What Research Says About E-Cigarettes and Erectile Dysfunction

The SMSNA periodically receives and publishes ‘guest editorials.’ The current article was submitted by Mia Barnes, a freelance writer and researcher who specializes in women's health, wellness, and healthy living. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind Magazine

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) — also known as vapes — are often touted as a better alternative to traditional cigarettes. However, they still pose a significant risk to your health. For men, in particular, research shows that e-cigarettes raise the risk of erectile dysfunction. 

What Are E-Cigarettes? 

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that warm a liquid to create vapors that you inhale. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco to generate nicotine through smoke, e-cigarettes produce fewer byproducts. However, the liquid still contains nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals, which increase its addictiveness. 

The World Health Organization says about 86 million adults use e-cigarettes, 53 million of whom are men. They are most commonly used among Americans at 4.8% of the adult population, underscoring their popularity as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes. 

Quick Facts About Erectile Dysfunction 

Erectile dysfunction is a persistent difficulty in having and keeping an erection during sexual activity. About 40% of men experience erectile dysfunction at age 40, while it increases to 70% at age 70. 

Diabetes, heart disease and obesity are common disease risk factors for the condition. However, certain medications, mental health problems and lifestyle behaviors — including smoking — also contribute to it.

If you have erectile dysfunction, you may feel stressed from being unable to perform during sex, notice a lack of closeness with your partner, endure depression or low self-esteem, or struggle with infertility. Although erectile dysfunction doesn’t make you infertile, it can make it more challenging for couples to conceive. 

3 Research Findings Linking E-Cigarettes and Erectile Dysfunction 

Research has shown various ways in which e-cigarettes can impact erectile dysfunction. These three studies highlight essential findings about the connection. 

Vaping and Erectile Dysfunction

According to one analysis, daily e-cigarette users were 2.24 times more likely to have erectile dysfunction than those who don’t use them, even after accounting for age, heart disease and other health factors. 

Although many promote vapes as safer options, mainly when used to help people quit smoking cigarettes, you still face a higher risk of erectile issues.

Vape Aerosols and Sexual Health

There are over 80 compounds found in e-cigarette liquids and aerosols. However, it varies by manufacturer and brand. When heated, these chemicals can be harmful to your reproductive and sexual health.

Recent data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration linked THC products to 79% of tested vaping illnesses, with 76% containing vitamin E acetate, associated with lung injury in patient vape samples. The findings indicate that other chemicals and additives, separate from nicotine, are hazardous to your health and sexual function.

The ability to breathe through your nose is important for lowering your risk of erectile dysfunction. This is because it creates nitric oxide, which relaxes the smooth muscles in the penis and enables an erection. If you damage your lungs while vaping, you hinder nitric oxide production through nose breathing. 

Nicotine and Blood Flow

Of all vape substances, nicotine remains one of the most harmful. One study shows that nicotine causes the narrowing and stiffening of blood vessels, making it harder for blood to stream to various organs, including the penis. 

Another study shows that smoking contributes to vascular damage and oxidative stress, which decreases the availability of nitric oxide needed for a healthy erection. Despite early research suggesting e-cigarettes cause less vascular damage than tobacco-based cigarettes, the nicotine still causes blood vessel impairments. 

Take Charge of Erectile Dysfunction With Vape-Free Living

It’s impossible to deny research findings that point to an association between e-cigarettes and erectile dysfunction. You can take charge of your sexual wellness and remedy your erectile problems with a vape-free lifestyle. 

Resources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, October 24). About Electronic Cigarettes (E-Cigarettes). CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/about.html

World Health Organization. (2025, October 6). Electronic Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems: A Brief. WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (October 2024). Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction. NIDDK. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/definition-facts

El-Shahawy, O. et al. (2022, January). Association Between E-Cigarette Use and Erectile Dysfunction. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34922653/

Montjean, D., et al. (2023, March 18). An Overview of E-Cigarette Impact on Reproductive Health. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10053939/

CFPIE Insights Blog. (2019, December 4). FDA Highlights Risks of Lung Illnesses Related to Vaping Products. CFPIE. https://www.cfpie.com/insights-blog/fda-highlights-risks-of-lung-illnesses-related-to-vaping-products

Melis, M. R., & Argiolas, A. (2021, December 11). Erectile Function and Sexual Behavior: A Review of the Role of Nitric Oxide in the Central Nervous System. Biomolecules, 11(12), 1866. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11121866 

American Heart Association. (2024, December 3). Impact of Smokeless Oral Nicotine Products on Cardiovascular Disease: Implications for Policy, Prevention, and Treatment: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association. AHA Journals. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001293

Bjurlin, M., et al. (2021, May 13). Alternative tobacco products use and its impact on urologic health – will the lesser evil still be evil? A commentary and review of literature. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8318020/