Implication of Cigarette Smoking and Cessation on Sexual Function in Men and Women.

Sexual dysfunction is a major public health problem that negatively affects the lives of hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. There is strong evidence suggesting that tobacco use and sexual dysfunction are linked. In fact, cigarette smoking is independently associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction (ED). This relationship has been observed among both current and former smokers and among both passive and active smokers, and many studies suggest a dose-response relationship. Further, prospective studies indicate that cigarette use increases the risk of incident ED, whereas smoking cessation appears to improve erectile function. The link between tobacco use (and disuse) and sexual function in women is relatively understudied, and results remain inconclusive. Future research would benefit from utilizing more prospective designs and assessing the effects of smoking (and particularly passive smoking) on a wider range of sexual function outcomes (physiological, sexual dysfunctions other than male and female arousal disorders), especially among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]