We all know alcohol plays a huge role in our behaviour, but what does this mean for the more intimate moments? In this blog post, we are going to look at how alcohol can impact your sex life --- both the good and the ugly.

Positive effects of alcohol

Let’s start with the good stuff:

1. Alcohol increases your sex drive

Alcohol doesn’t increase your libido. What it does is lower your inhibitions --- making you more open to sexual adventures. Alcohol eases your anxiety and helps you move on from past issues that are stopping you from being sexual. A common example of these issues includes:

• Concerns about how you look
• Worries about reaching the climax
• Worries about not satisfying your partner

All these can be fixed with a glass of vodka, rum, or wine. A small amount of alcohol can also make erotic talks sexier and more spontaneous. And lastly, the lack of anxiety will help improve a man’s staying power in bed.

2. Alcohol helps you enjoy the moment

Alcohol slows down brain activity --- temporarily freeing you from tension and worries. Believe it or not, one of the main reasons why couples don’t have sex often is stress. With alcohol, these worries tend to disappear.

3. Alcohol makes your partner more attractive

Several clinical studies show that people tend to rate their partners as more attractive after drinking alcohol. The attraction is not just physical. It’s influenced by a lot of factors including:

• The physical appearance of your partner
• How well you get along with each other
• Your state of mind

4. Alcohol increases your sense of attachment to your partner

Your emotions are governed by your brain’s prefrontal cortex. And alcohol has a massive effect in this area. So, don’t be surprised if after a few glasses you become more talkative and more open about your feelings. Alcohol draws you closer to someone --- making your sexual encounters more intimate and powerful.

Negative effects of alcohol

There’s a catch. You can only consume so much alcohol before its benefits become your downfall. Below are some of the negative impacts of alcohol in your sex life:

1. Alcohol puts your health at risk

For starters, most medications have a contraindication for alcohol, making you more susceptible to developing side effects. There are also several studies linking excessive alcohol consumption to certain cancers, particularly in the liver. Lastly, alcohol is an addictive substance, meaning you could be just a glass away from taking it too far.

2. Too much alcohol may lead to poor sexual performance

For men, too much alcohol can cause erectile dysfunction. This happens because alcohol can interfere with the messengers in the brain that “tells” your penis to become erect. Alcohol lowers testosterone too which is vital in keeping your sexual functions healthy. Luckily, with help from medication, you can treat erectile dysfunction quickly if it is a persistent problem.

After too much drinking, some men also find it hard to ejaculate while others tend to come too quickly. In women, too much alcohol may affect their ability to reach orgasm. And if they do, these orgasms tend to feel less intense and pleasurable. Alcohol can also dehydrate the vagina, making penetration painful or uncomfortable.

3. Alcohol separates you from reality

Too much alcohol can separate you from reality. So, balance is key. Too much alcohol may rob you of your ability to connect with your partner as well as satisfy his or her emotional and sexual needs.

4. Alcohol may cause fertility problems

There are some alcohol-related issues that paracetamol simply can’t fix. In women, studies show that those who drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week often suffer from fertility and menstrual problems.

5. Too much alcohol puts you at risks of catching sexually transmitted infections

Alcohol lowers your inhibition and increases your chances of engaging in unprotected sex. If you are not with a safe and trusted partner, this will put you at greater risk of catching sexually transmitted diseases (STI's).

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE) are both issues that can affect a male’s performance during sexual intercourse. But while both conditions cause trouble in the bedroom, they are not the same. This guide will take you through the differences between erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is a common health problem affecting about 50% of men in the UK. It’s characterized by a man’s inability to create or sustain an erection that’s firm enough for successful sexual intercourse. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by several physical and psychological factors. Here are some of them:

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Enlarged prostate
• Age
• Sleep problems
• Kidney disease
• Damage or injury to the pelvic area
• Depression
• Confused sexual orientation
• Issues with your sex partner

Not sure if you have an ED? Take a look at this informative guide: how to know if you have ED.

How to treat erectile dysfunction

Treating erectile dysfunction begins with taking good care of your cardiovascular health. Your GP may recommend that you:

• Stop smoking
• Change certain food habits
• Stop drinking
• Abstain from drugs
• Workout regularly

For psychological and emotional causes of ED, your doctor may encourage some counselling or sexual therapy. For those with ED who are looking for a quick solution, you can take comfort in knowing that there are plenty of erectile dysfunction treatments available at Express Pharmacy. Choose between Viagra, Sildenafil, Cialis, Spedra, and more!

What is premature ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation happens when you ejaculate much sooner than you or your partner would like. Studies show that 1 in 3 men experience this problem at some point in their lives. PE is not a concern if it happens occasionally. It only becomes a serious issue when:

• You almost always ejaculate within a minute of penetration
• You cannot delay ejaculation during intercourse all the time.
• You feel frustrated about your performance.
• You avoid sexual intimacy because of lack of confidence and your inability to please or satisfy your partner.

Premature ejaculation is caused by various biological and psychological factors such as:

• Performance anxiety
• Relationship issues with your partner
• Drug use
• Alcohol abuse
• General stress or depression
• Erectile dysfunction

Depending on your symptoms, PE can be classified as either lifelong (primary PE) or acquired (secondary PE). Lifelong premature ejaculation is diagnosed when you’ve suffered from PE your whole life. On the other hand, acquired premature ejaculation is a PE problem that has developed later in your life despite not having ejaculation issues in the past.

