Sex, Drugs and Alcohol

Sex and Drugs

Women are more vulnerable to the effects of drugs and are twice as likely to become addicted as men.

Most drugs and substances can affect hormones, and menstrual cycles can become disrupted and in some cases stop altogether. Fertility is also lowered by most recreational drugs.

Drugs can often cause sexual dysfunction. Under the influence (most notably with cocaine) the vagina can become dry and will no longer lubricate naturally. People taking drugs can run a risk of suffering damage to the vagina, so if you do have sex while taking drugs, be sure to use lubricant.

Taking drugs will often jeopardize safety and leave you vulnerable. Being high can disrupt your thought processes, which can mean you lack the ability to get home safely. Lowered inhibitions and judgement mean you are more likely to have unsafe sex, increasing the risk of picking up sexual infections.

Lowered inhibitions and poorer judgement could put you at risk of attack. Some drugs can cause black-outs and comas leaving you vulnerable to rape.

If you do take a drug, tell your partner or friends what you taken in case you run in difficulties. Never mix substances as this can be dangerous, often causing extreme changes to breathing, heart-rate and consciousness.

Sex and Alcohol

We've all heard of "brewers droop" and the effects alcohol can have on men's sexual performance, but as women do we ever stop to think what it might be doing to our performance in the bedroom? (or anywhere else for that matter)

In fact alcohol can have a more serious affect on our sexual experiences than we might think. As a nervous system depressant, alcohol can numb the nerve endings in genitalia and decrease feelings of sexual arousal and pleasure. Vaginal lubrication and the ability to orgasm can also be adversely affected by alcohol, potentially, leading to painful and frustrating sexual experiences.

Alcohol can also be linked with other unwanted experiences such as the contraction of STIs, choosing inappropriate partners, serious injury, assault or even death. It also has the potential to negatively affect relationships, causing you to be less physically and emotionally sensitive. There is nothing to say that we should never mix alcohol and sex, but being aware of its potential effects allows us to make more informed and sensible choices.