 percent of men affected by impotence were smokers, as opposed to 28 percent of the general male population. That is either a really amazing coincidence, or there is a relationship between smoking and male impotence.

It should be noted that most of these men were older, (like me -- and Thank Goodness for Viagra!) and smoking is considered just one cause of erectile dysfunction. The others include stress, hypertension, alcoholism, diabetes, and prostate surgery. Young smokers may not notice negative effects right away, but they could be setting themselves up for "failure" later on. (Back to that whole ‘Ball Players Juicing Up’ thing).

It's hard to say whether your sex life will improve if you quit smoking, since there are many factors influencing your sex life beyond genital sensation. Although most of this has been tailored towards men there are other benefits that are not gender specific and will certainly benefit women as well --
’kicking the habit’ will also eliminate stained teeth, unhealthy skin, rapid accumulation of wrinkles on the face, -- and clothing, hair, and breath that smell of smoke. These additional changes may also improve one's sex life.

Of course, cancer and heart disease — which tend to have negative effects on one's sex life — decreasing the risk of those could also be sexy in the long run.