While no one can guarantee how long sex should last, studies into the conditions have set certain guidelines which allow us to establish two main symptoms of premature ejaculation. These include:

• Reaching the point of ejaculation within two minutes (120 seconds) or less of becoming aroused
• Experiencing the above problem on a regular basis

How to treat premature ejaculation

To treat your PE problem, you must first know the cause. Premature ejaculation caused by lifestyle choices, such as drug and tobacco abuse, can be fixed by staying away from these addictive substances.

You can also treat PE using prescription premature ejaculation treatment available at Express Pharmacy. Choose between EMLA, a topical anaesthetic used to numb the skin to reduce its sensitivity and alleviate premature ejaculation issues, and Priligy which is the only approved premature ejaculation treatment in the UK.

Can erectile dysfunction cause premature ejaculation?

When it comes to erectile dysfunction, you can’t maintain an erection, meaning you are less likely to suffer from premature ejaculation as you can’t ejaculate in the first place. So, in this case, no --- erectile dysfunction cannot cause premature ejaculation.

However, if you have a case of ED where you can create an erection but struggle to sustain it, there’s a big chance that you may experience premature ejaculation. How? What most men do if they find it hard to maintain an erection is to focus on their sexual excitement. While effective, this high level of excitement can make you ejaculate sooner than you or your partner would like.

It’s a vicious cycle. Focus too much on your sexual excitement and you might ejaculate quickly. Reduce your focus and you might end up losing your erection. And while you are caught in the middle of this dilemma, you suffer from performance anxiety which can make both ED and PE even worse.

Happy New Year! Let's make 2021 a year for change and health. We have a lot of treats coming your way this year, and to start with, we're offering free delivery on the following wellbeing products:

• Champix
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Code valid from Monday 28th December to Monday 4th January.

We hope this helps to kickstart your year the right way - it's time to win back control!

There are many factors that may encourage the onset of erectile dysfunction - obesity is one of them. But will losing weight cure erectile dysfunction? Read on to find out more.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction - or ED - is a common illness that affects about 50% of men in the UK at some point in their lives. ED or impotence refers to a man’s inability to get or maintain an erection firm enough for sex. It’s normal to get erection problems from time to time. But it’s a different story if it is an on-going issue. Prolonged ED can cause:

• Relationship problems
• Stress and anxiety
• Unsatisfactory sex life
• Damage to your self-esteem
• Inability to get your partner pregnant

Obesity and ED

One of the main causes of ED is obesity. According to experts, obesity can cause erectile dysfunction by damaging your blood vessels, decreasing testosterone, and causing a general state of inflammation throughout your body. Let’s take a deeper dive below:

Your vascular health

If you are overweight, you are more at risk of developing heart disease. How does this relate to erectile dysfunction? Simple. Remember that an erection happens because of increased blood flow to the penis. And when you are having sex, it’s important to keep that “extra” blood in there to maintain the erection.

Clogs in the arteries that supply blood to your penis will affect your ability to create and maintain an erection.

Your testosterone levels

Testosterone is a hormone that helps boost your sex drive. Several studies link obesity to low levels of testosterone in men. A 4-inches increase in waist size may lower your testosterone levels by up to 75%.

“Another common risk factor for E.D. is low levels of testosterone, which is also linked to obesity. Appropriate levels of this hormone are necessary to achieve erections and maintain a healthy sex drive. When the patient has a large amount of belly fat, there is a greater effect on the testosterone levels. In males, abdominal fat will convert testosterone to estrogen interfering with proper hormonal balance. Testosterone levels may not be affected quickly and directly by weight-loss, so there may be a need for additional testosterone to be prescribed in the form of a gel, injections, or patches.” - Dr Robert A Kloner, MD.

Losing weight can help cure erectile dysfunction

It’s important to know that erectile dysfunction is not just caused by obesity. The causes of erectile dysfunction can also include:

• Injury or physical issues
• Certain drugs or medications
• Treatments for prostate cancer
• Hormonal imbalance
• Lifestyle choices like alcohol and tobacco addiction
• Emotional causes like fatigue, relationship problems, stress

Obesity increases your risks of developing diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and atherosclerosis --- all of which are the main causative agents of erectile dysfunction. If you are suffering from these and you are overweight, there’s a big chance that your ED condition will get exacerbated.

Keeping your weight at a healthy level greatly reduces your risks of developing ED. This in turn will also decrease your chances of developing long-term erectile dysfunction.

According to a study published in Healthline, losing weight is one of the best ways to cure erectile dysfunction. In this study, more than 30% of men who lost an average of 15kg over two years have regained normal sexual function.

One of the best ways to prevent erectile dysfunction is by following the eat-less-move-more approach. However, if you need quick relief, consider erectile dysfunction treatments from Express Pharmacy.

2020 has been tough on us all - it’s safe to say that Christmas is needed now more than ever. To end the year on a (desperately needed!) positive note, we’re giving you 20% off all products, from now until the 31st December.

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Enjoy this little gift and start your festivities the right way. We hope you have a lovely Christmas break. Put your feet up, you deserve it!