His and Her Health

I have read that smoking can be a cause of the lack of clitoral sensation. If it does, is it a cumulative effect - happening over time, or does it occur only after smoking. I guess what I'm wanting to know is, if smoking does cause lack of sensation, is it reversible and how long after giving up smoking can you notice a difference. Not sure if this is the problem, but there is no problem with desire or lubrication at all, just sensation, so am wondering about the smoking link. Of course there are more important reasons to quit I know, but have recently been seeing a lot of information linking smoking and FSD. Hope it's possible to get a professional answer to this question.

smoking can kill the circulation to any part of your body. Remember the Marlboro Man? If you went out to CA it showed him with a limp cigarette in his mouth, meaning that smoking can lead to impotence due to lack of circulation to the reproductive region of the body. The same holds true for women and the clitoris. The affect is accumulative, taking years to clog your ateries, veins, capillaries, etc. But since your clitoris and vagina become engorged with blood upon stimulation, hence making orgasm possible,, why mess up a good thing? Good luck in quitting. I have worked for the Department of Health for years and we have a tobacco grant that our nurses have used to hold smoking cessation classes. Some of the information is pretty grim. But if smoking would diminish a good sex life, I think it would be worth stopping, the smoking that is.. again.. Good luck. Katya_35

Thanks so much for your reply...But do you know if there can be any reversal at all to the damage already done to your arteries, or are you now just stuck with what you've got. Do you think over time, any loss of genital sensation due to smoking can return. How long does it take before your body and overall health show the change after quitting or your circulation return to normal, if at all...Is there is anything that can be done to help the process of getting circulation back in order, like taking any of the herbal cures for poor circulation (ginko, L-arginine, etc.)...Lots Of Questions I Know...but this is very interesting to me, and I think this might be the problem for many people searching for answers on these particular boards, and they may not even know smoking might be causing their problem. Thanks again.

How long have you smoked? Just by stopping the habit your body tends to heal pretty rapidly, within 2 weeks the carbonmonoxide is out of your system. Your arteries start to open up depending on your physical activities also. Walking is great for opening the pipes back up. Ginsing is good for circulation. Drinking peppermint tea is also a wonderful blood cleansing stimulant. Using a good bowel cleansing system wouldn't hurt either. Puritan's pride has a good colon cleansing system that is priced cheaply. Just remember that you need to stick with it, all of it. I wish I knew more about your health history to tell you more. I just know what works to stop the damage and get the healing going. Katya_35

Not really sure how long smoking, but at least 15 years, about 1 pack a day. Only medications I'm on is metformin for diabetes, but not bad - medication keeps it under control. No other medictions, not on birth control, average weight, maybe 10 to 15 lbs over, but not obese. Healthy diet I believe - low carb, but do include plenty low starch vegetables Not very physically active, but not sedentary either, just average day-to-day activities. 43 years old. I have not had hormone levels tested, was just looking for self-help before talking to my doctor. The reason I was wondering if it was blood flow problems from smoking is because I have an extremely high libido, no problem with desire, and have very adequate lubrication. Wonderful partner, communication with him is perfect, no problem asking him for what I think I need, and no problem from him in receiving what I need. He's great and will do anything I even hint to. This relationship began after a long period of abstinence for me following divorce many years ago. Then when beginning this new sexual relationship after many years without sex, I found something missing. With every good thing that is going on (desire, lubrication, experimentation, and love), only one thing missing - clitoral sensation - almost none - nearly numb...and it used to be there, so it goes without saying "NO Orgasm". Everything feels wonderful, but no prize at the end, if you know what I mean. I still enjoy sex very much, and look forward to every time, but really, really need to feel that sensation again. I have tried taking L-Arginine capsules before and it actually helped in increasing desire even more, although I didn't need help in that department, but it did nothing for clitoral arousal. And once even tried one of the clitoral enhancement gels - nothing there either. So I just began some internet research, and read about the relation between smoking and arousal problems. So that's where the question came from. It just frustrates me so, that having all the other factors in order, there is no clitoral stimulation. And I'm even wondering why, if there is a problem with circulation and blood flow, how do I manage to have such adequate lubrication. Doesn't that also depend on blood flow to achieve lubrication. Seems to me that everything I've read about sexual dysfunction (low estrogen, low testosterone) any of those problems, if it was any of that, why do I have everything else except the clitoral sensation. Looks like any problem would effect most everything sexual as a whole, and not just the clitoris. I'm just at a loss here. Willing to try anything, and willing to give up any bad habit to get that "tingle" back I used to know.

another thought. Have you tried going to an adult store and buying clitoral stimulating gel? They have it, and it works. I bought viagel once online and it cost a fortune. It is much cheaper at a store. They contain the L-argine and a mint base. I have also read that a touch of vicks vapor rub on it also does the trick. Just a bit of it though,pretty strong stuff. Just a thought.

I tried one once that didn't do a thing, but it didn't contain L-arginine. That may be the key. Will give that a try, along with giving up my bad habits. Will also try the ginsing to help with circulation. Thanks so much for all the information you've provided. It's good to learn it's not to late to clean up my act (along with my arteries.